Keeping YouTube Playful in the Background: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
YouTube is one of the most popular streaming platforms in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users. While it’s great to enjoy your favorite YouTube videos, keeping them playing in the background can be a chore. You’ll need to find ways to silence the audio and videos to avoid distractions, sleep deprivation, and poor productivity. In this article, we’ll explore how to keep YouTube playing in the background with various methods.
Method 1: Disable Audio and Show Controls
- To disable audio and show controls, follow these steps:
- On Android devices, go to Settings > Sounds > Volume settings > Audio control
- On iOS devices, go to Settings > Sounds > Ringtone and Sound Settings > Sound > Volume
Method 2: Use a Third-Party App
- ScreenFlow is a popular app that allows you to schedule YouTube videos to play in the background. Here’s how to use it:
- Install the ScreenFlow app on your mobile device
- Go to Settings > Media & Camera > Custom Media
- Tap on Add Custom Media > Video > Add Video
- Choose the YouTube video you want to schedule to play in the background
- Set the Schedule to play the video at the desired time or during a specific activity
- Another option is Buffer, a third-party app that provides features like scheduling, streaming, and reminders.
Method 3: Use a Voice Assistant
- If you have a smart speaker, you can use it to control your YouTube playback in the background. Here’s how to do it:
- On Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, go to Alexa > Skills & Games > YouTube > YouTube
- Tap on Add Skill > Browse > YouTube > Video Playback
- Choose the Video Playback app
- Set up the Repeat and Volume settings as desired
- Say "Alexa, play [channel name] on YouTube in the background"
- On Google Home, you can use Google Assistant to control your YouTube playback in the background. Follow these steps:
- Say "Ok Google, play [channel name] on YouTube in the background"
- Choose the Video Playback or Stream option
- Set up the Repeat and Volume settings as desired
Method 4: Use a Browser Extension
- TubeBuddy is a browser extension that provides features like background playback, scheduling, and reminders. Here’s how to use it:
- Install the TubeBuddy extension on your web browser
- Go to Settings > Basic > Scheduling
- Set up the Video playback and Audio control settings as desired
- Schedule the video to play in the background or during a specific activity
Method 5: Use a Browser Extension for Chrome
- Advanced YouTube extensions are available for Chrome. Here’s how to use it:
- Install the Advanced YouTube extension on your Chrome browser
- Go to Settings > Advanced YouTube
- Set up the Video playback and Audio control settings as desired
- Schedule the video to play in the background or during a specific activity
Tips and Tricks
- To reduce distractions, consider setting up your YouTube playback to only play in the background during specific activities, like reading or exercising.
- If you’re using a browser extension, make sure to check its settings and guidelines before using it.
- Some YouTube videos may not be available in the background playback due to copyright restrictions or other factors. Always check the YouTube terms of service and copyright policies before using a video.
Conclusion
Keeping YouTube playing in the background can be a convenient and efficient way to enjoy your favorite videos without distractions. By exploring the methods outlined in this article, you can customize your YouTube playback to suit your needs and preferences. Whether you prefer to schedule videos to play in the background or use voice assistants, there are various options available to keep YouTube playing in the background. Experiment with different methods to find what works best for you.