How to Play YouTube in the Background on iPhone
Introduction
The Apple iPhone is a powerful and versatile device that offers a wide range of features and functionalities. One of the most convenient features of the iPhone is its ability to play music, podcasts, and other audio content in the background. This allows users to multitask, work, and enjoy their favorite shows or music while still being able to take calls, respond to messages, or use other features. In this article, we will explore how to play YouTube in the background on iPhone.
Pre-requisites
Before we dive into the steps, make sure that you have the following:
- iPhone 6 or later
- iTunes 12 or later
- YouTube app on your iPhone
- A Wi-Fi or cellular connection
Step 1: Open the YouTube App
To play YouTube in the background on iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open the YouTube app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Music tab at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Enable Background Play
To play YouTube in the background, you need to enable background play. Here are the steps:
- Tap the Settings icon (gear icon) at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Music.
- Tap the Background Play option.
- Toggle the switch to On.
Step 3: Set Music Preferences
To optimize YouTube’s performance in the background, you can set your music preferences. Here are the steps:
- Tap the Music tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the For Everyone tab.
- Tap the Music tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the Apple Music tab.
- Tap the Voice Assistant option.
- Choose your voice assistant (e.g., Siri, Google Assistant).
- Tap the Music Sharing option.
- Enable Music Sharing.
- If you want to play music from other apps, enable Music from Other Apps.
Step 4: Use Your iPhone as a HomePod (Optional)
If you want to play music in the background while using your iPhone as a HomePod, you need to:
- Enable Headphone Pairing in the Settings app.
- Connect your HomePod to your iPhone.
- Download the HomePod app (available on the App Store) and sign in with your Apple ID.
- Open the HomePod app and select the Share Button.
- Tap the Streaming tab and select HomePod as the streamer.
- Enable Mute the Siri option.
Background Play Settings
Now that you have enabled background play, you can set the following settings to optimize YouTube’s performance in the background:
- Background Wait Time: Set to 5 minutes to ensure that the app continues to work even when the background play switch is turned off.
- Background App Refresh: Set to Always to ensure that YouTube updates its data even when it’s not actively playing in the background.
Important Tips
- To pause YouTube in the background, press and hold the play/pause button until the app stops playing in the background.
- To resume playing YouTube in the background, tap the play/pause button.
- If you want to play YouTube in the background while using other apps, you can use the Battery-Saving Mode in Settings.
- If you want to play YouTube in the background while using your iPhone as a HomePod, you can use the HomePod app to play YouTube.
Conclusion
Playing YouTube in the background on iPhone is a convenient feature that allows you to multitask and enjoy your favorite shows or music while still being able to take calls, respond to messages, or use other features. By following these steps and setting up the YouTube app to play in the background, you can enjoy a seamless listening experience on your iPhone.