How to keep YouTube music playing in the background on iPhone

On iPhone, most music apps let you play music in the background. After all, they'd be virtually useless if they couldn't. For video apps that's not the case which - again - makes sense, since you can't watch videos with your iPhone locked and the phone in standby. 

With YouTube, the app is a sort-of two-in-one platform that offers videos and, with that, music videos which is a surprisingly popular way to consume music these days. 

YouTube does let you use its video app to play music in the background but there's a caveat: you need to be a Premium subscriber in order to take advantage of that feature. Of course, you can use the YouTube Music app, but again, you need to be a subscriber for that too. 

Thankfully, there's a workaround that enables you to play music from YouTube videos for free, in the background, and it's really not difficult to do. 

Written, shot and edited by Cam Bunton

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[hi-its-matt]

I have Spotify premium but some smaller artists don't have Spotify. its nice to be able to listen to their stuff in the background without having to fork out more money for YouTube premium

[rwarren]

Youtube also has audio books. You just helped one long boring shift where I need my phone to work AND entertain me. Thanks for being so sneaky! (in a good way)

[Callail]

Definitely still works! Forever grateful for this trick!

[jacquelina]

Changed my life in one video under a min. Thank you 😊

[DetroitShadows]

Damn. Don’t know if this is work around is new or not but I’m EXTREMELY grateful I watched this. That said as someone that takes pride in their tech knowledge I’m also a bit ashamed I didn’t know this. Either way THANK YOU!!

[IAmWhyWeCantHaveNiceThings]

This life hack is working for me too! As a music lover who loves live concert videos, this is amazing. Thanks! (3/30/21)

[hansdewitte]

Dude i’ve been looking for this loophole for maybe 10 fucking years. You are a god. A thousand times thanks!

[VukovskiMedia]

Thank you so much :) Works for me (May, 2022)

[jamesbarratt]

Im tired of apple phones. Feel as if we are restricted way too much.

[cjfilmproductions]

I wish I knew this before I “upgraded my phone “ every time I update my phone I lose. Features .

[anukampasingh]

Omg it totally works!! Thanks a ton for this amazing workaround!

[mrdeleted]

How do I mute all other audio while I’m playing the podcast?

[goldenclaw]

Only question how do you get auto play to work

[sydneysmith]

Oh my word. It is working. Thank you so much! I have been trying this for days. Thank you.

[dana.]

Dude! I used to be able to do it on chrome because safari was a no go back then and it’s been months since I haven’t been able to listen to my music on YouTube 😭 and you just solved that! Subbed and like the video for the golden tip! 🤙

[daddyleon]

Hmm, too bad it doesn't seem to work for an older iPhone, like mine. 5 I think it is.

[TheSkattymare]

sadly this didn't work for me, I tried a few times but it just said 'Not Playing' in the screen that shows the controls. Glad everyone else managed :)

[kellenvanberkum]

For some reason I don’t have the little circle that allows me to change the seconds of the video please help me get it back

[Triumphinchrist]

Thanks for the big tip! But i find some videos playing & some don’t even without going through this setting.Not sure why.

[ericbalota]

The cool thing now (currently on ios 14.6) is that when you follow this video and go to the home screen, you can now watch videos in picture in picture mode while using your phone normally.