Want to play YouTube in the background on your iPhone — keep the audio going while you text, browse, or lock the screen? Apple and YouTube make this harder than it should be, but there are a few real ways to do it. This guide covers the free built-in methods (and their annoyances), plus the easiest way to get reliable screen-off audio without paying for Premium.
Quick answer: Picture-in-Picture and a Safari trick both work for free, but they're fiddly. A dedicated app is the smoothest option if you just want audio to keep playing.
Method 1: Picture-in-Picture (built-in, but limited)
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) shrinks the video into a floating window so you can use other apps:
- Go to Settings → General → Picture in Picture and turn on Start PiP Automatically.
- In the YouTube app, tap your profile → Settings → Playback and turn on Picture-in-picture.
- Play a video, then swipe up to the Home Screen — it keeps playing in a floating window.
The catch: PiP keeps the video floating while your screen is on. It doesn't reliably keep audio going once you lock the screen.
Method 2: The Safari workaround (screen off, but clunky)
To keep audio playing with the screen locked, without Premium:
- Open Safari and go to
youtube.com. - Tap the aA icon and choose Request Desktop Website.
- Play your video, then swipe up to the Home Screen (it will pause).
- Swipe into Control Center and tap Play on the media widget.
- Lock the screen — the audio keeps playing.
The catch: it's several steps every time, the desktop site is awkward on a phone, and the audio often pauses when you lock, forcing you to tap Play again.
Method 3: YouTube Premium (official, paid)
YouTube Premium enables background play natively across the app — no tricks. It's the most reliable route, but it's a recurring subscription (see how much YouTube Premium costs).
The easiest way: a dedicated app
If you just want audio to keep playing with the screen off — no PiP toggles, no Safari desktop-site dance, no subscription — a purpose-built app is the smoothest option. Tube Browser Pro plays YouTube video and music with background playback built in, plus it's ad-free and includes dark mode.
Step 1: Download Tube Browser Pro from the App Store
Get Tube Browser Pro and open it — no account or setup needed.
Step 2: Play any video or song
Search and tap play using the familiar YouTube-style interface.
Step 3: Lock your screen — the audio keeps going
Switch apps or lock your iPhone, and playback continues in the background automatically. No Control Center tapping, no Premium.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Screen-off audio | Setup each time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture-in-Picture | ❌ (video only) | Low | Free |
| Safari workaround | ✅ | High (multi-step) | Free |
| YouTube Premium | ✅ | None | Paid |
| Tube Browser Pro | ✅ | None | Free |
For most people who just want to listen with the screen off, a dedicated app or Premium is the only friction-free choice — and only one of those is free. If you don't need the video at all, see how to play YouTube audio only.
FAQ
How do I play YouTube in the background on my iPhone?
Enable Picture-in-Picture for video, use the Safari "Request Desktop Website" + Control Center trick for screen-off audio, subscribe to YouTube Premium, or use a dedicated app like Tube Browser Pro that has background playback built in.
Can I play YouTube with the screen off without Premium?
Yes. The free Safari workaround keeps audio going when the screen is locked, but it's fiddly. A dedicated app like Tube Browser Pro does it automatically without a subscription.
Why won't YouTube play in the background on my iPhone anymore?
The official YouTube app pauses when you leave it or lock the screen unless you have Premium. If a workaround stopped working, YouTube likely changed something — a dedicated app avoids that cat-and-mouse.
Does Picture-in-Picture keep playing with the screen locked?
Not reliably. PiP keeps the video floating while the screen is on and you're using other apps, but audio typically pauses when you lock the phone. For true screen-off audio, use the Safari trick, Premium, or a dedicated app.
Just want your music to keep playing with the screen off? Get Tube Browser Pro — ad-free YouTube video and music with background playback, free. Also see How to Watch YouTube Without Ads.