How to Keep YouTube Playing in the Background on Your iPhone

Listening to YouTube audio in the background on your iPhone typically requires a YouTube Premium subscription, but there’s an easy workaround that lets you continue listening to a video even when you’re using other apps or when your iPhone is locked. Here’s how to do it.

As YouTube has grown, Google has restricted several features, including background audio playback, to YouTube Premium. This subscription costs $13.99 per month and also offers ad-free viewing, SharePlay for iOS, and the ability to listen to audio while the app is closed.

However, if you only want to listen to audio content like podcasts, music, or lectures from YouTube while using other apps or when your phone is locked, you can bypass the subscription.

Here’s how:

1. Open Safari on your iPhone and go to youtube.com, then find the video you want to listen to.
2. Tap the left-hand icon in Safari’s address bar.
3. Tap the “More” button (three dots) in the bottom-right corner, then select “Request Desktop Website.”
4. Play the video, and skip or ignore any pop-ups asking you to open the YouTube app. (You may need to watch or skip a few ads before playback begins.)
5. Lock your iPhone using the Side button. The audio will pause, but tap the Play button in the Lock Screen controls to resume playback.

After doing this, the audio will continue playing while your iPhone is locked, so you can listen while your phone is in your pocket. If you want to use other apps while listening, swipe up to exit Safari, then use the media controls in Dynamic Island or the Control Center to resume playback when it automatically stops.