To play YouTube when phone locked, you need a YouTube Premium membership. This is the only official method Google supports for background playback on both iPhone and Android devices.
How to play YouTube when phone locked: the official way
YouTube Premium is the only documented way to keep YouTube playing when your screen locks. The feature is called background play, and it works in the official YouTube app, YouTube Music, and YouTube Kids.
iPhone and Android app settings
- Open the YouTube app and sign in with the account that has YouTube Premium.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Background Play under Background & Downloads.
- Choose one of these settings:
- Always on, videos always play in the background, default setting. The default background-play setting is 'Always on'.
- Off, videos never play in the background.
- Headphones or external speakers, videos play in the background only when the device is connected to headphones, speakers, or another external audio output.
This is the exact documented path: YouTube app → Settings → Background Play → Background & Downloads → choose Always on, Off, or Headphones or external speakers.
Why YouTube stops when your screen locks
Background play is a paid feature of YouTube Premium, not a phone battery or ad-revenue restriction. Google states that background play is available on YouTube, YouTube Music, and YouTube Kids mobile apps only when signed in with a YouTube Premium membership account.
How to use YouTube Premium background play on a mobile browser
YouTube Premium offers a free trial period. YouTube Premium subscription plans include individual, family, and student options. YouTube Premium also enables background playback in mobile browsers. Google documents a mobile-browser background playback option for YouTube Premium.
Troubleshooting: YouTube Premium background play not working
If background play stops working, Google provides these official troubleshooting steps:
- Check whether the membership expired.
- Sign into YouTube Premium again.
- Check whether Premium is available in your location. YouTube Premium may not be available in all regions.
- Update the YouTube app.
- Check mobile data and notification settings.
For iPhone and iPad, Google points users to the in-app background playback setting as the first step to fix the issue.
Unofficial workarounds and their risks
Google does not support these workarounds, they may violate YouTube's terms of service, and they could stop working at any time. No official guidance exists for apps like YouTube Vanced or other third-party clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can YouTube play when the screen is locked?
Yes, with YouTube Premium background play in the supported apps and settings Google documents.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes. Google documents a YouTube iPhone and iPad help page for fixing background playback and points users to the in-app background playback setting.
Does it work on Android?
Yes. Google documents the same Premium background-play setting and Android troubleshooting steps.
Does it work without Premium?
No. Not in the official pages retrieved. Background playback is only documented for YouTube Premium members.
Does background play work in YouTube Music and YouTube Kids?
Yes. Google documents background play for the YouTube, YouTube Music, and YouTube Kids mobile apps, if those apps are available in your location.
Are there any battery-saving tips when using background play on YouTube?
Lower brightness, close unused apps, disable Wi-Fi/mobile data, and use headphones.
Is background play available for all videos on YouTube?
Some videos have ads or creators disable it.
For the wider topic, see YouTube mobile tips.
