You can listen to YouTube videos with your iPhone screen off primarily by using a web browser like Safari and utilizing the Control Center playback controls. This method allows the audio to continue playing even when your screen is locked.
The Browser and Control Center Method
This common technique involves playing the YouTube video through a web browser on your iPhone, which allows for background audio playback capabilities that are typically restricted in the native YouTube app without a paid subscription.
Here’s how it generally works:
- Open a Browser: Launch a web browser on your iPhone, such as Safari or Chrome.
- Go to YouTube.com: Navigate to the YouTube website.
- Find Your Video: Search for and start playing the video you want to listen to.
- Initiate Background Playback (if necessary): Depending on the browser and iOS version, you might need to request the desktop version of the site or ensure the video is playing in full-screen mode initially for it to show up reliably in Control Center.
- Return to Home Screen or Lock Screen: Once the video is playing, you can exit the browser or turn off your screen. The audio might stop initially.
- Access Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner (or swipe up from the bottom on older iPhones) to open the Control Center.
- Resume Playback: As highlighted in the provided reference, the key step is to use the playback controls within Control Center.
Utilizing Control Center for Screen-Off Audio
The reference specifically details the final action required:
"Open. The control center. And then just tap this play button your video will start playing again More Open. The control center. And then just tap this play button your video will start playing again Audio Only. And you can put the phone back to sleep so."
Once you open Control Center after the audio stops, you should see playback controls. Tapping the Play button here will resume the video's audio even if the screen is off or locked. This allows you to continue listening to the content without the screen consuming battery or needing to be on.
Steps Summarized
To listen to YouTube with your iPhone screen off using a browser and Control Center:
- Open Safari (or another browser) and go to YouTube.com.
- Play the desired video.
- Return to the Home screen or lock your iPhone. The audio may pause.
- Open Control Center.
- Tap the Play button in the media playback controls within Control Center.
- The audio should resume, and you can now listen with your screen off.
This method bypasses the standard limitations of the native YouTube app for background playback, relying instead on the browser's capabilities and iOS's built-in media controls.
