Your YouTube Music app may not be playing in the background primarily because background play requires a YouTube Premium subscription. Here's a breakdown of the reasons and potential solutions:
Why Background Play Might Not Be Working:
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YouTube Premium Requirement: Background playback is a feature exclusive to YouTube Premium subscribers on mobile devices. If you don't have YouTube Premium, the music will typically stop when you switch to another app or lock your screen.
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App Settings: Occasionally, background playback settings might be disabled within the YouTube Music app itself (though this is usually enabled by default for Premium users).
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Content Restrictions: Some content may not be available for background playback, even with a YouTube Premium subscription. This is usually due to licensing restrictions imposed by the content creator or rights holder.
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App Version: An outdated version of the YouTube Music app can sometimes cause unexpected behavior.
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Device Settings: Your device's battery optimization settings might be interfering with background playback. Some aggressive battery-saving features might automatically close apps running in the background.
Troubleshooting Steps:
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Verify your YouTube Premium Subscription: Ensure your YouTube Premium subscription is active and in good standing. You can check this in your Google account settings or within the YouTube app.
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Check App Settings:
- Open the YouTube Music app.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Go to Settings.
- Look for "Background playback" or a similar option. Ensure it's enabled.
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Update the YouTube Music App: Make sure you have the latest version of the YouTube Music app installed from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS).
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Check Battery Optimization Settings:
- Android: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization. Find the YouTube Music app and make sure it's set to "Not optimized" or "Don't optimize." The exact wording may vary depending on your Android version.
- iOS: iOS handles background app refresh differently. Ensure that "Background App Refresh" is enabled for YouTube Music in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
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Content Availability: Try playing different songs or videos to see if the issue is specific to certain content. If a particular song won't play in the background, it might be restricted.
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Restart Your Device: A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches.
Summary
Background playback on YouTube Music is tied to a YouTube Premium subscription and occasionally affected by app settings, device settings, and content restrictions. Ensure your subscription is active, your app is up-to-date, and your device's battery optimization isn't interfering.
