Playing YouTube videos in the background on your iPhone is possible without the need to download any additional tools. All you require is Safari, the default browser on your iPhone. Here’s a simple guide:
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Launch Safari and type ‘youtube.com’ in the address bar, then tap “go”.
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On the YouTube website, search for the desired video and tap on it to start playing.
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Next, tap the ‘Aa’ icon in the address bar and select ‘request desktop site’ from the menu that appears.
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Now, while the video is playing, return to your home screen.
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At this point, the playback will pause, but you can resume it by swiping down on your screen and tapping “play” from the Media widget in the Control Center. If your iPhone has TouchID, you will need to swipe up from the bottom of your screen to access the Control Center.
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The audio will continue playing in the background, allowing you to perform other tasks on your iPhone without interruption. The video may appear in picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, and you can drag it to the edge of your screen to hide it or tap the “X” button to close it.
You can also control the playback from your lock screen. Simply look for the music widget, which enables you to play, pause, rewind, or fast-forward the audio. During testing, we found that the playback does not automatically transition to the next song or video in the playlist or queue. If you wish to listen to multiple videos, you will have to reopen Safari to select a new one once the current video ends. Alternatively, you can search for long compilations or live concert videos for uninterrupted listening pleasure.