Play YouTube videos in the background on mobile devices

Sometimes, your own music playlist just isnt cutting it. Or maybe you want to listen to your favorite artists performance at an awards show.

Either way, if youve tried listening to music on YouTube via your mobile device, you may have noticed one thing: You cant navigate out of the app. You have to keep YouTube open, and you cant use your phone for anything else, in order to listen to something on YouTube. Kind of frustrating if youre trying to multitask on your commute home, right?

Now, there are hacks so you can listen to YouTube content in the background while still using your mobile device. Heres what you do:

How to Watch YouTube Videos in the Background: iOS

Open Safari on your mobile device, and navigate to a video you want to watch on https://www.youtube.com. Start playing the video you want to listen to, then tap the Home button to close out of Safari. (I chose Katy Perry.)

Then, swipe up on your home screen to reveal the Action Center.

Then, swipe left to reveal the second screen on your Action Center. The details of the video you selected on YouTube should appear, and from there, simply tap Play to keep jamming.

How to Watch YouTube Videos in the Background: Android

Launch Firefox or Chrome on your mobile device, and navigate to a video you want to play on https://www.youtube.com. Then, tap the "Settings" menu in the upper right-hand corner (the ellipses) and select "Request Desktop Site."

Then, start playing the video on YouTube, and tap the Home button to return to your home screen. The audio will keep playing in the background as you use other apps.