📺 How to Play YouTube in Background on the Phone: The Ultimate Brave Browser Hack (2025)
Are you tired of YouTube stopping playback when you lock your Phone screen or switch to another app? Want to listen to your favorite YouTube music, podcasts, or videos without paying for YouTube Premium?
There is a feature in the Brave browser that lets you play YouTube videos in the background with your screen OFF. And it's completely FREE!
In this comprehensive guide, I'll show you exactly how to unlock this powerful feature and take your YouTube experience to the next level. No more interruptions, no more ads, and no more paying for premium features!
What You'll Learn:
- How to enable background play in Brave browser (for iPhone and Android)
- Step-by-step guide to creating YouTube playlists
- How to play YouTube with screen off
- Pro tips for the best experience
- Troubleshooting common issues
🔥 The Brave Browser YouTube Background Play Feature
Brave browser has quietly rolled out one of the most requested features for mobile users: native YouTube background play. This means you can listen to YouTube videos while using other apps, texting, or even with your phone screen completely off.
Why This is a Game-Changer:
- FREE alternative to YouTube Premium (saves $11.99/month)
- Ad-free listening experience
- Offline playback capability
- Lockscreen controls for easy management
- Works with all YouTube content - music, podcasts, tutorials, etc.
📱 Method 1: iPhone/iOS
Full-Screen Swipe Method (Primary)
This is the most straightforward method for iPhone users:
- Open Brave browser and go to YouTube.com
- Find and start playing your desired video
- Tap the full-screen button (square icon) to enter full-screen mode
- Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to return to your home screen
- The audio will continue playing in the background
- Lock your screen - audio continues with lockscreen controls
Pro Tip: You can control playback from your iPhone's lockscreen and Control Center, just like with music apps!
Why This Works:
- iOS uses a different approach than Android
- No settings to enable - background play works by default
- Full-screen mode is required for the swipe method to work
- Lockscreen controls appear automatically when playing
🤖 Method 2: Android
Enable Background Play Setting
Unlike iOS, Android requires you to enable a specific setting:
- Open Brave browser
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) at the top-right corner
- Go to Settings → Media
- Find and enable "Background play" (Note: This is NOT called "Background Audio Playback")
- Go to YouTube.com and play any video
- Lock your screen or switch apps - audio continues playing
Important Notes for Android:
- Only audio plays in background (video stops)
- Embedded YouTube videos don't work for background play
- Lockscreen controls are available when playing
- The setting is specifically called "Background play" in the Media section
🎵 Method 3: Brave Playlist Feature (Best for Both Platforms!)
This is where things get really exciting. Brave's Playlist feature takes background play to the next level by letting you create curated playlists of YouTube content that play ad-free and work offline!
What Makes Brave Playlist Special:
- Ad-free playback (no pre-roll, mid-roll, or on-page ads)
- Offline access - download content for when you have no internet
- Background play with screen off
- Lockscreen controls
- Cross-platform support
- No settings to configure on iOS!
How to Create Your First YouTube Playlist:
Adding Videos to Your Playlist:
Method A: The Address Bar Icon
- Go to YouTube.com in Brave browser
- Find a video you want to add
- Look for the playlist icon (⬇️) in the address bar
- Tap it to add the video to your playlist
Method B: Long-Press Method
- Find a YouTube video
- Long-press on the video
- Select "Add to Brave Playlist" from the popup menu
Managing Your Playlist:
- Access Your Playlist:
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋮)
- Go to "Playlist" (if you don't see it, tap "Show All...")
- Organize Your Content:
- Rearrange items: Long-press and drag to reorder
- Remove items: Tap "Edit" and select what to delete
- Change playlists: Long-press the playlist icon for options
- Playback Controls:
- Play/Pause
- Skip forward/backward 15 seconds
- Adjust playback speed
- Set sleep timer
- Picture-in-picture mode
- Full-screen viewing
Why Brave Playlist is the Best Method:
- Most reliable for both iPhone and Android
- No settings to configure on iOS
- Works consistently without workarounds
- Ad-free experience
- Offline capability
- Automatic background play
⚙️ Brave Playlist Settings You Should Know
To get the most out of your Brave Playlist experience, customize these settings:
Access Playlist Settings:
- Go to Menu → Settings → Playlist
Key Settings to Configure:
- Automatic Add to Playlist prompt: Enable for quick adding
- Playlist autoplay: Automatically play next video
- Download vs Stream: Choose to save content or stream it
- Resume playback: Pick up where you left off
🎵 Pro Tips for the Best Experience
1. Optimize Your Playlist Organization
- Create themed playlists (Workout, Study, Relax, etc.)
- Mix YouTube videos with podcasts and music
- Use the reorder feature to create perfect flow
2. Maximize Battery Life
- Download playlists when on WiFi for offline use
- Lower screen brightness when watching videos
- Use sleep timer to prevent overnight playback
3. Troubleshooting Common Issues
Background Play Not Working on iPhone?
- Ensure you're using full-screen mode before swiping up
- Try the Brave Playlist method (most reliable)
- Restart Brave browser
- Update to the latest Brave version
Background Play Not Working on Android?
- Double-check Settings → Media → Background play is enabled
- Try the Brave Playlist method
- Ensure you're on YouTube.com (not embedded videos)
- Update Brave browser
Can't Add Videos to Playlist?
- Make sure you're on YouTube.com (not the APP)
- Look for the playlist icon in the address bar
- Try long-pressing the video
- Check if Playlist is enabled in settings
Poor Audio Quality?
- Ensure you have a stable internet connection
- Try downloading the content for offline playback
- Check if the original video has high-quality audio
🚀 Why This is Better Than Other Solutions
vs Other Browsers:
- Safari: No native background play for YouTube
- Chrome: Limited background play capabilities
- Firefox: Requires workarounds and extensions
vs YouTube Apps:
- Official YouTube App: Requires Premium for background play
- YouTube Music: Limited to music only, requires subscription
- Third-party apps: Often violate YouTube's TOS, get shut down
Brave's Unique Advantages:
- Built-in privacy protection (blocks trackers and ads)
- Cryptocurrency rewards (earn while browsing)
- Open-source and transparent
- Regular updates with new features
- Cross-platform sync (works on desktop too!)
🎉 Conclusion: Your YouTube Experience Will Never Be the Same
The Brave browser's background play and playlist features are absolute game-changers for mobile users. You now have a FREE, powerful alternative to YouTube Premium that not only gives you background play but also ad-free listening, offline playback, and incredible playlist management.
No more interruptions, no more monthly fees, and no more limitations!
Whether you're a music lover, podcast enthusiast, or someone who enjoys educational content, Brave browser transforms your phone into the ultimate media consumption device.
Ready to revolutionize your YouTube experience?
Download Brave browser now and start enjoying background YouTube play today!
This article was last updated in 2025 to ensure all instructions work with the latest version of Brave browser for iPhone and Android.