Background playback is a feature present in some applications that prevents a video or song from stopping even after it is closed. In its free version, YouTube does not let you continue listening to a video after closing the application. However, by default, it does let you play it in the background within the application. This way, by sliding a video down or backward, the video continues to play at the bottom of the screen.
This function is enabled by default and cannot be disabled. However, you can close the video manually if you wish to stop its playback. You can do it in two ways.
First, use the button on the far right represented by a cross.
Close a video in the background
Alternatively, you can slide the card down. You will see how it gradually fades and ends up disappearing.
Swipe the video down to close it
In case you want to close the application or even turn off the screen, and want the playback to continue, you have several options. The first is to pay a subscription, called YouTube Premium. This includes, as an addition, the YouTube Music streaming service. One of the features activated by the paid subscription is real background playback, similar to Spotify.
On the other hand, if you do not want to pay the subscription, you can install an alternative, such as YouTube Vanced. The latter is a modified version of the official app that unlocks these features without the need to subscribe. You can download YouTube Vanced and learn how to install it from Malavida.
