How to Watch YouTube in the Background on Xiaomi: All Ways to 2026

You run your favorite YouTube podcast, but the screen goes out in 30 seconds and the sound goes away? Or do you want to listen to music from YouTube Music while you check your Telegram messages? On Xiaomi's shell smartphones MIUI This feature is blocked by default — Google restricts background play for free accounts. But there are at least 7 ways to get around the restrictions, and we tested each on devices from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In this article, the current methods for MIUI 12, 13, 14 and 15, including root-free solutions using modified clients (YouTube Vanced, ReVanced), alternative players and hidden features of the shell itself. We will also discuss why some methods stopped working in 2026 (e.g. adb commands to disable battery optimization) and what to use instead.

Why YouTube is blocking background play on Xiaomi

The reason lies in two planes: Google policy and optimization. MIUI. Free YouTube accounts are devoid of default background play, part of a strategy to promote YouTube Premium, but even if you pay for a subscription, Xiaomi could be in trouble because of the fact that it is not a good idea to buy a YouTube Premium:

• 🔋 Aggressive battery optimization in MIUI, which suspends applications in the background.
• 📱 Restrictions for non-system applications – YouTube is not on the default list of “protected” services.
• 🔄 Algorithm updates: Google has tightened its screening of modified customers since 2023 (for example, Vanced now requires a bypass through MicroG).

Other brands (such as Samsung or Google Pixel) are missing some of these issues due to different background management, but Xiaomi will have to use workarounds, which we’ll break down from the simplest to the most technically challenging.

Method 1: Enable "No Limits" for YouTube in Battery Settings

The safest and most legal method is to disable the battery optimization for the YouTube app, which doesn’t give you a 100% guarantee (Google can still block audio), but it increases the chances of successful playback in the background.

Instructions for MIUI 14/15:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find YouTube on the list and tap it.
3. Choose Battery Consumption (or Battery Optimization in older versions).
4. Set up a No Limits mode.
5. Restart the YouTube app.

⚠️ Note: This method only works for videos running through the browser version of YouTube (for example, in Chrome or Firefox). In the official application, the sound may still disappear after 5-10 minutes. For stable operation, use it in pair with method 3 (browser). + PWA).

Method 2: YouTube Vanced or ReVanced (for advanced users)

YouTube Vanced is a modified version of the client with restrictions disabled, including background playback, but since 2023 the official project has been closed, and its successor, ReVanced, requires manual assembly.

Option A: Installation of the finished APK YouTube Vanced (Old, but Working)

If you don't need the latest interface updates, you can use the latest stable version of Vanced (17.43.36). APK from a verified source (e.g. vanced.app) and install:

• 📱 Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special permits).
• 🔗 Install MicroG for login to your Google account (without it, there will be no synchronization of subscriptions).
• 🎵 In the Vanced settings, enable the Background Play option.

Option B: ReVanced build via ReVanced Manager (current for 2026)

The latest versions of YouTube will require:

1. Download ReVanced Manager from the official website.
2. Inside the manager, select Select an application → YouTube.
3. Check the patches: Background play, SponsorBlock, Override max resolution.
4. Press Build and wait for the build APK.
5. Delete the original YouTube and install the collected file.

⚠️ Note: Using modified customers violates YouTube's terms of use, and your account may be blocked if you receive mass complaints (e.g. if you use SponsorBlock to skip ads:

• Do not log in to your main Google account.
• Do not use the video download function (watch only).
• Update ReVanced no more than 1 time in 2 months.

Method 3: Progressive Web App (PWA) browser-wise

If modified clients seem complicated, try the web version of YouTube via Chrome or Firefox.This method requires no root rights and works on any Xiaomi device, including POCO and Black Shark.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Chrome and go to m.youtube.com (mobile version).
2. Sign in to your Google account (if necessary).
3. Press. ⋮ → Add to the main screen.
4. Launch YouTube from a new shortcut – it will open PWA-Version (Progressive Web Application).
5. Turn on the video, turn off the app and lock the screen.

🔹 Pros of the method:

• 🔓 Does not require third-party installation APK.
• 🔄 It works even after YouTube updates.
• 📱 Supports notifications about new videos (if allowed in browser settings).

🔸 Cons:

• 🚫 No Picture-in-Picture function (picture in picture).
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge (browser consumes more resources than native application).

💡

If the sound is interrupted in PWA, Open the settings. → Annexes → Chrome → Battery consumption and set the No Limits mode. Also check that the site settings (⋮ → Site settings → Sound) allowed in the background.

Method 4: Alternative Players (NewPipe, Musicolet, VLC)

If you want not only background play, but also video downloads, without ads or playlists, use dedicated players. We tested the top 3 options for Xiaomi:

How to set up NewPipe:

1. Download. APK from the official website (or via F-Droid).
2. When you first start, select YouTube as your source.
3. Find the video, click. ⋯ → Reproduce in the background.
4. Turn the app down and the sound will continue to play.

⚠️ Note: NewPipe does not use official API YouTube, therefore:

• Some videos (such as those with age restrictions) may not be played.
• Flow quality is limited 1080p (even if the original 4K).
• Subscription sync only works one way (from YouTube to NewPipe, not back).

Method 5: Picture-in-Picture (PiP) through hidden settings MIUI

On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 13+ There's a hidden Picture-in-Picture feature that lets you bundle YouTube into a small window, but by default it's disabled for most apps.

Method 1: Through ADB (without root)

1. Install Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Xiaomi to the USB And turn on the debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode).
3. In the terminal, execute the command: adb shell settings put global multi_window_mode_enabled true
4. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: Miui Hidden Settings App

If adb seems complicated, install the Miui Hidden Settings utility from Google Play:

1. Open the app and provide root access (if any) or permissions through ADB.
2. Go to System. → Picture-in-Picture.
3. Find YouTube in the list and turn on the switch.
4. Now, when watching the video, click Home – the video will shrink out the window.

🔹 Limitations of PiP on Xiaomi:

• 🎬 It works only for video, not music (sound disappears if you turn the window completely).
• 📱 In some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9) needs to disable Minimization of applications in multitasking settings.

💡

Picture-in-Picture is the only legal way to watch YouTube in a mini window on Xiaomi without modified customers, but it is not suitable for background music playback: the sound disappears when the window is completely minimized.

Method 6: Notifications bypass (for MIUI 14/15)

In the latest versions MIUI You have a function that continues to play through a notification, and it's unstable, but it can help 60 to 70 percent of the time.

How to activate:

1. Open YouTube and start the video.
2. Crash the application - a player will appear in the notification panel.
3. Click on the notification and select Continue Playing.
4. Close the notification curtain – the sound should remain.

⚠️ Note: This method only works if:

• In the settings MIUI Floating notifications (Settings) are included → Notifications → Floating notifications).
• YouTube is not optimized with battery (see Method 1).
• The video is running in the official application (in the browser or Vanced will not work).

Method 7: Root solutions (for power users)

If you have root access (e.g., through Magisk), you can use system modifications to force backup playback.

Method 1: Change of configuration through Xposed/EdXposed

Install the Background YouTube Playback module:

1. Activate the module in EdXposed.
2. Reset the device.
3. Open YouTube and turn on the video – now it will play in the background even when the screen is locked.

Method 2: Editing build.prop

This method is suitable for MIUI 12–13:

1. Open up. /system/build.prop in a root-access editor (e.g., BuildProp Editor).
2. Add a line: ro.youtube.background_play=true
3. Save the changes and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: Editing system files can lead to:

• 🔄 Bootloop ( looped boot) when syntax error.
• 🚫 Loss of warranty (if the device is warranty, use other methods).
• 🔐 SafetyNet, which will block banking applications.

💡

Root methods provide 100% stability of background play, but require technical skills and are risky for the main device.

FAQ: Frequent questions