How to watch YouTube in the background on Xiaomi

Many Xiaomi smartphone users are wondering how to save music or podcasts from YouTube when the screen goes out or you switch to another app. The platform's standard policy is to limit the background of video streaming for free account holders, which is often annoying in everyday use. However, the MIUI and HyperOS shell provides a number of tools to get around this restriction without having to sign up for a paid subscription.

There are several effective methods, each with its own setup and impacts resource consumption in different ways: you can use the built-in browser capabilities, special system settings or third-party clients. It is important to understand that background play requires correct permissions setting, otherwise the system can force the process to stop to save battery power.

In this article, we will take a closer look at current ways for modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models. We will look at the nuances of MIUI background services, which often block unwanted processes, and we will show you how to properly configure the YouTube app for stable operation. HyperOS and older versions of MIUI may have differences in the interface, but the basic principles remain similar.

Using browsers for background listening

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use mobile browsers that support extensions or built-in desktop mode. Brave, Firefox, or even the standard Mi Browser allow you to open the full version of YouTube, where background restrictions are often absent.

To get started, you need to open your browser and go to the video hosting site. In the browser settings, be sure to activate the option “Pc Version” or “Full Site Version” that will make the server think you are using a computer, and the interface will change, opening access to additional playback management functions.

When you start the video, turn the browser or turn off the screen. If the sound is gone, pull the notification curtain down, the media player control panel should appear there. Press the Play button, and the audio will continue to sound. In some cases, Xiaomi's system may try to close the browser after a few minutes of downtime.

⚠️ Attention: In the battery settings MIUI/HyperOS for the selected browser, set the "No Limits" mode, otherwise the system will forcibly close the tab through 10-15 minutes to save energy.

The advantage of the method is that there is no need for root rights or complex manipulations with ADB. However, the video quality can decrease when the browser is folded, and the ads will be reproduced in full if you do not use blockers like uBlock Origin in Firefox.

Configure permissions and batteries in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi shells are known for aggressive memory optimization, which often becomes the main enemy of background tasks. For YouTube or any other player to work consistently, you need to manually adjust the priorities of the process. Without this step, even a paid subscription may not save you from sudden stops of sound.

Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find YouTube (or your browser if you use the method above). Click on Battery and select No Limits, which will prevent the system from killing the process in the background.

Then you want to allow auto-start. In the same app settings menu, find the Auto-Start switch and activate it. This is especially important for HyperOS devices, where background control has become even more tight, and check if the permission to display over other windows is enabled.

Remember to pin the app to your recent task list. Open the menu of apps you've launched, find YouTube, and pull it down until the lock appears. This is a signal to the system that this process is important to the user and should not be cleared by the "Clear All" button.

Third-party clients: YouTube ReVanced and analogues

For advanced users who want to get YouTube Premium functionality for free, including background play, no ads and SponsorBlock, there are modified clients, and the most popular and relevant solution at the moment is the YouTube ReVanced project, which replaced the closed Vanced.

Installation of such applications requires downloading official APK-You can use a YouTube file from a trusted source (like APKMirror) and a ReVanced Manager patcher. It's not automated in a single click, which is secure, but it requires care. You can choose which modules to put into the app.

Key features of modified customers:

• 🎧 Full background reproduction of video and music.
• 🚫 Built-in ad blocker (including ads on smart TVs).
• ⏭️ Sponsorship segments (SponsorBlock).
• 📺 Return of the counter of dislikes under the video.

⚠️ Note: Only download modified applications from official GitHub repositories of developers. Third-party sites can distribute malicious code under the guise of popular patches.

Once installed and initially set up through a Google account, the app will work as normal but with enhanced functionality. Xiaomi’s system can swear at a “potentially dangerous app” – a standard reaction to software not from the Play Market, which can be ignored if the source of the files is verified.

Picture-in-Picture (Picture in Picture)

While it’s not exactly the background mode in the classic sense, Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode allows you to watch videos in a floating window on top of other apps. On Xiaomi, this feature is built into the system, but for YouTube, it often requires activation through experimental flags or third-party clients, as Google limits it to free accounts.

If you're using a modified client or a browser that supports PiP, the process is as follows: Run a video, then turn the app down or press the home button. The video should decrease into a floating window that you can move around the screen.

In standard Android settings on Xiaomi, the way to manage this feature is: Settings → Special features → Picture in picture. Make sure the switch is activated. However, without modifying the YouTube app itself, this switch may not have an effect on the free version of the service.

The mode is useful for multitasking: you can text Telegram, flip through social media feeds and simultaneously follow the news release. The window size is controlled by a pinch, and double-click unfolds the video to the full screen.

Comparison of methods: table of possibilities

To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method in the context of your use case.

*Security depends on the source of the load APK-file.

For ordinary users who do not want to risk the security of their account, the best choice is to use the Brave browser, which automatically blocks ads and allows you to listen to music in the background “out of the box”. For enthusiasts who are willing to spend 15 minutes setting up, ReVanced will be the best solution.

Typical problems and their solution

Even after you set it up properly, users can run into problems, often when the sound is lost when you lock the screen, or the video stops loading, and most of the time it's connected to network settings or a DNS cache.

Try changing. DNS-server in connection settings. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Click on your network. → Settings DNS. Select Manual and write 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) addresses, which often helps if the provider blocks certain requests.

• 📱 Problem: Video brakes in the background.Solution: Reduce video quality to 480p or 360p before folding.
• 🔋 Problem: Battery goes down quickly.Solution: Background video always consumes resources; turn off mobile network if Wi-Fi is enough.
• 🔇 Problem: No sound after unlocking Solution: Check if Do Not Disturb or silent mode is on.

Also, clear the YouTube app cache through settings. Accumulated temporary files can cause conflicts when running background services. Go to the app store and click Clear Cache (not data to avoid losing settings).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The main secret of stable operation is not only the correct software, but also the competent setting of battery resolutions in the Xiaomi system itself.

To sum up, watching YouTube in the background on Xiaomi is a real option without paying for a subscription. The choice of method depends on your technical literacy and comfort requirements. Browsers give quick results, and modified customers give maximum functionality.