Youtube won't play in the background on iOS 10.1.1?

I'm having the same problem. A couple of days ago, YouTube background playback stopped working out of nowhere. I don't know what's wrong with it, but whenever I go to Control Center and hit "play", it just goes blank. I've tried restarting Safari (I prefer the YT layout on Safari over the actual app), and I've tried restarting my iPod completely. Nothing has worked, and if I have to pay for YouTube playback, heads are going to roll.

I have an iPod 6 with iOS 10.2, and I use YouTube through Safari. I updated the iPod when the update came out over a month ago, and I'm just now having this problem.

Somebody help!

I've figured out that if you go to YouTube on Safari and change it to desktop mode in the settings like you'd see on a regular computer, you can get it to still play in the background while using other apps or locking the screen. Works for me on the new iOS and iPhone 6 Plus.

It works on either android or apple for me. When you are playing youtube on Firefox and turn the screen off, the sound may stop but just turn on again the screen to see the play button then press play. Then you may turn off the screen again and the sound should just keeps going.

I found a work around. If you download the firefox app and go to youtube in the private viewing mode in Firefox, the background playing function will work. It won'twork if you use a regular firefox tab.

Youtube did play in the background if you play it through Safari. Press the home button, swipe up, then swipe left and press play. Until recently this would allow youtube to play in the background. Now when I press the play button the screen changes from what I was listening to on Youtube to "Music now playing on headphones."

It is quite possible that Youtube has restricted this as they want you to subscribe to their Red Channel.

I'm having the same issue! It has been working for years, up until tonight. I usually select a YouTube video (through safari), play the video, presss the home button, swipe up to get the audio controls, and press play. That usually works, but now when I press play, it goes blank and shows "music" and does nothing. Very inconvenient since I like to listen to relaxing sounds to help me fall asleep. Hopefully there is a solution. So far tried closing all apps, and restarting my iPhone. Ps I have iPhone 7.

No it doesnt work in the private mode.

But here guys i solved the problem!

You must go to safari settings and delete the Youtube webiste dates, you must search fot ww. youtube . com

And Delete it

After that it will be work again like in the good old times

Have a nice day

Cleared website data for YouTube in Safari settings. It will work sometimes in Private mode but not in regular mode on Safari.

It seems to be working well in Firefox on my iPhone 7 and Google Chrome is hit or miss.

I'm sorry man! It's still works for me on private mode. Before iOS 10.3 it worked even in regular mode. I don't know if this is due to geographical area limitations. I live in the U.S.

Try these steps:

1. Clear browsing data and history

2. Alternatively, I was able to get it to work on chrome mobile browser. Both regularly and incognito.

Hope this solves your issue.

March 29, 2017 - 8:53 am central time

Updated my iPhone 7 to 10.3 last night, March 28.

I have Safari, Chrome, and Firefox browsers on my iPhone. I am signed into my YouTube account in all browsers.

Cleared browsing data and history on Safari this morning. Safari will NOW play YouTube in the background in both regular and private modes.

CHROME will not play YouTube in the background. I am signed into my YouTube account.

Firefox WILL also play YouTube in the background. I am signed into my YouTube account.

I deleted both Chrome and Firefox and reinstalled the apps. Hope this helps.

Just found the solution to the problem. Go to settings -> Safari, and press "clear history and website data". Then turn the slider for "block pop-ups" off and then back on again. Fixed the problem instantly and I could listen to YouTube videos in the background like always. Hope that fixes everyone's issue.

Just go to "Private" in safari Tabs, open YouTube there, play video.

Next -> press home, swipe bottom menu up, swipe left, and click > play

From now on you can even go back to normal (not private mode) tabs and your sound will play anyway.

Maybe because YouTube tries weird way to force us to buy YtRed access.

Google still don't understand that they kill they own reputation this way...

When you go to "private" they probably don't get full information what you're doing and thanks to this Apple allow you to use YouTube as you should be able to ;)

Yeah it's always played in the background. Mine has just stopped a couple of days ago. I've been doing it for years. If you open the YouTube video in safari you can lock your screen and still play it or go to the home menu on your iPhone and still play it with the button -up menu. I guess YouTube has caught on and now we have to pay to be able to do this. I can hear the cash registers from here kaaachingggg!!!

OKAY UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've opened YouTube in Google chrome search engine app and you can do it on the locked screen. I'm guessing Apple has done a contract with YouTube to not allow us to play on locked screen for money so we uograde which is why they are highlighting the answers that say upgrade to YouTube red. Hopefully they highlight this one as it is a solution to your problem hahaha

Happy listening mate!!!