How to Minimize YouTube on iPhone in 2024

YouTube, one of the most popular video streaming platforms, can be a source of endless entertainment. But what if you want to multitask on your iPhone while keeping your favorite videos playing? Luckily, there are a few ways to minimize YouTube and continue using other apps on your iPhone in 2024. This feature is a game-changer, especially when you don’t want to interrupt the video you're watching. Here’s how to do it.

1. Picture-in-Picture Mode (PiP): Your Go-To Solution
One of the most convenient ways to minimize YouTube on iPhone is by using Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode. This feature allows the video to shrink down into a floating window while you navigate to other apps. However, it’s important to note that PiP is only available to YouTube Premium subscribers. Here’s how to activate it:

• Step 1: Open the YouTube app and start playing a video.
• Step 2: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go to your home screen. If PiP is enabled, the video will automatically shrink into a small window that you can move around the screen.
• Step 3: If PiP does not activate, you may need to enable it in your iPhone’s settings. Go to Settings > General > Picture-in-Picture and make sure the feature is turned on.

2. Using Safari to Access PiP Without YouTube Premium
If you don’t have a YouTube Premium subscription, you can still take advantage of PiP by using Safari instead of the YouTube app.

• Step 1: Open Safari and navigate to YouTube’s website.
• Step 2: Play the video you want to watch.
• Step 3: Tap the Full-Screen button in the video player, then press the Home button or swipe up from the bottom of your screen to minimize the app.
• Step 4: The video will continue playing in a floating PiP window.

This is a great workaround if you don’t want to pay for YouTube Premium but still want to enjoy multitasking with YouTube on your iPhone.

3. Background Play: Keeping the Sound Going
What if you only care about the audio? Whether it’s a podcast or a playlist, sometimes you just need the sound to continue playing. YouTube Premium offers the Background Play feature, which lets you listen to videos while using other apps or with the screen off. Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Play the video or audio you want.
• Step 2: Lock your phone or navigate to a different app. The audio will continue playing.
  For non-Premium users, this feature is not available through the official YouTube app, but it is possible using third-party apps or web browsers like Safari with some additional steps.

4. Alternative Apps and Solutions
If you’re looking for other ways to minimize YouTube without using PiP or Background Play, there are several third-party apps and services available.

• Apps like YouTube Vanced (available via unofficial means) offer PiP and background play for free. Keep in mind, these apps may have risks related to their unofficial nature.
• Alternatively, using web browsers like Brave also provides ways to keep videos running in the background, though not always as seamlessly as the official app.

5. iOS 17 and Future Updates: What to Expect
With each new iOS update, Apple enhances multitasking capabilities. As of 2024, there are rumors that future updates will bring more robust native support for PiP and background play, even without needing a YouTube Premium subscription. Keep an eye out for these features in upcoming iOS updates, as they could offer more flexibility for minimizing YouTube.

Final Thoughts
While YouTube Premium offers the smoothest experience for minimizing videos and continuing to use your iPhone, there are still several options for non-subscribers. Whether you use Safari, third-party apps, or wait for future iOS updates, multitasking with YouTube on your iPhone is only going to get easier.