How can I play music while playing a game on my phone?
Many mobile gamers want to listen to music while playing games on their smartphones in order to enhance the gaming experience. Music can help set the mood, increase focus and engagement, and make gaming more immersive and enjoyable. While most mobile games have background music and sound effects built-in, players often want the ability to listen to their own music playlists and audio selections during gameplay. There are a few different solutions that allow you to play music from your phone’s library or streaming apps while gaming on the same device. This guide will provide an overview of the main options available and instructions for setting up music alongside mobile gameplay.
Enabling Multi-Tasking
Most modern Android phones allow for multi-tasking between apps through split-screen or pop-up view modes. This allows you to run a music app and game simultaneously on your phone’s screen.
To enable split-screen mode, first open the Recent Apps menu and tap the app icon for the first app you want to use. Then tap the Split Screen option. Next, select the second app you want to use. Your phone’s screen will now show both apps side-by-side 1.
Alternatively, you can enable pop-up view on supported Android versions. Open your Recent Apps and tap the app icon. Choose Pop-up view and the app will open in a floating window that overlays your current screen. You can then switch to your game while continuing to access the pop-up music app 2.
Using one of these modes allows you to play music and game at the same time on Android.
Using a Music App
Streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music allow you to play music in the background while using other apps on your phone. This makes them a convenient option for listening to music during gameplay.
To enable background audio, open your music streaming app and look for a “Background Audio” or “Background Playback” option in Settings. Toggle this on to allow the app to continue playing audio even when you switch to another app or lock your phone’s screen.
Some apps may require a paid subscription for uninterrupted background playback. With Spotify’s free tier, for example, you can only listen to playlists in Shuffle mode while gaming. Paid subscribers have full access to Spotify’s library during gameplay.
If you encounter any issues with background audio cutting out, try updating the app to the latest version available. Music apps often improve their background playback features and stability with app updates.
Playing Local Music Files
One way to play music while gaming on your phone is to add audio files directly to your device and play them through a native music app in the background. This allows you to listen to specific songs or playlists without relying on a streaming service.
To get started, first add your desired music files to your phone’s internal storage or SD card. You can transfer files through a USB connection to your computer or download them directly on your device. Organize your music into playlists or folders to make it easy to access while gaming.
Then open your phone’s default music player app, like Music on Android devices or Music on iPhones. Browse to the song or playlist you want to hear in the background while gaming. Hit play, then switch over to your game. The music will continue playing as you game. You may need to go into your phone’s settings to allow background playback if it doesn’t work right away.
The advantage of using locally stored music is you have full control over your playlists and songs. You don’t need an internet connection or streaming service. However, managing music files yourself takes more effort. Using a streaming service is easier if you want access to millions of songs. But for custom playlists or saving mobile data, playing local music while gaming can be ideal.
Using a Bluetooth Speaker
Connecting a Bluetooth speaker is one of the easiest ways to play music from your phone while gaming. Most Bluetooth speakers will have easy wireless pairing that allows you to connect the speaker to your phone via Bluetooth. This lets you play music or other audio from your phone through the external Bluetooth speaker, while the game audio continues to play through your phone’s internal speakers.
The key benefit of using a Bluetooth speaker is that it allows gaming audio and music to play from separate devices. The game audio plays through the phone while you listen to music or podcasts through the paired Bluetooth speaker. This gives you isolated audio streams so you don’t have competing sound sources.
Popular portable Bluetooth speaker options like the Kisonli LED-913 Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 RGB Sound Bar are compact, battery-powered, and easy to set up. Just pair them to your phone once via Bluetooth and then you can quickly connect for wireless music playback anytime.
Limitations
There are some limitations to be aware of when trying to play music while gaming on your phone. One major limitation is increased battery drain. Having music playing in the background while gaming can use up a lot of processing power and drain your battery more quickly (https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-game-apps-stop-my-music-from-playing-while-its-in-use). Gaming alone already utilizes a lot of battery, so adding music on top will compound the battery usage.
Another limitation is restrictions within gaming apps themselves. Some games are programmed to pause your music when you open the app, in order to provide an immersive gaming experience. Games like Roblox have set limitations to control the music experience within their app (https://www.hollyland.com/blog/tips/cant-play-music-while-playing-roblox).
Finally, notifications from your music app or phone can interrupt your gaming focus. If you get a lot of notifications it may distract you from the game. Putting your phone on silent/vibrate can help avoid this.
Optimizing Your Setup
To get the best audio experience when listening to music while gaming, you’ll want to optimize your setup. One key factor is balancing the volume of the game audio and your music. Having the music too loud can drown out important in-game sounds like enemies or cues. But if the game is too loud, you won’t be able to enjoy your music selection.
According to the article “The Best Music to Listen to While Gaming” from Weraveyou.com https://weraveyou.com/2022/03/the-best-music-to-listen-to-while-gaming/, you should set the in-game volume to around 50-60% and adjust your music volume until you achieve the right balance. Consider lowering intense combat music and raising ambient exploration music. You can also tweak individual audio channels in the game settings.
Another key optimization is choosing a music genre that complements your gaming experience. As the YouTube video “What is the best music to listen to while Gaming? #Shorts” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NKIHXhrPQg recommends, electronic dance music with a steady beat can pair well with action games, helping you stay focused. Slower ambient or classical music may suit slow-paced strategy games better. Pick music that matches the game’s intended vibe and pace.
Troubleshooting Issues
If you run into problems with audio cutting out, lagging, or other interruptions while trying to play music and games at the same time, here are some things you can try:
Fixes for audio cutting out, lag, interruptions:
- Close and restart both the game and music apps – This clears any memory issues that could be causing conflicts.
- Check for app updates – Apps may release compatibility fixes in updates.
- Disable battery saver mode – Battery saver can sometimes limit background processes for music apps.
- Switch to a wired headset – Bluetooth can sometimes cause interference and audio issues.
- Adjust in-game and music app audio settings – Lowering some audio levels may help reduce lag and conflicts.
Solutions if certain music apps don’t play in background:
- Check app permissions – Make sure the music app has permission to run in the background.
- Enable background audio setting for the app – Some apps have a toggle for background audio.
- Use a different music app – Some apps may work better than others when multitasking.
- Update your phone’s OS – Older versions may have multitasking limitations.
With some troubleshooting and adjusting of settings, you should be able to get your chosen music and game apps to work smoothly together in the background.
Recommended Apps
Here are some of the top apps for playing music while gaming on your Android phone:
Spotify
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming apps, with over 75 million songs and hundreds of playlists to choose from.
Pros:
- Massive music library
- Curated playlists and recommendations
- Offline listening for premium subscribers
Cons:
- Need a premium account to listen offline
- Can be distracting to switch playlists/songs during gaming
YouTube Music
YouTube Music gives you access to all the songs and music videos on YouTube, along with curated playlists.
Pros:
- All YouTube content available
- Official songs and live performances
- Basic version is free
Cons:
- Need a premium account to play in background
- Drains battery life watching videos
Conclusion
There are multiple ways to play background music while gaming on your mobile device. You can run a music app in the background, play local music files from your storage, or use a Bluetooth speaker to stream audio. The ideal gameplay music experience will vary by person, but often involves a reliably running song, seamless integration, and manageable distractions.
The key methods covered allow playing music in a variety of situations. Music apps provide streaming music that doesn’t use storage space. Local files are great for playlists you already have or want to customize. Bluetooth speakers enable room-filling sound while keeping game audio separate. Optimizing your setup and troubleshooting any issues will help achieve your ideal mix of gameplay and tunes.
With the right approach, you can enjoy virtually any music while playing mobile games. This enhances the overall experience. Just be sure to choose music that complements your gameplay style and doesn’t overly distract you at key moments.