How do I keep music playing when my Android screen is off?

One common frustration for Android users is when the music or audio they are listening to suddenly stops when the phone’s screen turns off. This can happen when listening to music apps, streaming services, podcasts, audiobooks, and more. The audio stops even though the user wants to continue listening with the screen off to save battery or while doing other tasks.

The purpose of this article is to provide solutions for Android users to keep music and audio playing even when the screen turns off. The aim is to explain various settings and techniques that will prevent the music from stopping abruptly when the screen goes off.

Use a Music App that Supports Background Playback

One of the easiest ways to keep music playing with the screen off is to use a music app designed for background playback. Apps like Spotify, Google Play Music, and Pandora are built to keep playing audio when the screen turns off or you switch to another app.

These dedicated music streaming apps are optimized to continue playback in the background. They can detect when the screen shuts off and switch to a background audio mode to conserve battery while still playing your music.

Unlike a video app or game, background audio functionality is central to the design of these music apps. So you don’t have to worry about the music stopping abruptly if you turn off the screen or start using another app on your Android device.

The advantage of using a streaming music app over just playing audio files is they provide full playback controls and library management even when the screen is off. You can easily pause, skip tracks, adjust volume and more without having to turn your screen back on.

Enable ‘Keep Screen On During Playback’

Some music apps like YouTube Music, Pandora, and Spotify have a ‘Keep screen on’ setting during music playback that prevents the screen from turning off and stopping the music.

To enable this, open the settings in your music app and look for an option like “Keep screen on during playback” or “Prevent screen lock”. Turn this setting on and it will keep the screen awake and music playing even after your phone’s main display shuts off.

This setting is very useful if you want to keep listening to music such as when driving or working out, but don’t want to have to constantly wake your phone’s screen. Just be aware that keeping the screen on will use more battery power.

Use a Widget to Control Music

One way to keep music playing with the screen off is to use a music widget on your home screen or lock screen. Music widgets give you playback controls like play/pause, next/previous track, and volume right on your home screen so you can control music without needing to unlock your phone and open the music app.

On Android, you can add widgets by long pressing on the home screen and selecting “Widgets”. Then find your preferred music app and add its widget. Popular apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, Google Play Music, and others have widgets available.

With the widget on your home screen, you’ll be able to pause, play, skip tracks, and adjust volume without turning on the screen or launching any apps. This comes in handy when you want to conserve battery life or quickly control music playback while doing other tasks.

You can also enable music widgets on your lock screen for even easier access. On some Android versions, you may need to enable lock screen widgets in your settings first. Then you can swipe left on the lock screen to find available widgets.

As noted on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Galaxy_S20/comments/kao3aw/use_the_lockscreen_music_widget_to_regain_media/), the lock screen music widget is useful for regaining media controls that may have been disabled in Android 11. With a widget, you can scrub through tracks and easily regain that functionality.

Get a Device with Always On Display

Some newer Android phones come with an always on display feature that keeps a minimal version of the lock screen visible even when the main screen is turned off. This allows you to view basic info like the time, notifications, and music playback controls without having to turn the screen on.

Phones with AMOLED or OLED screens are especially well-suited for always on display since they can selectively light up individual pixels without lighting up the entire screen. This allows them to display info while using very little battery life.

According to users on Reddit and forums like XDA Developers, the always on display is very convenient for music controls. You can easily pause, skip tracks, adjust volume and see what’s playing without fully turning on the phone screen.

Some popular Android models with always on displays include the Google Pixel series, Samsung Galaxy S and Note lines, OnePlus 8 Pro, Motorola Edge+, and certain LG phones. So if you want easy access to music controls even with the screen off, consider getting an Android phone with an always on display.

Use Voice Commands

One easy way to control your music playback when your screen is off is by using voice commands through Google Assistant or Samsung Bixby. Most Android devices come with one of these voice assistants built-in, allowing you to control your music hands-free.

With Google Assistant, you can use voice commands like “Hey Google, play my playlist” or “Hey Google, pause the music” to start and stop playback without having to turn your screen on. You can also skip tracks by saying “Hey Google, next song” or “Hey Google, previous song.”

Similarly, Bixby can be activated by saying “Hi Bixby” followed by commands like “play some music”, “skip track”, or “turn it up.” Bixby allows you to identify songs based on lyrics, so you can say something like “Hi Bixby, play that song that goes ‘I get by with a little help from my friends.'”

Check the settings for your voice assistant to enable hands-free voice controls and make sure music services like Spotify, YouTube Music etc. are linked. This allows a seamless voice experience without having to manually open apps.

Overall, leveraging Google Assistant or Bixby is a simple and effective way to control your music when your screen is off. The voice commands allow you to play, pause, skip tracks and adjust volume completely hands-free.

Get a Bluetooth Remote

One easy way to keep music playing on your Android device when the screen is off is by getting a Bluetooth remote. Many Bluetooth remotes are designed specifically for controlling media playback, making them perfect for changing songs or adjusting the volume without having to turn your screen on.

There are lots of Bluetooth remote options available for Android devices. The AmazonBasics Media Remote Control works with the Amazon Music app as well as other popular Android music apps like Spotify, Pandora, and Google Play Music. It allows you to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, and more. See more details at Amazon.

Another top-rated Bluetooth remote for Android is the Tecboss Media Remote Control, which provides playback control buttons as well as options to skip forward/back 10 seconds – handy for podcasts or audiobooks. Check it out on Amazon.

For maximum flexibility, the Media Remote app for Android allows you to use your old smartphone as a dedicated remote for your current device via Bluetooth. Get it on the Google Play Store.

With the right Bluetooth remote, you can keep the music going without needing to have your Android’s screen turned on all the time.

Use the Notification Panel

The notification panel on Android devices contains media playback controls that allow you to control music without keeping the screen on. When music is playing, you’ll see the album artwork and basic controls like play/pause and skip track in the notification panel.

To access these controls, simply swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel. The media playback controls will be shown near the top. You can then pause, play, or skip tracks without having to keep the screen on or open the music app.

This provides quick access to playback controls as long as you have music playing in the background. It’s especially useful for controlling music with the screen off. Just briefly turn on the screen, open the notification panel, and tap the control you need.

Enable Developer Options

An advanced way to keep your Android screen awake during music playback is to enable Developer options, which gives you access to hidden system settings. Developer options has a toggle called ‘Stay awake’ that will prevent your screen from turning off automatically.

To enable Developer options on your Android device:

1. Open Settings and scroll down to locate About phone/tablet.
2. Tap on Build number 7 times until you see a message that says “You are now a developer.”
3. Back in Settings, you will now see a new menu item called Developer options.
4. In Developer options, toggle on ‘Stay awake’.

With ‘Stay awake’ enabled, your Android screen will stay on indefinitely during music playback or any other app usage ([1]). However, be cautious as this will drain your battery life much more quickly.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several ways to keep music playing on your Android device when the screen turns off. Using a music app that supports background audio playback is the easiest option. Enabling the ‘Keep screen on during playback’ setting can also do the trick. If your music app lacks background support, using a widget to control playback or voice commands are good workarounds. External options like Bluetooth remotes and the notification panel allow you to control music without turning on the screen. For maximum flexibility, enabling developer options gives you access to settings like ‘Don’t keep activities’.

Newer versions of Android have better built-in support for background audio and multitasking. If possible, updating your device’s operating system could unlock more seamless background playback. Overall, with the right app and settings combo, you can enjoy your music library even when your Android’s screen is off and save battery life.