How do I listen to audio with screen off?
Listening to audio content with your phone’s screen turned off provides several key benefits. First, it helps conserve battery life. Keeping the screen on is one of the biggest drains on a phone’s battery, so turning it off while listening to audio can extend battery life significantly (Source). Second, listening with the screen off allows for multitasking. You can listen to audio in the background while texting, checking email, or using other apps (Source). This makes activities like commuting, exercising, and doing chores more productive and entertaining. Third, listening without visuals allows some users to better focus on and retain the content being presented (Source). Overall, listening to audio with the screen off provides a more efficient and focused experience for many users.
Enable Screen Off Listening
By default, most Android devices will stop playing audio and video when the screen turns off. This is to help conserve battery life. However, you can change this setting to allow audio to continue playing with the screen off.
To enable screen off listening on Android, open the Settings app and go to Apps & Notifications > Advanced > App permissions. Look for the “Display over other apps” permission. Tap the toggle switch to turn this on. This gives apps permission to display content over your lock screen.
You can also go to Settings > Display > Lock screen and toggle on “Show media controls.” This will add playback controls to your lock screen so you can easily pause, skip tracks, etc without turning your screen back on.
Additionally, check your specific music, podcast, or audiobook app’s settings. Many apps have an option to “Keep screen on during playback” or “Lock screen controls” that should be enabled for screen off listening.
Once these permissions are set, audio should continue playing as normal even when your Android’s screen turns off. You may need to restart the app for changes to take effect. With screen off listening enabled, you can conserve battery life while still enjoying audio content. (Source)
Use a Music Streaming App
One of the most popular ways to listen to audio with the screen off is to use a music streaming app like Spotify.
Spotify allows you to play music in the background so you can keep listening even when your phone screen turns off. This makes it easy to listen to playlists, albums, or podcasts while on the go without draining your battery life.
To enable background audio in Spotify, simply start playing a song or playlist, then press the device’s home button to minimize the app. The music will continue playing while the Spotify app runs in the background. You can then turn your phone’s screen fully off and the audio will not be interrupted.
If background audio is not working in Spotify, make sure the setting is enabled in your Spotify app settings. You can allow Spotify to play in the background through the app’s Settings > Audio Quality section.
Some Android devices may require adjusting system settings to permit background audio as well. Check your device manufacturer’s instructions for enabling background apps.
With Spotify’s massive music library and background play feature, you can listen to audio anywhere without constantly engaging with your phone’s screen.
Try a Podcast App
Many popular podcast apps allow you to listen to podcasts with your device’s screen turned off. This is a great option if you want to listen to podcasts like normal audio content. Some podcast apps that enable screen-off listening include:
Podcast Addict – This app has a setting called “Headset Media Buttons” that lets your headset’s play/pause controls work even when the screen is off.
Pocket Casts – Pocket Casts has background audio controls that allow you to listen with the screen locked or when using other apps.
Overcast – Overcast has a feature called Background Audio that enables continuous playback with the screen off.
Stitcher – Stitcher’s background audio feature lets you listen to podcasts after minimizing the app or locking your phone.
Downcast – Downcast has configurable settings to allow continuous playback in the background with screen off.
Most quality podcast apps understand people want to listen to podcasts like music, audiobooks, or other audio, so they provide settings to enable this continuous playback experience even when not directly interacting with the app.
Use Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a great way to listen to audio with your screen off. Bluetooth allows you to pair wireless headphones or speakers to your phone or device. Once paired, the Bluetooth connection remains active even when your screen is off or locked.
Bluetooth audio works independently of your screen, so you can continue listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks and more while using other apps or while your screen is off. The audio will keep playing over your Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
One tip is to ensure you have the latest firmware for your Bluetooth device and the latest OS updates on your phone for best performance. You can also try adjusting Bluetooth settings like switching the AVRCP version to 1.4 as suggested in this Reddit thread.
Overall, Bluetooth is a convenient wireless option that allows you to listen to audio with the screen off across various apps and devices.
Try Audiobooks
Audiobooks are a great option for listening while the screen is off. Some dedicated audiobook apps allow background listening and will keep playing when your screen goes off or while using other apps.
Scribd is a subscription service with thousands of audiobooks that can keep playing when the screen is off [1]. Libby by Overdrive also allows for background listening if you connect it with a library card.
Audible, the largest audiobook store, has an auto-playback feature to keep your book going even when you switch apps or lock your phone. Downloaded audiobooks through their app will continue in the background.
Some other popular audiobook apps like Storytel and Audiobooks.com also support offline listening and allow you to keep your audiobook playing when the screen turns off.
Utilize Voice Assistants
One of the easiest ways to listen to audio with your phone’s screen off is by utilizing a voice assistant like Siri on iPhones or Google Assistant on Android devices. Voice assistants allow you to control music and podcast playback through voice commands without needing to turn on your screen or open any apps.
To use Siri to play audio, simply activate Siri (by holding down the home button or saying “Hey Siri”) and make a request like “Play my liked songs playlist on Spotify” or “Play the latest episode of The Daily podcast.” Siri can play audio from your music library, streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music, podcast apps, and more.[1] With your screen off, you can ask Siri to pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, and control playback without ever turning on your display.
One tip when using Siri is to make sure you give specific commands referring to playlists, albums, artists etc. rather than generic requests like “Play music.” Siri works best when you clearly state the audio source.[2] With a bit of practice, voice assistants like Siri provide a quick hands-free way to listen with your screen off.
Use Smart Watches
Smart watches like the Apple Watch allow you to listen to audio from your phone with the screen off. The Apple Watch has a “Now Playing” screen that shows media controls and album artwork even when the watch screen is off or your wrist is down.
To enable this on an Apple Watch, go to the Watch app on your iPhone and go to General > Wake Screen and turn on “Auto-Launch Audio Apps” (source). This will make the Now Playing screen appear automatically when you start media playback on your iPhone.
You can also swipe up on the watch face to access Now Playing when your screen is off. The Now Playing screen on the Apple Watch will stay on for a short time after you put your wrist down, allowing you to continue listening with the screen off (source).
Other smart watches like Wear OS watches and the Samsung Galaxy Watch also have media playback controls that remain accessible on the watch face with the screen off.
Consider Hardware Solutions
Dedicated music players like the iPod Classic or iPod Touch are great options for screen-free listening. While the iPod Classic has been discontinued, you can still find used models for sale. The iPod Touch retains a similar music playback interface to the Classic while adding a touchscreen. With WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, the iPod Touch allows you to easily load new music and podcasts wirelessly.[1]
There are also high-fidelity digital audio players from companies like Sony, Astell & Kern and others that focus solely on audio playback. These premium players boast excellent audio hardware and seamless user interfaces optimized for music. They make it easy to listen for hours without looking at a screen.[2]
Consider picking up an older used iPod or researching high-end audio players if you want a dedicated device just for music and podcasts without any screens or distractions.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are experiencing issues with audio stopping when the screen turns off, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Check that background activity is not restricted for the app – go to Settings > Apps > select the app > Battery > toggle on “Allow background activity.” This allows the app to function when the screen is off. For Spotify, specifically go to Settings > Battery and toggle on “Unrestricted” for background activity.
Try disabling battery optimizations for the app – go to Settings > Apps > select the app > Battery > Toggle off “Optimize battery usage.” This prevents your phone from restricting resources to the app when the screen is off.
Restart your phone – a simple restart can help clear any software glitches causing audio to stop.
Check for app updates – install the latest version of apps like Spotify, podcast apps, etc. Updates often include bug fixes for issues like this.
Toggle Bluetooth off and on – if listening via Bluetooth, try toggling it off and on again to re-establish the connection.
Check Do Not Disturb settings – make sure your phone is not set to limit audio notifications when the screen is off.
Try a different music app – it may be an isolated issue with a particular app. Testing a different app can help determine if it’s an app-specific problem.
Factory reset your phone – if nothing else works, a factory reset will clear any deeper system issues causing the problem. Back up data first.