How do I listen to music and video on Android?
This guide explains how Android users can listen to music and watch videos on their devices. With the default apps pre-installed on Android phones and tablets, users can easily play audio and video files stored locally or streamed from the internet. Additionally, the Google Play Store offers many apps that enhance the listening and viewing experience, like streaming services, equalizers, andcasting options. This article provides an overview of the different methods to listen to music and watch videos on an Android device, from using the built-in apps to downloading additional apps and connecting external devices.
Use Default Apps
Most Android devices come pre-installed with default apps for playing music and video content. The most common default music app is Google Play Music or YouTube Music, while the default video player is typically Google Play Movies & TV.
To play local music files stored on your device, open the Play Music or YouTube Music app and select the “Library” or “Songs” tab. Here you’ll see all audio files saved to your phone’s internal storage or SD card. Tap on a song to begin playback. You can create playlists, shuffle songs, and access other features within the app.
For streaming music, the default apps allow you to access Google’s catalog of songs, albums, and artist radio stations. You can search for content or browse recommendations. An internet connection is required for streaming. A Google account may also be needed to access cloud locker features.
To play videos stored on your device, use the Play Movies & TV app and select the “Library” or “Videos” section. Local video files will appear here for playback. For streaming movies and shows, browse the app’s catalog or search for specific titles. A Google account is required for rentals, purchases, and accessing your watchlist.
So in summary, Android’s built-in media apps provide full functionality for playing both local and streaming music and video content. They serve as a convenient option without needing to download additional apps.
Install Additional Apps
In addition to the default apps, there are many great third-party apps for music and video on Android. Some of the most popular and highly recommended options include:
Spotify – The world’s most popular music streaming app with over 70 million songs and 2.2 million podcasts. Features playlists, recommendations, syncing across devices, offline listening, podcasts, and more. Free with ads or paid Premium subscription.
YouTube Music – Google’s music app for Android with over 70 million official songs, albums, and playlists. Also offers music videos, live performances, remixes, and radio. Free with ads or YouTube Premium.
Amazon Music – Amazon’s streaming music service with over 75 million songs. Listen across multiple devices, offline downloads, hands-free with Alexa. Subscription options include Prime Music, Music Unlimited and the HD tier.
Netflix – The leading on-demand video streaming service with award-winning movies, TV shows, documentaries, stand-up comedy, and more. Download for offline viewing. Paid subscription required.
Comparing features, Spotify offers the best social integration and playlists while Amazon Music provides integration with Alexa. For video, Netflix has the largest content library while YouTube offers a mix of official music videos and user-generated content.
Connect Bluetooth Devices
One of the most popular ways to listen to audio wirelessly on an Android device is by pairing Bluetooth headphones, speakers, or other devices. Here’s how to connect Bluetooth devices to your Android phone or tablet:
1. Go into your Android device’s Settings and select “Bluetooth”. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
2. Put your Bluetooth headphones, speaker, or other device into pairing mode so it is discoverable. Refer to the device’s instructions if unsure how to do this.
3. Your Android device will scan and display any available Bluetooth devices in range. Tap the name of the device you want to pair.
4. Confirm pairing on both your Android device and the Bluetooth device if prompted. Some devices may require entering a passcode or PIN which should be provided in the device instructions.
5. Once paired, your Android device will connect to the Bluetooth device automatically whenever it is powered on and in range. You may need to manually select it as your audio output device in Settings or your music app.
Most Android devices can remember multiple paired devices and connect to them automatically when detected. You can manage and forget Bluetooth pairings in Settings if needed.
Some popular Bluetooth headphones and audio devices that work great with Android include the Jabra Elite 65t, Anker Soundcore Liberty Air, and Sony WH-1000XM3.
Cast to External Devices
You can cast or stream music, videos, and other media from your Android device to external devices like smart TVs, speakers, and Chromecast. Here are some ways to do that:
To cast to a Chromecast device, open the app you want to cast from like YouTube or Netflix. Tap the Cast button and select your Chromecast device from the list. The content will start playing on your TV or speaker connected to the Chromecast. See this Google support article for more instructions.
To cast to smart TVs, look for the Cast option in your app and select your TV from the device list. Many new TVs have built-in casting capabilities through Chromecast or proprietary software. You can also use screen mirroring to show your Android device’s screen on a TV. Swipe down from the top and tap the Screen mirroring button.
For wireless speakers and other audio devices, you can use Bluetooth to pair and play audio. Go to Bluetooth settings on your Android device, select the speaker, and connect. Then in your music apps, choose the Bluetooth speaker for audio output.
Using these casting options allows you to enjoy media from your Android device on a bigger screen or better speakers, even without cables. Just connect to the same WiFi network to start streaming.
Manage Audio Output
You can easily switch the audio output between your phone’s headphone jack, Bluetooth devices, and built-in speaker on Android. This allows you to control where your music, videos, and other audio is played.
To manage your audio output, open the Settings app and select Connected Devices > Connection preferences > Audio output. Here you can choose between Wired headphones, Phone speaker, and Bluetooth audio. Select your preferred output and your phone will switch to playing audio through that source.
You can also enable audio switching from the quick settings panel for even faster switching. Pull down the notification shade and long press on the audio output icon. Toggle on “Audio output switch” and you’ll now be able to tap the icon to cycle through available outputs.
In your phone’s Sound settings, you can also manage audio quality and effects. Options may include Dolby Atmos, equalizer presets, and advanced audio configurations. This allows you to customize your listening experience for different content types.
Finally, if you run into any issues with audio output switching, try restarting your phone or the problematic accessory. Check for app updates as well in case it is a software-related problem. With Android’s robust audio options, you can enjoy content seamlessly through various outputs.
Save Music for Offline
One of the best features of music apps on Android is the ability to save songs, albums, and playlists for offline listening when you don’t have an internet connection. Here are some tips for downloading music to your device:
Use the YouTube Music app to download songs, albums, playlists, and podcast episodes for offline listening (Source: https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/6313535?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid). Simply tap the download button next to any music content to save it. There are no limits on how many times you can download.
Spotify also allows Premium subscribers to download playlists, albums, and podcasts for offline listening. Just tap the download icon next to any content. There is a limit of 10,000 songs that can be downloaded.
Use a free music download app like Free MP3 Downloads to download songs directly to your device storage. This works for individual songs rather than full albums or playlists.
Connect your Android device to your computer and transfer music files to save locally on your phone. This works for albums and playlists.
Use offline caching options in music and podcast apps like Google Podcasts to temporarily save episodes you’ve streamed for offline access later.
Downloading music for offline listening ensures you always have access to your favorite tunes, podcasts, and more – even without an internet connection.
Optimize for Listening
There are several settings and options you can enable on your Android device to optimize it for music and video listening:
Turn on Do Not Disturb mode when you want to listen without interruptions from notifications or calls. You can customize when and how Do Not Disturb activates in your device’s Settings.
Use a battery saving or low power mode to prolong battery life during long listening sessions. Battery saver settings are found in Settings > Battery.
Adjust the equalizer in your music or video app’s settings to tune the sound to your preferences. Many apps have presets like Bass Booster, Classical, Dance, Flat, Folk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Pop, and Rock. You can also create a custom preset.
Some devices have Dolby Atmos software to enhance audio with spatial surround sound effects. Check Settings > Sound to see if your device supports Atmos.
Turn on Mono Audio in Accessibility settings if you prefer to have both left and right channels mixed into one mono signal for single-ear listening.
You can find useful listening optimization tips in your device manufacturer’s support site, like this Samsung guide.
Troubleshooting
Some common troubleshooting issues when listening to music and videos on Android include:
Connectivity problems
If you’re experiencing buffering or videos not loading, it could be due to a poor internet connection. Try moving closer to your Wi-Fi router or switch to mobile data to see if connectivity improves. You can also try resetting your network settings under Settings > General management > Reset.
Audio issues
If you can’t hear audio when playing music or videos, first ensure the volume on your device is turned up and not muted. Check that your phone isn’t connected to a Bluetooth device that is handling the audio output. You can also try rebooting your device or updating your media apps like YouTube or Spotify to see if that resolves any audio problems.
Lagging and freezing
Choppy or lagging playback could be caused by having too many apps running in the background taking up RAM. Try closing unused apps to free up system resources. Updating to the latest version of Android can also help improve performance issues. As a last resort, you can try rebooting your phone or doing a cache partition wipe.
Corrupted files
If a particular video or music file won’t play properly, it may be corrupted. Try re-downloading the file and make sure you have enough storage space on your device. Using a file repair app can also help fix corrupted media files.
For additional troubleshooting, check the help centers for your media apps and Android device manufacturer. Performing general system maintenance like clearing the app cache can also help resolve playback issues.
Conclusion
Android offers a variety of options for listening to music and watching videos. The default apps like YouTube, Play Music, and Play Movies provide a seamless experience right out of the box. You can also install additional apps like Spotify, Pandora, and Netflix to access millions of songs and videos.
Connecting Bluetooth headphones or speakers allows you to listen privately or amplify the audio. Casting to external devices like smart TVs or Chromecast makes it easy to view content on a bigger screen. The volume buttons and system settings let you manage audio output across devices and apps.
Saving music locally or downloading videos for offline viewing ensures you can access content anytime, even without an internet connection. Optimizing battery usage, daylight settings, and other options can improve the listening and viewing experience. Troubleshooting steps like app updates, restarting, or uninstalling/reinstalling can resolve many common issues.
The key takeaway is that Android offers flexible, customizable options to listen to music and video in different situations. With a bit of exploration, you can tailor the experience to match your personal preferences.
For more help getting the most out of music and video on Android, check out Google’s official support site or the Android forums on Reddit.