Why is my music not playing when screen is off?
When using music apps on a smartphone, it’s common to experience the music stopping when the screen turns off. There are a few main reasons why this happens:
First, many apps are not optimized to keep playing audio when not in the foreground. The app may pause playback when it’s no longer the focused app.
Second, operating systems often restrict background activities to save battery. So the OS may force apps to pause media playback when the screen is off.
Finally, some apps have autoplay settings, connectivity issues, or bugs that inadvertently pause playback with the screen off. Understanding the root cause can help troubleshoot and fix the problem.
App Optimization
One reason your music may stop playing when your screen is off is that the app is not properly optimized for background audio playback (Apple Developer Documentation). Many apps, especially games, are designed for foreground use and do not have background audio capabilities enabled. This means that when you switch apps or lock your screen, the app will pause playback.
Apps like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and other streaming services are specifically optimized to keep playing audio even when backgrounded. They do this by enabling audio sessions that persist even when the app is not in focus (Apple Developer Documentation). However, many apps, especially free or ad-supported ones, do not enable persistent background audio due to development costs and battery considerations.
So if the app you are using stops music playback when your screen turns off, it likely means the developer did not optimize it for seamless background audio. Checking for an update or trying a different app designed for background audio may resolve this issue.
OS Limitations
Mobile operating systems like iOS and Android have background restrictions that limit apps from performing certain tasks when not in the foreground. This is primarily for battery saving and performance optimization.
As noted in this Apple developer forum post, iOS does not allow background audio playback by design once the app is no longer active or the screen is off. Apps are usually suspended shortly after going into the background unless specific background execution modes are enabled.
Similarly, Android has put background restrictions on things like sensor access and background services. As per the Android developer documentation, background services are limited when the app is idle and the screen is off.
Battery Saving Mode
Battery saving or power saving modes on smartphones are designed to reduce power consumption by limiting background activities. This can often include restrictions on background audio playback. When enabled, battery saving mode will typically pause any music or audio that is playing in the background from apps like Spotify, YouTube, etc (Samsung).
Apps that play audio are usually restricted from running in the background when battery saving mode is on. This means that even if you start playing music and then switch to another app, the music will stop after a short while as the audio app gets suspended. The only way to allow background audio is to whitelist specific apps like Spotify in the battery or power saving settings (Spotify Community). This allows those apps to function normally in the background.
So in summary, battery saving mode limits background processes which stops background audio playback from apps. Whitelisting specific audio apps in the battery settings is needed to allow uninterrupted music with battery saving enabled.
Closing the App
One common reason why music stops playing when the screen is off is because the app playing the audio has been closed or swiped away from the recent apps list. When an app is actively running in the foreground or background, its audio and other processes will continue. However, closing out of an app completely shuts down all of its background functionality.
Both Android and iOS operating systems will automatically pause or stop any media playback when the app responsible for it is fully closed or swiped away. This is because the app needs to be open and running in order to process the audio files and output the music. As soon as the app is forced closed, the music stops as that background process is terminated.
To prevent this, it’s important not to swipe the app away when you are done actively using it. Instead, just hit the home button or switch to another app while allowing the music player to continue running in the background. As long as the app stays open and active, even if minimized, the music should not stop when the screen is turned off.
Additionally, some apps may have settings to continue audio playback even if you close the app on Android. But in general, closing out of the app responsible for playing the music will cut off the audio as background processes halt.
Autoplay Settings
One of the main reasons music may stop when your screen turns off is due to your autoplay settings. Most smartphones and music apps have an option to automatically start playing music when headphones are connected or the app is opened. This can cause music to start unexpectedly when reconnecting headphones or turning your screen back on (source).
To prevent this, you’ll want to disable autoplay in your music apps and/or smartphone settings. In Spotify, you can turn off Autoplay under Settings > Autoplay. In the Android OS, look in Sounds and Vibrations > Media to disable Media auto-start. Disabling autoplay prevents music from automatically resuming when reconnecting headphones or turning your screen on, which can cause music to overlap or restart unexpectedly.
The downside is that you’ll need to manually press play each time instead of your music starting up automatically in the background. But disabling autoplay gives you more control and prevents unwanted interruptions. Test it out to see if turning off autoplay fixes your music cutting out when the screen turns off.
Connectivity Issues
Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular connectivity issues can all disrupt music playback on smartphones.
With Bluetooth, an unreliable connection between the phone and speaker or headphones can lead to playback stuttering or stopping entirely. This often occurs if the paired devices move out of range or encounter interference from other electronics. Problems with Bluetooth connectivity tend to worsen as the distance between devices increases. Ensuring your phone and Bluetooth accessory remain within 30 feet and free of obstructions can help minimize connectivity problems. Sometimes, simply unpairing and repairing the devices or resetting your phone’s network settings resolves Bluetooth music issues.
Interruptions or low quality WiFi and cellular signals can also interfere with music streaming from apps and services. Loading and buffering music requires consistent bandwidth, and a weak connection may fail to deliver smooth playback. Switching to a better WiFi network or moving closer to a cellular tower could potentially improve connectivity. You may also try closing other bandwidth-intensive apps or turning off WiFi and using 4G/5G data instead.
Overall, any fluctuations or disruptions in your phone’s ability to transmit data over Bluetooth, WiFi, or cellular can hinder reliable music playback. Checking these connections and minimizing interference is key to troubleshooting connectivity-related issues.
Buggy Software
Software bugs and glitches are a common cause of music stopping unexpectedly when the screen is off. This can happen due to issues with the operating system, music streaming apps, or audio drivers on a smartphone.
For example, many users have reported the Apple Music app being especially buggy and prone to freezing or stopping music playback randomly (source). Reddit threads mention Android users facing similar problems with apps like YouTube Music randomly stopping with the screen off, likely due to software issues (source).
Bugs in the Android or iOS operating systems themselves can also inadvertently cause background audio playback to halt. Likewise, faulty audio drivers on a device might fail to transmit audio with the screen off. Updating apps, OS versions, and drivers can potentially fix such software-related problems.
Hardware Limitations
The hardware specifications of a smartphone can impact its ability to continuously play music when the screen is off. For example, limited internal storage may cause music playback issues if the device starts to run out of space. According to reports on Reddit, some Android devices need at least 1-2GB of free internal storage for smooth music playback (source).
RAM capacity also factors into music playback performance. Smartphones with only 1-2GB of RAM can struggle with multitasking and keeping music reliably playing in the background when the screen turns off. Newer devices tend to have 4-8GB of RAM, allowing for smoother playback (source).
Lastly, the audio hardware like the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) impacts audio quality and reliability. Low-quality DACs may have compatibility issues or jitter that causes music playback problems when the screen turns off.
Solutions
There are a few things you can try to prevent your music from stopping when the screen is off on your smartphone:
Whitelist music streaming apps in your battery settings so they are not restricted when the screen is off. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization and tap “All Apps”. Find your music app and tap it, then select “Don’t Optimize”.
Disable Battery Saver mode if you have it on, as this can limit background app activity. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and toggle it off.
Check autoplay settings in the app and ensure it is enabled to continue playing with the screen off.
Make sure the app is not being closed or swiped away when you turn off the screen. Let it run in the background.
Try restarting your phone and music app to clear any software glitches.
Check for app updates in the Play Store. The latest version may have fixed music playback issues.
As a last resort, consider upgrading your phone if it is quite old. Newer smartphones have fewer performance issues that could disrupt playback.