Keeping Netflix playing in the background is a common request for users who want to multitask on their devices. Whether you are listening to a podcast, completing household chores, or working from home, the desire to have audio continue while navigating other apps is a practical need. This guide will walk you through the specific steps required to maintain audio playback, covering both mobile and desktop scenarios.
Understanding Background Play Restrictions
Before diving into the solutions, it is important to understand why Netflix usually stops playing when you leave the app. Mobile operating systems like iOS and Android are designed to conserve battery life and processing power. When an app is not in the foreground, the system often pauses its activities, which includes video and audio streams. To achieve continuous playback, you must adjust settings on both the Netflix app and your device to override these restrictions.
How to Keep Netflix Playing on Mobile Devices
The process for mobile users varies slightly depending on whether you use an iPhone or an Android phone. However, the core principle involves granting Netflix specific permissions that allow it to operate outside the default screen.
iOS (iPhone and iPad)
- Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Netflix.
- Tap on Netflix and select "Background App Refresh."
- Toggle the setting to "Wi-Fi" or "Wi-Fi & Cellular Data" to allow the app to update content even when not active.
- Additionally, swipe down from the top right corner to access Control Center and tap the audio mini-player to lock the screen or switch apps while music continues.
Android
- Navigate to Settings and look for "Apps" or "Applications."
- Find Netflix and tap on "Battery" or "Data usage."
- Set the battery optimization to "Don't optimize" for the Netflix app.
- Enable "Autostart" if prompted to ensure the service runs immediately after boot.
The Desktop Browser Solution
If you are accessing Netflix via a web browser on a computer, keeping the stream active is relatively straightforward. Most modern browsers offer a "Picture-in-Picture" (PiP) feature or the ability to lock the tab in a separate window.
To utilize this, simply play the video, then click the tab address bar or minimize the window. The video should continue playing unabated as long as the browser window remains open, provided no other applications are demanding significant system resources.
Leveraging the Netflix App on Smart Home Devices
For a hands-free experience in specific rooms, using a smart TV or streaming device (like a Chromecast or Fire TV Stick) is the optimal solution. Once Netflix is launched on these devices, the playback is tied to the hardware itself, not a temporary app session.
You can generally minimize the interface or switch to another source (like live TV on a connected cable box) while the Netflix audio persists. Just ensure the device itself does not have a setting that suspends active apps to save energy.
Utilizing Picture-in-Picture (PiP)
Many recent devices support Picture-in-Picture mode, which is arguably the most efficient method for multitasking. This feature allows a small, resizable video window to float on top of other applications.
- On supported Android phones, simply press the home button or swipe up to leave the app; the video window should shrink and remain playable.
- On iPads, dragging the video player to the edge of the screen triggers the PiP mode.
- Desktop users can utilize third-party browser extensions or native OS window management to achieve a similar floating video effect.
Considerations for Audio-Only Listening
While it is possible to keep the video visual on a small floating window, many users prefer audio-only mode to save battery and reduce screen brightness. If your goal is to listen to the soundtrack of a show or movie, consider ripping the audio track to a local file using legal software or using a dedicated music streaming service that offers similar soundtracks.
However, if you must rely on the Netflix app, keeping the video in a minimized PiP window is currently the most reliable way to ensure the audio continues uninterrupted while you use other apps.
