Is there any way to continue playing music while watching a video on an Android?

Android users often want to play music while also watching or playing videos on their device for various reasons. Having background music can enhance the video watching experience or simply allows users to multitask and enjoy their playlist while watching a video. With the proliferation of streaming video and music apps as well as multiple media capabilities of smartphones, there are actually several built-in and third party ways Android users can play music simultaneously with video content. This article will explore the benefits and features of playing music with videos on Android devices and overview the various methods to accomplish this.

Benefits of Playing Music with Videos

Many people enjoy listening to music while watching videos as it can create a more immersive and enjoyable experience. According to research from Johns Hopkins Medicine, listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, alertness, and memory [1]. Combining music and video allows people to experience the benefits of both simultaneously.

Listening to soothing, instrumental music like Enya while watching calming nature videos can be especially relaxing and stress-reducing, as noted on Quora [2]. Music enhances the visuals and puts the mind at ease. Using music to complement the tone and mood of a video helps transport viewers into its world.

Research also shows that discussing music content can promote healthy development in adolescents by helping them better understand their emotions [3]. Shared musical experiences between generations of a family can strengthen connections. Overall, combining music with videos creates a richer, more enjoyable and beneficial multimedia experience.

[1] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/keep-your-brain-young-with-music

[2] https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-benefits-of-watching-listening-to-nature-videos-and-soft-instrumental-songs-like-Enya-Does-this-help-reduce-stress-If-so-how-does-it-work

[3] https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/The-Influence-Of-Music-And-Music-Videos-040.aspx

Built-in Android Options

Many Android devices include built-in features that allow you to use multiple apps at the same time. Here are some of the main options:

Split Screen/Dual Window Mode: This feature lets you view two apps simultaneously in a split screen view. To activate it, open your first app and then tap and hold the Recent Apps button. You’ll then see a list of your recently used apps – select the second app you want to use. Some Samsung devices may require accessing the feature through Advanced Features in Settings.

You can adjust the size of each app window and even switch the placement from vertical to horizontal. Not all apps support split screen mode, but most built-in Android apps and many third party apps do.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) Mode: This feature allows you to watch video in a small window while continuing to use other apps. To activate it, simply tap the Home button while a video is playing. The video will shrink down into a floating window that you can move around. PIP works for apps like YouTube, Netflix, Chrome and more.

Freeform Windows: Available on Samsung devices, this takes multi-window functionality even further. You can open multiple apps in completely resizable windows and arrange them anywhere on screen. It provides the most flexibility for using multiple apps simultaneously.

So in summary, Android has built-in options like split screen and PIP to run apps side-by-side. Check your device settings to enable these features.

Third Party Apps

One of the best and most popular options for playing music with videos on Android is to use third party apps. There are several excellent apps available that allow you to play audio and video simultaneously:

Mixing Bowl is a highly rated app designed specifically for playing music and video at the same time. It has separate controls for both the audio and video, allowing you to easily manage both simultaneously. You can load your own music files or use YouTube as the audio source.

The classic VLC media player is also a great option that allows audio and video playback together. It supports virtually every video and audio format. With VLC you can play a video while using a music file or streaming audio as the soundtrack.

Other good apps to check out include MediaMonkey, KMPlayer, XPlayer, and Wondershare Player. Most of these apps are free or have free versions, so you can test out a few to see which interface and features you prefer.

The advantage of using a third party app rather than built-in Android options is you generally get more controls, format support, and video pop-out/pip features. Just be sure to download apps from trusted developers.

Streaming Services

Many popular music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music allow you to continue listening to music while using other apps on your Android device.

For example, with Spotify’s background play feature, you can play songs continuously even when the Spotify app is minimized or your Android screen is off. This means you can listen to Spotify playlists or stations while watching video in apps like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, etc.

Similarly, YouTube Music subscribers can play audio from playlists, albums, and stations in the background. So you can have your personal playlist going while watching a YouTube video on the same device.

Apple Music also lets you play music in the background across Android. So subscribers can keep listening to their Apple Music library and playlists while using other apps.

Streaming services like these allow seamless music listening while doing other tasks on your Android. With background audio and playlists, you can enjoy your favorite music to accompany videos, gaming, web browsing, and more.

Bluetooth Speakers/Headphones

One way to keep your music playing while watching videos is to connect Bluetooth speakers or headphones to your Android device. This allows the audio from your music player to be handled separately from the video audio.

To do this:

  • Go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth on your Android.
  • Turn on Bluetooth and pair your Bluetooth speakers or headphones.
  • Open the video you want to watch and start it playing.
  • Open your music app and start playing music.

The video audio will play through your device’s built-in speakers, while the music will play through the Bluetooth audio device. You can control the volume levels separately.

One limitation is that you won’t be able to hear both the video and music through the Bluetooth device. But this allows you to keep listening to music uninterrupted while still hearing the video audio. It’s an easy way to multitask without having to pause your music.

Split Screen/Pop Out Video

One way to continue playing music while watching videos on Android is to use the split screen or pop out video features available on some devices, especially Samsung and LG phones. This allows you to run two apps at the same time, with one app on each half of the screen.

For example, on Samsung Galaxy devices, you can activate split screen mode by tapping the Recent Apps button and then tapping the app icon above the app preview to open an app in split screen view. From there, you can select a second app like a music player to open in the other window. This enables you to watch a video in one window while music plays in the background from the other app.

Similarly, on LG phones, you can turn on split screen by dragging an app from the home screen into multi window mode. You can then open a second app like YouTube Music or Spotify in the other window to play audio alongside a video.

This split screen functionality allows you to simultaneously run a video player and music app side-by-side on compatible Android devices from leading manufacturers like Samsung and LG.

PIP Mode

Picture-in-picture (PIP) mode allows Android users to watch videos in a small window while simultaneously using other apps. PIP keeps a video playing even after exiting the video app.

To use PIP on Android, start playing a video in a supported app like YouTube or Netflix. Then press the home button to minimize the video into a small window. The video will continue playing in this floating window while you use other apps.

PIP mode has some limitations on Android. For example, you can’t use PIP when playing DRM-protected content like many music videos or paid movies. PIP also may not work on certain Android models or OS versions.

According to Google support, YouTube’s PIP only works for certain videos and is not available for music videos. A Reddit thread confirms many users have found PIP fails on YouTube music videos.

With some limitations, PIP can allow Android users to continue watching video while multi-tasking. But it may not work for music videos or other restricted content.

Casting

One way to continue playing music on your Android device while watching a video is by casting the video to your TV screen or external display and keeping the audio playing from your phone. This allows you to watch the video on a bigger screen while listening to music from your phone’s speakers or headphones. According to the Android support page, you can cast video to a Chromecast or Cast-enabled TV while routing the audio back to your Android device by tapping “Route audio to phone” in the playback controls [1].

The Chromecast support page also mentions being able to cast audio and video from your Android device using compatible apps, while retaining music playback on your phone [2]. When casting a video in a supported app like YouTube, Netflix, etc. look for the “Route audio to phone” option in the playback controls. This will let you cast the video while the audio keeps playing on your Android device.

Users on Reddit have also reported success casting video to their Chromecast device while retaining music or podcast playback from their phone or tablet [3]. So this method should work for both audio apps and video streaming apps.

Conclusion

Being able to play music while watching videos on your Android device can greatly enhance your viewing experience. With the various built-in options, third party apps, streaming services, and external devices available, you have plenty of choices to suit your particular needs and preferences.

The split screen and pop out video features allow you to multitask and view videos while accessing other apps and functions on your device. PIP mode gives you a floating video window so you can watch videos while doing other things. Casting lets you play videos on your TV while playing music aloud on your Android.

In summary, with all the options covered here, you should have no problem continuing to listen to music while enjoying videos on your Android device. Take some time to explore which methods work best for you. The ability to combine music and videos can make for an immersive, engaging experience.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *