Endless Entertainment: Your Ultimate YouTube Movies List

Create High-Quality Video - Wondershare Filmora

An easy and powerful YouTube video editor

Numerous video and audio effects to choose from

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

Try It Free Try It Free

Have you seen everything on Netflix? Does nothing pique your interest in Hulu or Amazon Prime Video? Can I entice you with a free YouTube movie?

To watch full-length movies for free, you don’t need to rent a movie or sign up for a YouTube Premium subscription. Hundreds of movies are accessible for free on YouTube if you don’t mind having your movie-watching pleasure interrupted by the occasional ad.

If you’re willing to pay to stream, YouTube boasts as large a collection of new movies as anyone. However, the video streaming site features a large, though difficult-to-find, a library of legal free movies. Not talking about strangely uploaded, blurry, shaky movies. Along with viral stars and adorable animal montages, genuine, 100 percent free (and good) movies are available.

1. SUNRISE

Sunrise is one of the best free movies on YouTube, containing aspects of Silent, Romance, and Thriller. The film was directed by F.W. Murnau and was released in 1927. The cast also includes Janet Gaynor, George O’Brien, and Margaret Livingston. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDB.

The plot of the movie

A farmer (George O’Brien) is bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby, and the monotony of farm life when he falls under the spell of a flirty city lady (Margaret Livingston), who persuades him to drown his wife so they can flee together. When his wife suspects his plot and flees to the city, the farmer pursues her, gradually recovering her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

2. THE GENERAL

The General is one of the top free YouTube movies of the year 2021, combining Silent, Comedy, and Romance elements. The film was initially shown in 1926. Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckham directed the picture. Starring are Joseph Keaton, Marion Mack, and Glen Cavender. In addition, the IMDB rating is 8.1/10.

The plot of the movie

One of the most revered silent-era comedies, this picture depicts hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) going up against Union forces during the American Civil War. When Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), Johnny’s fiancée, is kidnapped while aboard a train taken by Northern forces, Gray follows the soldiers using various modes of transportation in entertaining action that showcases Keaton’s inexhaustible wit and ability.

3. SAFETY LAST

On April 1, 1923, one of the best free movies on YouTube, safety last, was launched. The filmmakers of this picture are Sam Taylor and Fred C. Newmeyer. Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Bill Strother are among the cast members. It’s a comedy/adventure silent film. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Safety Last! is a meditation on time and money, fame and misfortune that mirrors its creator’s life. A young man (Harold Lloyd) arrives at New York Metropolis to support his adoring lover (Mildred Davis). Still, he rapidly learns that surviving in a large city is more difficult than surviving in a small town.

When he learns that a store manager is willing to give $1,000 to anyone who can get consumers into his store, he convinces his acquaintance, the “human fly” (Bill Strother), to help him climb the building and divide the profit with him. But when his friend gets into problems with the cops, he is forced to accomplish the insane stunt on his own.

4. NOSFERATU

Nosferatu is the best free movie on YouTube; 1929 was the year of publication. F. W. Murnau directed the film, Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim are among the cast members. This film is placed in the genres of silent and horror. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

In this immensely famous silent horror film, the intriguing Count Orlok (Max Schreck) sends Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his lonely Transylvanian castle in the mountains. Orlok, the creepy, aspires to purchase a home near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Hutter struggles to escape the castle after Orlok reveals his vampire nature, knowing that Ellen is in severe danger. Knock (Alexander Granach), Orlok’s servant, is preparing for his master’s arrival at his new residence.

5. THE NAVIGATOR

The Navigator is one of the top free movies on YouTube for time killing 2021; the year of publication is 1924. Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp are the directors. Moreover, Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, and Fred Vroom are among the cast members. It is the best Silent and Comedy movie of 2021. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

David (Joey Cramer), 12, and his family live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in this 1978 Disney adventure. When he recovers after being knocked out in the jungle near his home, he discovers that eight years have gone by. His family is happy to see him back, but they are as mystified as he is that he hasn’t aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) detects a UFO nearby, David is allowed to solve the riddle and reclaim his life.

6. THE SCARECROW

The Scarecrow is one of the best YouTube movies. The year of publishing is 1920, and the film’s directors are Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. Among the actors in this film are Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Joe Keaton. This is a silent and funny film. On IMDb, the film has a 7.3/10 rating.

The plot of the movie

Two creative farmhands battle for the same girl’s hand in marriage. She, on the other hand, is unimpressed with both of them. Farmhands Keaton and Roberts inhabit a cottage filled with mechanical equipment designed to make life easier. They’re competing for the farmer’s daughter. Disguised as a scarecrow, Keaton wreaks havoc on his adversary and the farmer. When Keaton stoops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts his kneeling proposition.

7. THE KID

The best YouTube movie is The Kid. The movie was first published in 1921and the film was directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is a classic silent and comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, and Edna Purviance. The rating on IMDb is 5.9/10.

The plot of the movie

Chaplin’s first full-length film is a silent classic about a tiny tramp who discovers and raises a small orphan but is abandoned when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin wrote, directed, and performed in the film and provided the score.

8. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

The best movie to watch on YouTube to pass the time is Night of the Living Dead. It was first published in 1968. George A. Romero directed the picture. The cast includes Judith O’Dea, Russell Streiner, and Duane Jones. Horror is a subgenre of filmmaking, and this film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Of course, Night of the Living Dead is a horror film designed to frighten viewers. On the other hand, Fear serves as an essential lesson for viewers, demonstrating that if you do not act solely on impulse, you are more likely to survive a tragic circumstance like the one depicted onscreen. The movie’s plot is when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in quest of new human remains to consume, a diverse group of people seeks safety in an abandoned mansion.

9. ZODIAC

Zodiac is the best film, and it was released on February 28, 2007. David Fincher is the film’s director. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch. It is a thriller, horror, and mystery movie. The IMDb rating is 7.7/10.

The plot of the movie

Zodiac is a film about the allure of investigation and passion, as well as the terror of unpredictability. The movie’s plot is, Fear pervades San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a serial killer known as Zodiac pursues its residents. Detectives (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with locating and prosecuting the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Zodiac continues to murder individuals while taunting cops with cryptic letters, cyphers, and threatening phone calls.

10. THE LADY VANISHES

The Lady Vanishes is both comically dated and a by-the-numbers primer on constructing a near-perfect thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film, which was released in 1938. Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas are among the stars. The IMDb rating is 7.8/10.

The plot of the movie

Here’s a film’s plot. An avalanche delays a party of travelers on a train bound for England. Young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy while holed up in a hotel in a fictitious European country (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris falls unconscious and awakens to find the older woman has vanished. When the other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy’s existence, Iris goes on to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave), and romantic sparks fly between the two sleuths.

Edit your YouTube video with Filmora

Furthermore, Filmora is excellent for editing short videos and making short video advertisements. When you require more functionality than the original Windows Movie Maker, Filmora is a perfect choice. However, the procedure of importing (paying) templates from the library is time-consuming, and the software alternates between local and online installation.

Wondershare Filmora’s primary features include 4K editing support, GIF compatibility, noise removal, color tuning, a powerful text editor, an audio mixer, video stabilization, scene identification, and audio equalization. Users can edit and export videos with a resolution of up to 4K, thanks to the 4K editing support function.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Conclusion

● While you may rent or buy movies on YouTube, you can also watch a lot of them for free. The films listed above are some of the suggestions for you. You will appreciate these films and have a good time.

Try It Free Try It Free

Have you seen everything on Netflix? Does nothing pique your interest in Hulu or Amazon Prime Video? Can I entice you with a free YouTube movie?

To watch full-length movies for free, you don’t need to rent a movie or sign up for a YouTube Premium subscription. Hundreds of movies are accessible for free on YouTube if you don’t mind having your movie-watching pleasure interrupted by the occasional ad.

If you’re willing to pay to stream, YouTube boasts as large a collection of new movies as anyone. However, the video streaming site features a large, though difficult-to-find, a library of legal free movies. Not talking about strangely uploaded, blurry, shaky movies. Along with viral stars and adorable animal montages, genuine, 100 percent free (and good) movies are available.

1. SUNRISE

Sunrise is one of the best free movies on YouTube, containing aspects of Silent, Romance, and Thriller. The film was directed by F.W. Murnau and was released in 1927. The cast also includes Janet Gaynor, George O’Brien, and Margaret Livingston. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDB.

The plot of the movie

A farmer (George O’Brien) is bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby, and the monotony of farm life when he falls under the spell of a flirty city lady (Margaret Livingston), who persuades him to drown his wife so they can flee together. When his wife suspects his plot and flees to the city, the farmer pursues her, gradually recovering her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

2. THE GENERAL

The General is one of the top free YouTube movies of the year 2021, combining Silent, Comedy, and Romance elements. The film was initially shown in 1926. Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckham directed the picture. Starring are Joseph Keaton, Marion Mack, and Glen Cavender. In addition, the IMDB rating is 8.1/10.

The plot of the movie

One of the most revered silent-era comedies, this picture depicts hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) going up against Union forces during the American Civil War. When Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), Johnny’s fiancée, is kidnapped while aboard a train taken by Northern forces, Gray follows the soldiers using various modes of transportation in entertaining action that showcases Keaton’s inexhaustible wit and ability.

3. SAFETY LAST

On April 1, 1923, one of the best free movies on YouTube, safety last, was launched. The filmmakers of this picture are Sam Taylor and Fred C. Newmeyer. Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Bill Strother are among the cast members. It’s a comedy/adventure silent film. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Safety Last! is a meditation on time and money, fame and misfortune that mirrors its creator’s life. A young man (Harold Lloyd) arrives at New York Metropolis to support his adoring lover (Mildred Davis). Still, he rapidly learns that surviving in a large city is more difficult than surviving in a small town.

When he learns that a store manager is willing to give $1,000 to anyone who can get consumers into his store, he convinces his acquaintance, the “human fly” (Bill Strother), to help him climb the building and divide the profit with him. But when his friend gets into problems with the cops, he is forced to accomplish the insane stunt on his own.

4. NOSFERATU

Nosferatu is the best free movie on YouTube; 1929 was the year of publication. F. W. Murnau directed the film, Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim are among the cast members. This film is placed in the genres of silent and horror. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

In this immensely famous silent horror film, the intriguing Count Orlok (Max Schreck) sends Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his lonely Transylvanian castle in the mountains. Orlok, the creepy, aspires to purchase a home near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Hutter struggles to escape the castle after Orlok reveals his vampire nature, knowing that Ellen is in severe danger. Knock (Alexander Granach), Orlok’s servant, is preparing for his master’s arrival at his new residence.

5. THE NAVIGATOR

The Navigator is one of the top free movies on YouTube for time killing 2021; the year of publication is 1924. Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp are the directors. Moreover, Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, and Fred Vroom are among the cast members. It is the best Silent and Comedy movie of 2021. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

David (Joey Cramer), 12, and his family live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in this 1978 Disney adventure. When he recovers after being knocked out in the jungle near his home, he discovers that eight years have gone by. His family is happy to see him back, but they are as mystified as he is that he hasn’t aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) detects a UFO nearby, David is allowed to solve the riddle and reclaim his life.

6. THE SCARECROW

The Scarecrow is one of the best YouTube movies. The year of publishing is 1920, and the film’s directors are Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. Among the actors in this film are Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Joe Keaton. This is a silent and funny film. On IMDb, the film has a 7.3/10 rating.

The plot of the movie

Two creative farmhands battle for the same girl’s hand in marriage. She, on the other hand, is unimpressed with both of them. Farmhands Keaton and Roberts inhabit a cottage filled with mechanical equipment designed to make life easier. They’re competing for the farmer’s daughter. Disguised as a scarecrow, Keaton wreaks havoc on his adversary and the farmer. When Keaton stoops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts his kneeling proposition.

7. THE KID

The best YouTube movie is The Kid. The movie was first published in 1921and the film was directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is a classic silent and comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, and Edna Purviance. The rating on IMDb is 5.9/10.

The plot of the movie

Chaplin’s first full-length film is a silent classic about a tiny tramp who discovers and raises a small orphan but is abandoned when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin wrote, directed, and performed in the film and provided the score.

8. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

The best movie to watch on YouTube to pass the time is Night of the Living Dead. It was first published in 1968. George A. Romero directed the picture. The cast includes Judith O’Dea, Russell Streiner, and Duane Jones. Horror is a subgenre of filmmaking, and this film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Of course, Night of the Living Dead is a horror film designed to frighten viewers. On the other hand, Fear serves as an essential lesson for viewers, demonstrating that if you do not act solely on impulse, you are more likely to survive a tragic circumstance like the one depicted onscreen. The movie’s plot is when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in quest of new human remains to consume, a diverse group of people seeks safety in an abandoned mansion.

9. ZODIAC

Zodiac is the best film, and it was released on February 28, 2007. David Fincher is the film’s director. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch. It is a thriller, horror, and mystery movie. The IMDb rating is 7.7/10.

The plot of the movie

Zodiac is a film about the allure of investigation and passion, as well as the terror of unpredictability. The movie’s plot is, Fear pervades San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a serial killer known as Zodiac pursues its residents. Detectives (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with locating and prosecuting the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Zodiac continues to murder individuals while taunting cops with cryptic letters, cyphers, and threatening phone calls.

10. THE LADY VANISHES

The Lady Vanishes is both comically dated and a by-the-numbers primer on constructing a near-perfect thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film, which was released in 1938. Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas are among the stars. The IMDb rating is 7.8/10.

The plot of the movie

Here’s a film’s plot. An avalanche delays a party of travelers on a train bound for England. Young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy while holed up in a hotel in a fictitious European country (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris falls unconscious and awakens to find the older woman has vanished. When the other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy’s existence, Iris goes on to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave), and romantic sparks fly between the two sleuths.

Edit your YouTube video with Filmora

Furthermore, Filmora is excellent for editing short videos and making short video advertisements. When you require more functionality than the original Windows Movie Maker, Filmora is a perfect choice. However, the procedure of importing (paying) templates from the library is time-consuming, and the software alternates between local and online installation.

Wondershare Filmora’s primary features include 4K editing support, GIF compatibility, noise removal, color tuning, a powerful text editor, an audio mixer, video stabilization, scene identification, and audio equalization. Users can edit and export videos with a resolution of up to 4K, thanks to the 4K editing support function.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Conclusion

● While you may rent or buy movies on YouTube, you can also watch a lot of them for free. The films listed above are some of the suggestions for you. You will appreciate these films and have a good time.

Try It Free Try It Free

Have you seen everything on Netflix? Does nothing pique your interest in Hulu or Amazon Prime Video? Can I entice you with a free YouTube movie?

To watch full-length movies for free, you don’t need to rent a movie or sign up for a YouTube Premium subscription. Hundreds of movies are accessible for free on YouTube if you don’t mind having your movie-watching pleasure interrupted by the occasional ad.

If you’re willing to pay to stream, YouTube boasts as large a collection of new movies as anyone. However, the video streaming site features a large, though difficult-to-find, a library of legal free movies. Not talking about strangely uploaded, blurry, shaky movies. Along with viral stars and adorable animal montages, genuine, 100 percent free (and good) movies are available.

1. SUNRISE

Sunrise is one of the best free movies on YouTube, containing aspects of Silent, Romance, and Thriller. The film was directed by F.W. Murnau and was released in 1927. The cast also includes Janet Gaynor, George O’Brien, and Margaret Livingston. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDB.

The plot of the movie

A farmer (George O’Brien) is bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby, and the monotony of farm life when he falls under the spell of a flirty city lady (Margaret Livingston), who persuades him to drown his wife so they can flee together. When his wife suspects his plot and flees to the city, the farmer pursues her, gradually recovering her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

2. THE GENERAL

The General is one of the top free YouTube movies of the year 2021, combining Silent, Comedy, and Romance elements. The film was initially shown in 1926. Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckham directed the picture. Starring are Joseph Keaton, Marion Mack, and Glen Cavender. In addition, the IMDB rating is 8.1/10.

The plot of the movie

One of the most revered silent-era comedies, this picture depicts hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) going up against Union forces during the American Civil War. When Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), Johnny’s fiancée, is kidnapped while aboard a train taken by Northern forces, Gray follows the soldiers using various modes of transportation in entertaining action that showcases Keaton’s inexhaustible wit and ability.

3. SAFETY LAST

On April 1, 1923, one of the best free movies on YouTube, safety last, was launched. The filmmakers of this picture are Sam Taylor and Fred C. Newmeyer. Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Bill Strother are among the cast members. It’s a comedy/adventure silent film. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Safety Last! is a meditation on time and money, fame and misfortune that mirrors its creator’s life. A young man (Harold Lloyd) arrives at New York Metropolis to support his adoring lover (Mildred Davis). Still, he rapidly learns that surviving in a large city is more difficult than surviving in a small town.

When he learns that a store manager is willing to give $1,000 to anyone who can get consumers into his store, he convinces his acquaintance, the “human fly” (Bill Strother), to help him climb the building and divide the profit with him. But when his friend gets into problems with the cops, he is forced to accomplish the insane stunt on his own.

4. NOSFERATU

Nosferatu is the best free movie on YouTube; 1929 was the year of publication. F. W. Murnau directed the film, Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim are among the cast members. This film is placed in the genres of silent and horror. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

In this immensely famous silent horror film, the intriguing Count Orlok (Max Schreck) sends Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his lonely Transylvanian castle in the mountains. Orlok, the creepy, aspires to purchase a home near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Hutter struggles to escape the castle after Orlok reveals his vampire nature, knowing that Ellen is in severe danger. Knock (Alexander Granach), Orlok’s servant, is preparing for his master’s arrival at his new residence.

5. THE NAVIGATOR

The Navigator is one of the top free movies on YouTube for time killing 2021; the year of publication is 1924. Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp are the directors. Moreover, Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, and Fred Vroom are among the cast members. It is the best Silent and Comedy movie of 2021. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

David (Joey Cramer), 12, and his family live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in this 1978 Disney adventure. When he recovers after being knocked out in the jungle near his home, he discovers that eight years have gone by. His family is happy to see him back, but they are as mystified as he is that he hasn’t aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) detects a UFO nearby, David is allowed to solve the riddle and reclaim his life.

6. THE SCARECROW

The Scarecrow is one of the best YouTube movies. The year of publishing is 1920, and the film’s directors are Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. Among the actors in this film are Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Joe Keaton. This is a silent and funny film. On IMDb, the film has a 7.3/10 rating.

The plot of the movie

Two creative farmhands battle for the same girl’s hand in marriage. She, on the other hand, is unimpressed with both of them. Farmhands Keaton and Roberts inhabit a cottage filled with mechanical equipment designed to make life easier. They’re competing for the farmer’s daughter. Disguised as a scarecrow, Keaton wreaks havoc on his adversary and the farmer. When Keaton stoops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts his kneeling proposition.

7. THE KID

The best YouTube movie is The Kid. The movie was first published in 1921and the film was directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is a classic silent and comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, and Edna Purviance. The rating on IMDb is 5.9/10.

The plot of the movie

Chaplin’s first full-length film is a silent classic about a tiny tramp who discovers and raises a small orphan but is abandoned when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin wrote, directed, and performed in the film and provided the score.

8. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

The best movie to watch on YouTube to pass the time is Night of the Living Dead. It was first published in 1968. George A. Romero directed the picture. The cast includes Judith O’Dea, Russell Streiner, and Duane Jones. Horror is a subgenre of filmmaking, and this film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Of course, Night of the Living Dead is a horror film designed to frighten viewers. On the other hand, Fear serves as an essential lesson for viewers, demonstrating that if you do not act solely on impulse, you are more likely to survive a tragic circumstance like the one depicted onscreen. The movie’s plot is when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in quest of new human remains to consume, a diverse group of people seeks safety in an abandoned mansion.

9. ZODIAC

Zodiac is the best film, and it was released on February 28, 2007. David Fincher is the film’s director. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch. It is a thriller, horror, and mystery movie. The IMDb rating is 7.7/10.

The plot of the movie

Zodiac is a film about the allure of investigation and passion, as well as the terror of unpredictability. The movie’s plot is, Fear pervades San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a serial killer known as Zodiac pursues its residents. Detectives (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with locating and prosecuting the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Zodiac continues to murder individuals while taunting cops with cryptic letters, cyphers, and threatening phone calls.

10. THE LADY VANISHES

The Lady Vanishes is both comically dated and a by-the-numbers primer on constructing a near-perfect thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film, which was released in 1938. Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas are among the stars. The IMDb rating is 7.8/10.

The plot of the movie

Here’s a film’s plot. An avalanche delays a party of travelers on a train bound for England. Young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy while holed up in a hotel in a fictitious European country (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris falls unconscious and awakens to find the older woman has vanished. When the other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy’s existence, Iris goes on to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave), and romantic sparks fly between the two sleuths.

Edit your YouTube video with Filmora

Furthermore, Filmora is excellent for editing short videos and making short video advertisements. When you require more functionality than the original Windows Movie Maker, Filmora is a perfect choice. However, the procedure of importing (paying) templates from the library is time-consuming, and the software alternates between local and online installation.

Wondershare Filmora’s primary features include 4K editing support, GIF compatibility, noise removal, color tuning, a powerful text editor, an audio mixer, video stabilization, scene identification, and audio equalization. Users can edit and export videos with a resolution of up to 4K, thanks to the 4K editing support function.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Conclusion

● While you may rent or buy movies on YouTube, you can also watch a lot of them for free. The films listed above are some of the suggestions for you. You will appreciate these films and have a good time.

Try It Free Try It Free

Have you seen everything on Netflix? Does nothing pique your interest in Hulu or Amazon Prime Video? Can I entice you with a free YouTube movie?

To watch full-length movies for free, you don’t need to rent a movie or sign up for a YouTube Premium subscription. Hundreds of movies are accessible for free on YouTube if you don’t mind having your movie-watching pleasure interrupted by the occasional ad.

If you’re willing to pay to stream, YouTube boasts as large a collection of new movies as anyone. However, the video streaming site features a large, though difficult-to-find, a library of legal free movies. Not talking about strangely uploaded, blurry, shaky movies. Along with viral stars and adorable animal montages, genuine, 100 percent free (and good) movies are available.

1. SUNRISE

Sunrise is one of the best free movies on YouTube, containing aspects of Silent, Romance, and Thriller. The film was directed by F.W. Murnau and was released in 1927. The cast also includes Janet Gaynor, George O’Brien, and Margaret Livingston. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDB.

The plot of the movie

A farmer (George O’Brien) is bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby, and the monotony of farm life when he falls under the spell of a flirty city lady (Margaret Livingston), who persuades him to drown his wife so they can flee together. When his wife suspects his plot and flees to the city, the farmer pursues her, gradually recovering her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

2. THE GENERAL

The General is one of the top free YouTube movies of the year 2021, combining Silent, Comedy, and Romance elements. The film was initially shown in 1926. Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckham directed the picture. Starring are Joseph Keaton, Marion Mack, and Glen Cavender. In addition, the IMDB rating is 8.1/10.

The plot of the movie

One of the most revered silent-era comedies, this picture depicts hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) going up against Union forces during the American Civil War. When Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), Johnny’s fiancée, is kidnapped while aboard a train taken by Northern forces, Gray follows the soldiers using various modes of transportation in entertaining action that showcases Keaton’s inexhaustible wit and ability.

3. SAFETY LAST

On April 1, 1923, one of the best free movies on YouTube, safety last, was launched. The filmmakers of this picture are Sam Taylor and Fred C. Newmeyer. Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Bill Strother are among the cast members. It’s a comedy/adventure silent film. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Safety Last! is a meditation on time and money, fame and misfortune that mirrors its creator’s life. A young man (Harold Lloyd) arrives at New York Metropolis to support his adoring lover (Mildred Davis). Still, he rapidly learns that surviving in a large city is more difficult than surviving in a small town.

When he learns that a store manager is willing to give $1,000 to anyone who can get consumers into his store, he convinces his acquaintance, the “human fly” (Bill Strother), to help him climb the building and divide the profit with him. But when his friend gets into problems with the cops, he is forced to accomplish the insane stunt on his own.

4. NOSFERATU

Nosferatu is the best free movie on YouTube; 1929 was the year of publication. F. W. Murnau directed the film, Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim are among the cast members. This film is placed in the genres of silent and horror. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

In this immensely famous silent horror film, the intriguing Count Orlok (Max Schreck) sends Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his lonely Transylvanian castle in the mountains. Orlok, the creepy, aspires to purchase a home near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Hutter struggles to escape the castle after Orlok reveals his vampire nature, knowing that Ellen is in severe danger. Knock (Alexander Granach), Orlok’s servant, is preparing for his master’s arrival at his new residence.

5. THE NAVIGATOR

The Navigator is one of the top free movies on YouTube for time killing 2021; the year of publication is 1924. Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp are the directors. Moreover, Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, and Fred Vroom are among the cast members. It is the best Silent and Comedy movie of 2021. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

David (Joey Cramer), 12, and his family live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in this 1978 Disney adventure. When he recovers after being knocked out in the jungle near his home, he discovers that eight years have gone by. His family is happy to see him back, but they are as mystified as he is that he hasn’t aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) detects a UFO nearby, David is allowed to solve the riddle and reclaim his life.

6. THE SCARECROW

The Scarecrow is one of the best YouTube movies. The year of publishing is 1920, and the film’s directors are Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. Among the actors in this film are Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Joe Keaton. This is a silent and funny film. On IMDb, the film has a 7.3/10 rating.

The plot of the movie

Two creative farmhands battle for the same girl’s hand in marriage. She, on the other hand, is unimpressed with both of them. Farmhands Keaton and Roberts inhabit a cottage filled with mechanical equipment designed to make life easier. They’re competing for the farmer’s daughter. Disguised as a scarecrow, Keaton wreaks havoc on his adversary and the farmer. When Keaton stoops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts his kneeling proposition.

7. THE KID

The best YouTube movie is The Kid. The movie was first published in 1921and the film was directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is a classic silent and comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, and Edna Purviance. The rating on IMDb is 5.9/10.

The plot of the movie

Chaplin’s first full-length film is a silent classic about a tiny tramp who discovers and raises a small orphan but is abandoned when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin wrote, directed, and performed in the film and provided the score.

8. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

The best movie to watch on YouTube to pass the time is Night of the Living Dead. It was first published in 1968. George A. Romero directed the picture. The cast includes Judith O’Dea, Russell Streiner, and Duane Jones. Horror is a subgenre of filmmaking, and this film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Of course, Night of the Living Dead is a horror film designed to frighten viewers. On the other hand, Fear serves as an essential lesson for viewers, demonstrating that if you do not act solely on impulse, you are more likely to survive a tragic circumstance like the one depicted onscreen. The movie’s plot is when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in quest of new human remains to consume, a diverse group of people seeks safety in an abandoned mansion.

9. ZODIAC

Zodiac is the best film, and it was released on February 28, 2007. David Fincher is the film’s director. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch. It is a thriller, horror, and mystery movie. The IMDb rating is 7.7/10.

The plot of the movie

Zodiac is a film about the allure of investigation and passion, as well as the terror of unpredictability. The movie’s plot is, Fear pervades San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a serial killer known as Zodiac pursues its residents. Detectives (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with locating and prosecuting the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Zodiac continues to murder individuals while taunting cops with cryptic letters, cyphers, and threatening phone calls.

10. THE LADY VANISHES

The Lady Vanishes is both comically dated and a by-the-numbers primer on constructing a near-perfect thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film, which was released in 1938. Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas are among the stars. The IMDb rating is 7.8/10.

The plot of the movie

Here’s a film’s plot. An avalanche delays a party of travelers on a train bound for England. Young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy while holed up in a hotel in a fictitious European country (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris falls unconscious and awakens to find the older woman has vanished. When the other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy’s existence, Iris goes on to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave), and romantic sparks fly between the two sleuths.

Edit your YouTube video with Filmora

Furthermore, Filmora is excellent for editing short videos and making short video advertisements. When you require more functionality than the original Windows Movie Maker, Filmora is a perfect choice. However, the procedure of importing (paying) templates from the library is time-consuming, and the software alternates between local and online installation.

Wondershare Filmora’s primary features include 4K editing support, GIF compatibility, noise removal, color tuning, a powerful text editor, an audio mixer, video stabilization, scene identification, and audio equalization. Users can edit and export videos with a resolution of up to 4K, thanks to the 4K editing support function.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Conclusion

● While you may rent or buy movies on YouTube, you can also watch a lot of them for free. The films listed above are some of the suggestions for you. You will appreciate these films and have a good time.

Keep Your YouTube Stream Lining in Background

How to Play YouTube in Background on iPhone and Android

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

When it comes to music, the majority of song lovers now prefer listening to it on their iPhone or Android phones, and most of them are still searching for a method to play YouTube in the background so they can enjoy their favorite tracks without much battery consumption.

Another reason why people may want to listen to YouTube in the background could be that they want to use their phone for other purposes such as for text messaging, Internet browsing, accessing Facebook, etc. on the device simultaneously.

With that said, here you will learn how to play YouTube in the background on iPhone or Android both with and without any specific app.

Best Paid Solution for Playing YouTube in Background: YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium, formerly YouTube Red, is a paid subscription with three types of plans namely ‘Individual’, ‘Family’, and ‘Student’ offered by the streaming giant for $11.99, $17.99, and $6.99 per month respectively. All the plans give you ad-free and uninterrupted streaming experience.

Note: The price of the plans may vary depending on the region of your residence and Google policies. Nevertheless, no annual subscription is available at the time of this writing, and the amount is deducted from your account on monthly basis.

While each plan has its own merits and demerits, the most used one is Individual that also gives free access to YouTube Music, an app that is available for Android and iOS devices, and is specifically dedicated to the music where you can watch and listen to your favorite tracks published on the platform.

What makes YouTube Music popular among the premium subscribers is its ability to play the music even when the app is not active and/or when the phone screen is turned off. Furthermore, you can even configure the app to play the audio without video, thus significantly reducing the battery consumption.

Note: Unlike the YouTube main app itself, YouTube Music is limited only to the music, and cannot play other videos.

Once you have subscribed for the YouTube Premium Individual plan, and downloaded and installed the YouTube Music app, you can follow the instructions given below to play YouTube in background Android or iPhone smartphone.

Step 1: Launch YouTube Music and Start Streaming

Launch YouTube Music, search for your favorite music using the Search icon at the top-right corner, tap the song in the suggestions list, and then tap the name of the track to start playing.

Step 2: Switch to Audio Only (Optional)

Tap anywhere on the video player window, and tap Audio from the top of the screen to switch to the audio only mode where the video of the song won’t be played.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Use your phone-specific button or option to minimize YouTube Music. You can then either continue using your smartphone normally, or turn off the screen to play YouTube in background.

How to Play YouTube Videos in Background on iPhone

If you don’t want to pay for YouTube Premium, there are a few other workarounds that you can try to play YouTube in background on your iPhone. One of the easiest methods among them is explained below:

Step 1: Play YouTube Video on Browser

Launch Safari on your iPhone, and go to www.youtube.com (important). Make sure to type the URL in the address bar so the YouTube app doesn’t start, and you can access YouTube from within the browser window itself.

Use the regular method to search for the video you want to play in the background, and tap the Play button to start streaming.

Step 2: Open a New Tab

Tap the All Tabs icon from the bottom-right corner of the browser, and tap + from the bottom-center. Notice how the YouTube video continues to play even when you are on the new tab.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Press the Home button or swipe up on iPhone X or above to get to the Home screen. You can notice how YouTube still continues to stream. From this point onward, you can either start using your iPhone normally, or turn off the screen and let your device play YouTube in background.

How to Play YouTube Videos in Background on Android

The process to play YouTube in background on an Android smartphone is slightly different than what it is on an iPhone if you don’t have a Premium subscription. To get this done on your Android, you must:

Step 1: Switch to Desktop Mode

Launch Google Chrome (default) on your Android phone, and go to www.youtube.com. Click the More options icon (with three vertically aligned dots) from the top-right corner of the browser, and check the Desktop site box from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Search for and Stream a Video

Use the Search bar at the top of the interface to search for and tap the video you want to stream.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Once the video starts streaming, get back to the Home screen, pull down the Notification bar from the top (if the streaming stops), and press the Play button to play YouTube in background on your Android smartphone.

3 Best Apps to Play YouTube Videos in Background on Android

Instead of using the above workaround on Android, if you want something simpler and more straightforward, there are a few apps that can help you play YouTube videos in background. Some of the most used programs are listed below:

VLC for Android

Being one of the most versatile media playing software, VLC needs no introduction, and icing on the cake was added when the program was made available on Google Play Store. After you have installed VLC on your Android phone, you can launch the YouTube app, search for and tap the video you want to play in the background, tap the streaming video, tap the ‘More options’ icon from the top-right corner, and tap ‘Play in VLC’ from the available options.

Minimize play in background

This app does exactly what its name suggests. The program has a ‘Minimize player’ mode that allows you to stream YouTube videos in a small window that reduces its size and resides at the bottom of the screen, thus letting you use your Android phone for other important tasks simultaneously.

Background player for YouTube Vanced minimizer

Yet another app available on Google Play Store that lets you search for your favorite videos on YouTube, stream them, and then minimize the player to a floating window that goes down to the bottom of the screen. This lets you play YouTube in background in order to allow you to use your phone for other tasks.

Best Video Editing Software for YouTube

Conclusion

Watching YouTube videos has become a part of people’s day-to-day life now. While many of them use the platform to learn new skills through the tutorials that are available for free, others love the idea of having unlimited and unrestricted access to the gigantic database of music videos that they can dig in to find and play their favorite tracks. For the latter scenario, the processes explained above are likely to come in handy in order to play YouTube in background so the users can take full advantage of their iPhone or Android smartphone in case they only want to listen to the audio, and are not interested in watching the video while streaming.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

When it comes to music, the majority of song lovers now prefer listening to it on their iPhone or Android phones, and most of them are still searching for a method to play YouTube in the background so they can enjoy their favorite tracks without much battery consumption.

Another reason why people may want to listen to YouTube in the background could be that they want to use their phone for other purposes such as for text messaging, Internet browsing, accessing Facebook, etc. on the device simultaneously.

With that said, here you will learn how to play YouTube in the background on iPhone or Android both with and without any specific app.

Best Paid Solution for Playing YouTube in Background: YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium, formerly YouTube Red, is a paid subscription with three types of plans namely ‘Individual’, ‘Family’, and ‘Student’ offered by the streaming giant for $11.99, $17.99, and $6.99 per month respectively. All the plans give you ad-free and uninterrupted streaming experience.

Note: The price of the plans may vary depending on the region of your residence and Google policies. Nevertheless, no annual subscription is available at the time of this writing, and the amount is deducted from your account on monthly basis.

While each plan has its own merits and demerits, the most used one is Individual that also gives free access to YouTube Music, an app that is available for Android and iOS devices, and is specifically dedicated to the music where you can watch and listen to your favorite tracks published on the platform.

What makes YouTube Music popular among the premium subscribers is its ability to play the music even when the app is not active and/or when the phone screen is turned off. Furthermore, you can even configure the app to play the audio without video, thus significantly reducing the battery consumption.

Note: Unlike the YouTube main app itself, YouTube Music is limited only to the music, and cannot play other videos.

Once you have subscribed for the YouTube Premium Individual plan, and downloaded and installed the YouTube Music app, you can follow the instructions given below to play YouTube in background Android or iPhone smartphone.

Step 1: Launch YouTube Music and Start Streaming

Launch YouTube Music, search for your favorite music using the Search icon at the top-right corner, tap the song in the suggestions list, and then tap the name of the track to start playing.

Step 2: Switch to Audio Only (Optional)

Tap anywhere on the video player window, and tap Audio from the top of the screen to switch to the audio only mode where the video of the song won’t be played.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Use your phone-specific button or option to minimize YouTube Music. You can then either continue using your smartphone normally, or turn off the screen to play YouTube in background.

How to Play YouTube Videos in Background on iPhone

If you don’t want to pay for YouTube Premium, there are a few other workarounds that you can try to play YouTube in background on your iPhone. One of the easiest methods among them is explained below:

Step 1: Play YouTube Video on Browser

Launch Safari on your iPhone, and go to www.youtube.com (important). Make sure to type the URL in the address bar so the YouTube app doesn’t start, and you can access YouTube from within the browser window itself.

Use the regular method to search for the video you want to play in the background, and tap the Play button to start streaming.

Step 2: Open a New Tab

Tap the All Tabs icon from the bottom-right corner of the browser, and tap + from the bottom-center. Notice how the YouTube video continues to play even when you are on the new tab.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Press the Home button or swipe up on iPhone X or above to get to the Home screen. You can notice how YouTube still continues to stream. From this point onward, you can either start using your iPhone normally, or turn off the screen and let your device play YouTube in background.

How to Play YouTube Videos in Background on Android

The process to play YouTube in background on an Android smartphone is slightly different than what it is on an iPhone if you don’t have a Premium subscription. To get this done on your Android, you must:

Step 1: Switch to Desktop Mode

Launch Google Chrome (default) on your Android phone, and go to www.youtube.com. Click the More options icon (with three vertically aligned dots) from the top-right corner of the browser, and check the Desktop site box from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Search for and Stream a Video

Use the Search bar at the top of the interface to search for and tap the video you want to stream.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Once the video starts streaming, get back to the Home screen, pull down the Notification bar from the top (if the streaming stops), and press the Play button to play YouTube in background on your Android smartphone.

3 Best Apps to Play YouTube Videos in Background on Android

Instead of using the above workaround on Android, if you want something simpler and more straightforward, there are a few apps that can help you play YouTube videos in background. Some of the most used programs are listed below:

VLC for Android

Being one of the most versatile media playing software, VLC needs no introduction, and icing on the cake was added when the program was made available on Google Play Store. After you have installed VLC on your Android phone, you can launch the YouTube app, search for and tap the video you want to play in the background, tap the streaming video, tap the ‘More options’ icon from the top-right corner, and tap ‘Play in VLC’ from the available options.

Minimize play in background

This app does exactly what its name suggests. The program has a ‘Minimize player’ mode that allows you to stream YouTube videos in a small window that reduces its size and resides at the bottom of the screen, thus letting you use your Android phone for other important tasks simultaneously.

Background player for YouTube Vanced minimizer

Yet another app available on Google Play Store that lets you search for your favorite videos on YouTube, stream them, and then minimize the player to a floating window that goes down to the bottom of the screen. This lets you play YouTube in background in order to allow you to use your phone for other tasks.

Best Video Editing Software for YouTube

Conclusion

Watching YouTube videos has become a part of people’s day-to-day life now. While many of them use the platform to learn new skills through the tutorials that are available for free, others love the idea of having unlimited and unrestricted access to the gigantic database of music videos that they can dig in to find and play their favorite tracks. For the latter scenario, the processes explained above are likely to come in handy in order to play YouTube in background so the users can take full advantage of their iPhone or Android smartphone in case they only want to listen to the audio, and are not interested in watching the video while streaming.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

When it comes to music, the majority of song lovers now prefer listening to it on their iPhone or Android phones, and most of them are still searching for a method to play YouTube in the background so they can enjoy their favorite tracks without much battery consumption.

Another reason why people may want to listen to YouTube in the background could be that they want to use their phone for other purposes such as for text messaging, Internet browsing, accessing Facebook, etc. on the device simultaneously.

With that said, here you will learn how to play YouTube in the background on iPhone or Android both with and without any specific app.

Best Paid Solution for Playing YouTube in Background: YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium, formerly YouTube Red, is a paid subscription with three types of plans namely ‘Individual’, ‘Family’, and ‘Student’ offered by the streaming giant for $11.99, $17.99, and $6.99 per month respectively. All the plans give you ad-free and uninterrupted streaming experience.

Note: The price of the plans may vary depending on the region of your residence and Google policies. Nevertheless, no annual subscription is available at the time of this writing, and the amount is deducted from your account on monthly basis.

While each plan has its own merits and demerits, the most used one is Individual that also gives free access to YouTube Music, an app that is available for Android and iOS devices, and is specifically dedicated to the music where you can watch and listen to your favorite tracks published on the platform.

What makes YouTube Music popular among the premium subscribers is its ability to play the music even when the app is not active and/or when the phone screen is turned off. Furthermore, you can even configure the app to play the audio without video, thus significantly reducing the battery consumption.

Note: Unlike the YouTube main app itself, YouTube Music is limited only to the music, and cannot play other videos.

Once you have subscribed for the YouTube Premium Individual plan, and downloaded and installed the YouTube Music app, you can follow the instructions given below to play YouTube in background Android or iPhone smartphone.

Step 1: Launch YouTube Music and Start Streaming

Launch YouTube Music, search for your favorite music using the Search icon at the top-right corner, tap the song in the suggestions list, and then tap the name of the track to start playing.

Step 2: Switch to Audio Only (Optional)

Tap anywhere on the video player window, and tap Audio from the top of the screen to switch to the audio only mode where the video of the song won’t be played.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Use your phone-specific button or option to minimize YouTube Music. You can then either continue using your smartphone normally, or turn off the screen to play YouTube in background.

How to Play YouTube Videos in Background on iPhone

If you don’t want to pay for YouTube Premium, there are a few other workarounds that you can try to play YouTube in background on your iPhone. One of the easiest methods among them is explained below:

Step 1: Play YouTube Video on Browser

Launch Safari on your iPhone, and go to www.youtube.com (important). Make sure to type the URL in the address bar so the YouTube app doesn’t start, and you can access YouTube from within the browser window itself.

Use the regular method to search for the video you want to play in the background, and tap the Play button to start streaming.

Step 2: Open a New Tab

Tap the All Tabs icon from the bottom-right corner of the browser, and tap + from the bottom-center. Notice how the YouTube video continues to play even when you are on the new tab.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Press the Home button or swipe up on iPhone X or above to get to the Home screen. You can notice how YouTube still continues to stream. From this point onward, you can either start using your iPhone normally, or turn off the screen and let your device play YouTube in background.

How to Play YouTube Videos in Background on Android

The process to play YouTube in background on an Android smartphone is slightly different than what it is on an iPhone if you don’t have a Premium subscription. To get this done on your Android, you must:

Step 1: Switch to Desktop Mode

Launch Google Chrome (default) on your Android phone, and go to www.youtube.com. Click the More options icon (with three vertically aligned dots) from the top-right corner of the browser, and check the Desktop site box from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Search for and Stream a Video

Use the Search bar at the top of the interface to search for and tap the video you want to stream.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Once the video starts streaming, get back to the Home screen, pull down the Notification bar from the top (if the streaming stops), and press the Play button to play YouTube in background on your Android smartphone.

3 Best Apps to Play YouTube Videos in Background on Android

Instead of using the above workaround on Android, if you want something simpler and more straightforward, there are a few apps that can help you play YouTube videos in background. Some of the most used programs are listed below:

VLC for Android

Being one of the most versatile media playing software, VLC needs no introduction, and icing on the cake was added when the program was made available on Google Play Store. After you have installed VLC on your Android phone, you can launch the YouTube app, search for and tap the video you want to play in the background, tap the streaming video, tap the ‘More options’ icon from the top-right corner, and tap ‘Play in VLC’ from the available options.

Minimize play in background

This app does exactly what its name suggests. The program has a ‘Minimize player’ mode that allows you to stream YouTube videos in a small window that reduces its size and resides at the bottom of the screen, thus letting you use your Android phone for other important tasks simultaneously.

Background player for YouTube Vanced minimizer

Yet another app available on Google Play Store that lets you search for your favorite videos on YouTube, stream them, and then minimize the player to a floating window that goes down to the bottom of the screen. This lets you play YouTube in background in order to allow you to use your phone for other tasks.

Best Video Editing Software for YouTube

Conclusion

Watching YouTube videos has become a part of people’s day-to-day life now. While many of them use the platform to learn new skills through the tutorials that are available for free, others love the idea of having unlimited and unrestricted access to the gigantic database of music videos that they can dig in to find and play their favorite tracks. For the latter scenario, the processes explained above are likely to come in handy in order to play YouTube in background so the users can take full advantage of their iPhone or Android smartphone in case they only want to listen to the audio, and are not interested in watching the video while streaming.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

When it comes to music, the majority of song lovers now prefer listening to it on their iPhone or Android phones, and most of them are still searching for a method to play YouTube in the background so they can enjoy their favorite tracks without much battery consumption.

Another reason why people may want to listen to YouTube in the background could be that they want to use their phone for other purposes such as for text messaging, Internet browsing, accessing Facebook, etc. on the device simultaneously.

With that said, here you will learn how to play YouTube in the background on iPhone or Android both with and without any specific app.

Best Paid Solution for Playing YouTube in Background: YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium, formerly YouTube Red, is a paid subscription with three types of plans namely ‘Individual’, ‘Family’, and ‘Student’ offered by the streaming giant for $11.99, $17.99, and $6.99 per month respectively. All the plans give you ad-free and uninterrupted streaming experience.

Note: The price of the plans may vary depending on the region of your residence and Google policies. Nevertheless, no annual subscription is available at the time of this writing, and the amount is deducted from your account on monthly basis.

While each plan has its own merits and demerits, the most used one is Individual that also gives free access to YouTube Music, an app that is available for Android and iOS devices, and is specifically dedicated to the music where you can watch and listen to your favorite tracks published on the platform.

What makes YouTube Music popular among the premium subscribers is its ability to play the music even when the app is not active and/or when the phone screen is turned off. Furthermore, you can even configure the app to play the audio without video, thus significantly reducing the battery consumption.

Note: Unlike the YouTube main app itself, YouTube Music is limited only to the music, and cannot play other videos.

Once you have subscribed for the YouTube Premium Individual plan, and downloaded and installed the YouTube Music app, you can follow the instructions given below to play YouTube in background Android or iPhone smartphone.

Step 1: Launch YouTube Music and Start Streaming

Launch YouTube Music, search for your favorite music using the Search icon at the top-right corner, tap the song in the suggestions list, and then tap the name of the track to start playing.

Step 2: Switch to Audio Only (Optional)

Tap anywhere on the video player window, and tap Audio from the top of the screen to switch to the audio only mode where the video of the song won’t be played.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Use your phone-specific button or option to minimize YouTube Music. You can then either continue using your smartphone normally, or turn off the screen to play YouTube in background.

How to Play YouTube Videos in Background on iPhone

If you don’t want to pay for YouTube Premium, there are a few other workarounds that you can try to play YouTube in background on your iPhone. One of the easiest methods among them is explained below:

Step 1: Play YouTube Video on Browser

Launch Safari on your iPhone, and go to www.youtube.com (important). Make sure to type the URL in the address bar so the YouTube app doesn’t start, and you can access YouTube from within the browser window itself.

Use the regular method to search for the video you want to play in the background, and tap the Play button to start streaming.

Step 2: Open a New Tab

Tap the All Tabs icon from the bottom-right corner of the browser, and tap + from the bottom-center. Notice how the YouTube video continues to play even when you are on the new tab.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Press the Home button or swipe up on iPhone X or above to get to the Home screen. You can notice how YouTube still continues to stream. From this point onward, you can either start using your iPhone normally, or turn off the screen and let your device play YouTube in background.

How to Play YouTube Videos in Background on Android

The process to play YouTube in background on an Android smartphone is slightly different than what it is on an iPhone if you don’t have a Premium subscription. To get this done on your Android, you must:

Step 1: Switch to Desktop Mode

Launch Google Chrome (default) on your Android phone, and go to www.youtube.com. Click the More options icon (with three vertically aligned dots) from the top-right corner of the browser, and check the Desktop site box from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Search for and Stream a Video

Use the Search bar at the top of the interface to search for and tap the video you want to stream.

Step 3: Play YouTube in Background

Once the video starts streaming, get back to the Home screen, pull down the Notification bar from the top (if the streaming stops), and press the Play button to play YouTube in background on your Android smartphone.

3 Best Apps to Play YouTube Videos in Background on Android

Instead of using the above workaround on Android, if you want something simpler and more straightforward, there are a few apps that can help you play YouTube videos in background. Some of the most used programs are listed below:

VLC for Android

Being one of the most versatile media playing software, VLC needs no introduction, and icing on the cake was added when the program was made available on Google Play Store. After you have installed VLC on your Android phone, you can launch the YouTube app, search for and tap the video you want to play in the background, tap the streaming video, tap the ‘More options’ icon from the top-right corner, and tap ‘Play in VLC’ from the available options.

Minimize play in background

This app does exactly what its name suggests. The program has a ‘Minimize player’ mode that allows you to stream YouTube videos in a small window that reduces its size and resides at the bottom of the screen, thus letting you use your Android phone for other important tasks simultaneously.

Background player for YouTube Vanced minimizer

Yet another app available on Google Play Store that lets you search for your favorite videos on YouTube, stream them, and then minimize the player to a floating window that goes down to the bottom of the screen. This lets you play YouTube in background in order to allow you to use your phone for other tasks.

Best Video Editing Software for YouTube

Conclusion

Watching YouTube videos has become a part of people’s day-to-day life now. While many of them use the platform to learn new skills through the tutorials that are available for free, others love the idea of having unlimited and unrestricted access to the gigantic database of music videos that they can dig in to find and play their favorite tracks. For the latter scenario, the processes explained above are likely to come in handy in order to play YouTube in background so the users can take full advantage of their iPhone or Android smartphone in case they only want to listen to the audio, and are not interested in watching the video while streaming.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Also read: