You can enable background play in Brave by navigating to Settings → Display → Media → Enable Background play.
Brave's background play feature allows audio and video content to continue playing even when you switch to another app, minimize the browser, or turn off your device's screen. This is particularly useful for listening to podcasts, music, or lectures without interruption.
Step-by-Step Guide to Activating Background Play
Enabling background play in the Brave browser is a straightforward process designed to enhance your media consumption experience. Follow these steps to set it up:
1. Access Brave Settings
Begin by opening your Brave browser and navigating to its main settings menu.
- Open Brave Browser: Launch the Brave application on your device.
- Locate Menu Icon: Click on the three horizontal lines or dots, usually found in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select Settings: From the dropdown menu, choose Settings. You can also type
brave://settings/directly into the address bar and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Media Playback Options
Within the extensive Brave settings, you'll find various categories. Proceed to the section dedicated to display and media options.
- Go to Display: In the Settings sidebar or main panel, look for and click on Display.
- Select Media: Under the Display options, locate and click on Media. This section manages how Brave handles various media playback settings.
3. Enable Background Play
Finally, activate the specific setting that allows media to continue playing in the background.
- Toggle "Enable Background play": Find the option labeled Enable Background play and toggle its switch to the ON position.
Once enabled, Brave will automatically keep your audio and video content playing even when the browser isn't the active window or your screen is off.
For a quick overview, here's a summary of the navigation path:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Brave browser. |
| 2 | Go to Settings. |
| 3 | Navigate to Display. |
| 4 | Select Media. |
| 5 | Toggle Enable Background play ON. |
Enhancing Media Compatibility: Widevine DRM
For a comprehensive media experience, especially with streaming services and media web apps, you might also need to ensure Widevine DRM is enabled.
- What is Widevine DRM? Widevine Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a content protection system used by many popular streaming services like Spotify Web, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video to protect their copyrighted content.
- When to Enable It: If you frequently use web-based streaming platforms within Brave and encounter issues playing protected content, enabling Widevine DRM is crucial.
- How to Check/Enable: While the exact path may vary slightly with Brave updates, you can typically find Widevine DRM settings under
Settings → ExtensionsorSettings → Privacy and security. Look for an option related to "Widevine Content Decryption Module" and ensure it's enabled.
Benefits of Background Play
Utilizing background play in Brave offers several advantages for users who frequently consume media:
- Uninterrupted Audio: Listen to podcasts, music, or YouTube videos without interruption when switching to other applications or locking your phone.
- Multitasking: Freely use other apps or browse different tabs while your media continues to play in the background.
- Battery Efficiency: For audio-only content, background play allows you to turn off your screen, potentially saving battery life on mobile devices.
Troubleshooting Tips for Background Play
If you've enabled background play but are still experiencing issues, consider these troubleshooting steps:
- Update Brave: Ensure your Brave browser is updated to the latest version. Developers often release updates that fix bugs and improve performance. Visit Brave's official website for download information.
- Check Device Settings: On mobile devices, system-level battery optimization or app permissions might interfere with background processes. Verify that Brave has the necessary permissions to run in the background.
- Clear Browser Cache: A corrupted cache can sometimes cause unexpected behavior. Clearing your browser's cache and cookies might resolve the issue.
- Restart Browser/Device: A simple restart of the Brave browser or your entire device can often fix temporary glitches.
By following these steps, you should be able to enjoy seamless background media playback in your Brave browser.
