Alex Ruben
How To Enable Background Play on MX Player
Getting MX Player to keep playing your videos in the background wasn’t always obvious, especially since some versions or device setups can be kinda finicky. But once it’s working, it’s pretty much a game changer—particularly if you want to listen to something while using other apps or locking your screen. Here’s the lowdown on how to do it, with some added techie tips thrown in because… of course, Windows has to make things harder than necessary.
Step 1: Launch the MX Player App
First, find the MX Player icon on your device and open it. Make sure you’re running the latest version—older ones tend to lack this feature or behave weirdly. You can check that in the app store or under Settings > Apps > MX Player.
Step 2: Access Your Profile
Tap the Me icon on the bottom right—sometimes it’s sneaky, but that’s usually where the settings start. Some setups might have a gear icon or a hamburger menu, so keep an eye out. If you don’t see it, maybe update the app first, because older versions often don’t have the right options.
Step 3: Open Settings
In that Me menu, look for Settings. On some devices, it’s tucked inside a more general menu or under a three-dot icon. Once there, head to the Player options. That’s usually where the key toggles are buried.
Step 4: Navigate to Player Settings
Inside Settings, find and tap Player. This section controls the playback options—think of it as the core where most controls, including background playback, live.
Step 5: Access Control Settings
Next up, tap Controls. Sometimes it might just be called Playback Controls or similar. Here’s where you’ll find options to tweak how playback responds to your gestures and other inputs.
Step 6: Enable Background Play
Scroll down a bit to find the Background play toggle—this is the key. If it’s not immediately visible, try looking under Quick Shortcuts or a dedicated section called Advanced Settings. Flip that switch to on. Be aware that in some versions, enabling this may require a premium version or unlocking through certain settings—on some setups, that’s a bit obscure.
Step 7: Confirm Your Selection
After flipping it on, a dialog might pop up asking to confirm or Restart the app. Tap OK or close and relaunch MX Player—sometimes it doesn’t stick until you freeze and unfreeze the app a couple of times. Weird, but that’s how Android can be.
Step 8: Start Using Background Play
With all set, play any video. Try pressing the Home button or switch to another app. If everything’s configured right, the video won’t stop—audio (or video, if you prefer) just keeps going, even with the screen off or app minimized. That’s the sweet spot. Just be aware that some devices or Android versions can interfere—like battery optimizations shutting down background activities—so you might wanna check Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization to prevent MX Player from being killed in the background.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Sometimes background play still doesn’t work—here’s what to try:
- Ensure your Android or iOS isn’t putting MX Player to sleep in the background. On Android, you’d look into Settings > Apps > MX Player > Battery and set it to Unrestricted.
- In some cases, you might need to install a patched version or use a third-party app like Vanced or similar hacks that add background audio to free versions.
- On even more stubborn setups, rebooting after toggling settings seems to help. A quick restart often seals the deal since Android can be flaky with those changes.
Conclusion
Basically, once the toggle is enabled, and your device isn’t blocking it with aggressive battery settings, background play should work like a charm. Just remember: apps like MX Player sometimes hide this feature behind paid upgrades or regional restrictions, so if it’s not there, searching for mods or alternate versions might be needed. Usually works on the latest updates, but on some older setups, not so much. Keep your app updated and your device settings friendly to background tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enable background play for all video formats?
Most supported formats should work, but occasionally, some codecs or DRM-protected videos might not play nicely in the background. It’s hit or miss depending on the format and the version.
How do I disable background play?
Same deal—go back into Settings > Player > Controls and turn off Background play. Sometimes toggling it off and on again resets things if it’s acting up.
Is there a limit to how long videos can play in the background?
Usually, no. But if battery-saving modes are active or the app gets killed by Android, playback can halt unexpectedly. That’s why managing your device’s background activity is key.
Summary
- Navigate to Settings > Player > Controls
- Toggle Background play
- Check battery and app restrictions if it still doesn’t work
- Reboot if needed after toggling—sometimes that fixes it
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone.