4 Fixes if Samsung Phone Stops Playing Music When Screen Turns Off

Quick Tips

• Open Settings > tap on Notifications > Lock screen notifications > select Show content and allow the music app.
• Go to the music app settings > tap on Battery > Unrestricted to ensure no background restrictions.
• If the issue is after an app update or settings change, uninstall and reinstall the relevant music app. Then, check again.

Basic Fixes:

• Restart your phone: Restarting your phone can help solve temporary system glitches. To do this, long-press the Power button and tap on Restart. Wait for your device to finish restarting and check again.
• Allow all app permissions: If the relevant music app doesn’t have sufficient permissions, it might stop playing once the screen is off. So, open the app settings and ensure the relevant music app has all the device permissions enabled.
• Check for app and software updates: App and device updates can help ensure your music app and device get access to the latest bug fixes and app features. So, check and ensure the music app and your Samsung device are up-to-date.

Fix 1: Enable Lock Screen Notifications

If lock screen notifications are turned off for the relevant music app on your Samsung device, it might stop it from working altogether once the screen is turned off. Here’s how to enable the lock screen notifications and see if this fixes the issue.

Step 1: Open Settings > tap on Notifications > Lock screen notifications.

Step 2: First, select the Show content option. Then, tap on the cogwheel icon > turn on the toggle for the relevant music app.

Tip: You can also use Samsung’s Separate App Sound feature to ensure the music app keeps playing in the background even when browsing other apps.

Fix 2: Unrestrict the App

If the music app is currently restricted from running in the background, it might stop playing once you turn the device screen off. In this case, open app settings and unrestrict it on your Samsung phone. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Apps. Here, tap on the relevant music app.

Step 2: Tap on Battery. From the options, select Unrestricted.

Also Read: How to fix Spotify stops playing when screen is off issue

Fix 3: Stop Samsung From Putting Apps to Sleep

Samsung devices allow you to put unused apps to sleep to preserve battery life. So, if you haven’t used the music app in a while, it may have been put to sleep automatically. This will stop the app from running in the background. Here’s how to disable this feature and wake up the app.

Step 1: Open Settings > tap on Device care > Battery.

Step 2: From the options, tap on Background usage limits.

Step 3: First, turn off the Put unused apps to sleep toggle. Then, tap on Sleeping apps or Deep sleeping apps and wake up the relevant app.

Fix 4: Uninstall and Reinstall the App

If there are issues with the app settings or data, it might stop playing once your Samsung phone’s screen turns off. In this case, uninstall the app to delete any such settings or data. Then, reinstall the app and start afresh to see if this fixes the issue. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Long-press on the music app and tap on Uninstall. When prompted, tap on OK to confirm.

Once the app finishes uninstalling, go to the Google Play Store and reinstall the app. Then, try playing something and turn your Samsung device’s screen off to check.