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Allow audio to play after screen locks

As an audio-based community, it's crucial for me to have the audio continue playing if someone's screen is locked. It also prevents me from requiring that members change their screen lock settings to continue listening uninterrupted.

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Comments4

  • Rebecca Wilson

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    Aug 15

    I also want to highlight this is an essential feature since a big component of my programming includes guided meditations and audio messaging. I otherwise love Heartbeat but will need to change platforms if not resolved.

  • Katharina Berndt

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    Apr 22

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    Merged request

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    1 vote

    Feature Request: Background Audio Playback

    Hello Heartbeat Team,

    I’m currently using your app for my community and overall I’m really happy with the platform – thank you for your work!

    There is one recurring issue that keeps coming up from my members that I’d love to share with you:

    When listening to audio content (such as voice messages or audio trainings) within the app, playback stops as soon as the iPhone goes into standby mode or the screen is locked. This means users have to keep their screen active in order to continue listening, which is quite inconvenient in everyday situations (e.g. going for a walk or doing household tasks).

    Many users are used to background audio playback from other apps (like podcast or music apps), and they would really appreciate having a similar experience within Heartbeat.

    So my question is:

    Are there any plans to support background audio playback in the future, or is this feature already on your roadmap?

    I’m confident this would significantly improve the overall user experience for many.

    Thank you for your time and for building Heartbeat!

    Best regards,

    Katharina

  • Rachel Korb

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    Jan 23

    I have an audio-based community and it's a must-have for the audio to work when someone's screen is locked. While community members have been understanding, it's definitely a pain point that I'll need to resolve.

  • Katy Johnstone

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    Oct 20, 2025

    When my meditations play, people complain that their phone locks half way through. I offer so many meditations on my community space its becoming a really annoying feature for my members to workaround!