diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/helpers/BackgroundHelper.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/helpers/BackgroundHelper.kt
index 662e29396..93f77bcca 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/helpers/BackgroundHelper.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/helpers/BackgroundHelper.kt
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@ import android.app.ActivityManager
 import android.content.Context
 import android.content.Intent
 import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
+import androidx.fragment.app.commit
 import com.github.libretube.constants.IntentData
 import com.github.libretube.services.BackgroundMode
+import com.github.libretube.ui.activities.MainActivity
+import com.github.libretube.ui.fragments.PlayerFragment
 
 /**
  * Helper for starting a new Instance of the [BackgroundMode]
@@ -22,8 +25,18 @@ object BackgroundHelper {
         position: Long? = null,
         playlistId: String? = null,
         channelId: String? = null,
-        keepQueue: Boolean? = null
+        keepQueue: Boolean? = null,
+        keepVideoPlayerAlive: Boolean = false
     ) {
+        // close the previous video player if open
+        if (!keepVideoPlayerAlive) {
+            (context as? MainActivity)?.supportFragmentManager?.let { fragmentManager ->
+                fragmentManager.fragments.firstOrNull { it is PlayerFragment }?.let {
+                    fragmentManager.commit { remove(it) }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         // create an intent for the background mode service
         val intent = Intent(context, BackgroundMode::class.java)
         intent.putExtra(IntentData.videoId, videoId)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/AudioPlayerFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/AudioPlayerFragment.kt
index bcb8dc685..dba9225d9 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/AudioPlayerFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/AudioPlayerFragment.kt
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ class AudioPlayerFragment : Fragment(), AudioPlayerOptions {
 
     override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
+
         audioHelper = AudioHelper(requireContext())
         Intent(activity, BackgroundMode::class.java).also { intent ->
             activity?.bindService(intent, connection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE)
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/PlayerFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/PlayerFragment.kt
index dc56c6c86..f807ee4c8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/PlayerFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/github/libretube/ui/fragments/PlayerFragment.kt
@@ -465,7 +465,8 @@ class PlayerFragment : Fragment(R.layout.fragment_player), OnlinePlayerOptions {
             exoPlayer.currentPosition,
             playlistId,
             channelId,
-            true
+            keepQueue = true,
+            keepVideoPlayerAlive = true
         )
         handler.postDelayed(500) {
             NavigationHelper.startAudioPlayer(requireContext())