Verified macOS workflow · August 2026
How to play YouTube in the menu bar on Mac
On macOS, add a YouTube video, livestream or playlist to PoRaBar, then play it through the YouTube section in its Mac menu-bar popover. This guide is Mac-only. It makes no claim that PoRaBar provides background YouTube playback on iOS. YouTube's cited Premium pages describe signed-in mobile apps and account and content conditions; they are not proof of a PoRaBar or macOS background-play entitlement.
What YouTube's documentation establishes
YouTube's Premium background-play documentation discusses signed-in YouTube mobile apps, background and offline capabilities, and account and content conditions. Its supported-device guidance supplies the device context. Those mobile Premium rules are not a Mac entitlement and do not establish background YouTube behavior for PoRaBar on iOS.
What PoRaBar currently does on Mac
PoRaBar's current Mac flow accepts a YouTube video, livestream or playlist URL. The app looks up a preview, lets you confirm the title, saves the item, and plays it through YouTube's official embedded player. Saved single videos and livestreams play from the menu-bar popover; a saved playlist opens its track list so you can choose a track.
For the wider app context, read the PoRaBar overview. If you are deciding between listening surfaces, compare the Mac podcast app options.
Add and play YouTube from PoRaBar on Mac
- Open the YouTube page. Launch PoRaBar on your Mac and open its YouTube page.
- Look up the URL. Paste a YouTube video, livestream or playlist URL into Add a stream, then choose Look up.
- Save the item. Review the returned title and preview, then choose Add to save it to PoRaBar.
- Play it from the menu bar. Open PoRaBar's Mac menu-bar popover and choose the saved video or livestream; for a playlist, open its track list and choose a track.
Use this workflow only on the Mac
Try the current macOS flow with a YouTube URL you already use. Do not treat this page as a claim about PoRaBar background YouTube playback on iOS.