diff --git a/app/src/component/AppNavigator.js b/app/src/component/AppNavigator.js
index caf0c36f..1268d405 100644
--- a/app/src/component/AppNavigator.js
+++ b/app/src/component/AppNavigator.js
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ class AppWithNavigationState extends React.Component {
   }
 
   _handleAppStateChange = (nextAppState) => {
-    const { dispatch } = this.props;
+    const { backgroundPlayEnabled, dispatch } = this.props;
     // Check if the app was suspended
     if (AppState.currentState && AppState.currentState.match(/inactive|background/)) {
       AsyncStorage.getItem('firstLaunchTime').then(start => {
@@ -237,12 +237,21 @@ class AppWithNavigationState extends React.Component {
           // If so, this needs to be included as a property when tracking
           AsyncStorage.setItem('firstLaunchSuspended', 'true');
         }
+
+        // Background media
+        if (backgroundPlayEnabled && NativeModules.BackgroundMedia && window.currentMediaInfo) {
+          const { title, channel } = window.currentMediaInfo;
+          NativeModules.BackgroundMedia.showPlaybackNotification(title, channel, null, false);
+        }
       });
     }
 
     if (AppState.currentState && AppState.currentState.match(/active/)) {
       // Cleanup blobs for completed files upon app resume to save space
       dispatch(doDeleteCompleteBlobs());
+      if (backgroundPlayEnabled || NativeModules.BackgroundMedia) {
+        NativeModules.BackgroundMedia.hidePlaybackNotification();
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -299,6 +308,7 @@ class AppWithNavigationState extends React.Component {
 }
 
 const mapStateToProps = state => ({
+  backgroundPlayEnabled: makeSelectClientSetting(SETTINGS.BACKGROUND_PLAY_ENABLED)(state),
   keepDaemonRunning: makeSelectClientSetting(SETTINGS.KEEP_DAEMON_RUNNING)(state),
   nav: state.nav,
   notification: selectNotification(state),
diff --git a/app/src/component/mediaPlayer/view.js b/app/src/component/mediaPlayer/view.js
index c17b0392..b2db5e51 100644
--- a/app/src/component/mediaPlayer/view.js
+++ b/app/src/component/mediaPlayer/view.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { Lbry } from 'lbry-redux';
 import {
+  DeviceEventEmitter,
   NativeModules,
   PanResponder,
   Text,
@@ -225,9 +226,13 @@ class MediaPlayer extends React.PureComponent {
 
   componentDidMount() {
     this.setSeekerPosition(this.calculateSeekerPosition());
+    DeviceEventEmitter.addListener('onBackgroundPlayPressed', this.play);
+    DeviceEventEmitter.addListener('onBackgroundPausePressed', this.pause);
   }
 
   componentWillUnmount() {
+    DeviceEventEmitter.removeListener('onBackgroundPlayPressed', this.play);
+    DeviceEventEmitter.removeListener('onBackgroundPausePressed', this.pause);
     this.clearControlsTimeout();
     this.setState({ paused: true, fullscreenMode: false });
     const { onFullscreenToggled } = this.props;
@@ -236,6 +241,24 @@ class MediaPlayer extends React.PureComponent {
     }
   }
 
+  play = () => {
+    this.setState({ paused: false }, this.updateBackgroundMediaNotification);
+  }
+
+  pause = () => {
+    this.setState({ paused: true }, this.updateBackgroundMediaNotification);
+  }
+
+  updateBackgroundMediaNotification = () => {
+    const { backgroundPlayEnabled } = this.props;
+    if (backgroundPlayEnabled) {
+      if (NativeModules.BackgroundMedia && window.currentMediaInfo) {
+        const { title, channel } = window.currentMediaInfo;
+        NativeModules.BackgroundMedia.showPlaybackNotification(title, channel, null, this.state.paused);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   renderPlayerControls() {
     if (this.state.areControlsVisible) {
       return (
@@ -285,7 +308,7 @@ class MediaPlayer extends React.PureComponent {
     return (
       <View style={styles} onLayout={onLayout}>
         <Video source={{ uri: 'file:///' + this.getEncodedDownloadPath(fileInfo) }}
-               ref={(ref: Video) => { this.video = ref }}
+               ref={(ref: Video) => { this.video = ref; }}
                resizeMode={this.state.resizeMode}
                playInBackground={backgroundPlayEnabled}
                style={mediaPlayerStyle.player}
diff --git a/app/src/page/file/view.js b/app/src/page/file/view.js
index 155756d3..d8fa72a6 100644
--- a/app/src/page/file/view.js
+++ b/app/src/page/file/view.js
@@ -152,6 +152,9 @@ class FilePage extends React.PureComponent {
       utility.keepAwakeOff();
       utility.showNavigationBar();
     }
+    if (window.currentMediaInfo) {
+      window.currentMediaInfo = null;
+    }
   }
 
   localUriForFileInfo = (fileInfo) => {
@@ -322,7 +325,13 @@ class FilePage extends React.PureComponent {
                                             style={playerStyle}
                                             autoPlay={this.state.autoPlayMedia}
                                             onFullscreenToggled={this.handleFullscreenToggle}
-                                            onMediaLoaded={() => { this.setState({ mediaLoaded: true }); }}
+                                            onMediaLoaded={() => {
+                                              this.setState({ mediaLoaded: true });
+                                              window.currentMediaInfo = {
+                                                title: title,
+                                                channel: channelName
+                                              };
+                                            }}
                                             onLayout={(evt) => {
                                               if (!this.state.playerHeight) {
                                                 this.setState({ playerHeight: evt.nativeEvent.layout.height });
diff --git a/buildozer.spec.sample b/buildozer.spec.sample
index b64c8f41..e39cd0f6 100644
--- a/buildozer.spec.sample
+++ b/buildozer.spec.sample
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ android.react_src = ./app
 
 # (list) Gradle dependencies to add (currently works only with sdl2_gradle
 # bootstrap)
-android.gradle_dependencies = com.android.support:appcompat-v7:27.1.1, com.facebook.react:react-native:0.55.3, com.mixpanel.android:mixpanel-android:5+, com.google.android.gms:play-services-gcm:11.0.4+, com.facebook.fresco:fresco:1.9.0, com.facebook.fresco:animated-gif:1.9.0
+android.gradle_dependencies = com.android.support:support-v4:27.1.1, com.android.support:support-media-compat:27.1.1, com.android.support:appcompat-v7:27.1.1, com.facebook.react:react-native:0.55.3, com.mixpanel.android:mixpanel-android:5+, com.google.android.gms:play-services-gcm:11.0.4+, com.facebook.fresco:fresco:1.9.0, com.facebook.fresco:animated-gif:1.9.0
 
 # (str) python-for-android branch to use, defaults to master
 #p4a.branch = stable
diff --git a/buildozer.spec.travis b/buildozer.spec.travis
index b64c8f41..e39cd0f6 100644
--- a/buildozer.spec.travis
+++ b/buildozer.spec.travis
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ android.react_src = ./app
 
 # (list) Gradle dependencies to add (currently works only with sdl2_gradle
 # bootstrap)
-android.gradle_dependencies = com.android.support:appcompat-v7:27.1.1, com.facebook.react:react-native:0.55.3, com.mixpanel.android:mixpanel-android:5+, com.google.android.gms:play-services-gcm:11.0.4+, com.facebook.fresco:fresco:1.9.0, com.facebook.fresco:animated-gif:1.9.0
+android.gradle_dependencies = com.android.support:support-v4:27.1.1, com.android.support:support-media-compat:27.1.1, com.android.support:appcompat-v7:27.1.1, com.facebook.react:react-native:0.55.3, com.mixpanel.android:mixpanel-android:5+, com.google.android.gms:play-services-gcm:11.0.4+, com.facebook.fresco:fresco:1.9.0, com.facebook.fresco:animated-gif:1.9.0
 
 # (str) python-for-android branch to use, defaults to master
 #p4a.branch = stable
diff --git a/buildozer.spec.vagrant b/buildozer.spec.vagrant
index 5cedf6e4..228ba3ec 100644
--- a/buildozer.spec.vagrant
+++ b/buildozer.spec.vagrant
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ android.react_src = ./app
 
 # (list) Gradle dependencies to add (currently works only with sdl2_gradle
 # bootstrap)
-android.gradle_dependencies = com.android.support:appcompat-v7:27.1.1, com.facebook.react:react-native:0.55.3, com.mixpanel.android:mixpanel-android:5+, com.google.android.gms:play-services-gcm:11.0.4+, com.facebook.fresco:fresco:1.9.0, com.facebook.fresco:animated-gif:1.9.0
+android.gradle_dependencies = com.android.support:support-v4:27.1.1, com.android.support:support-media-compat:27.1.1, com.android.support:appcompat-v7:27.1.1, com.facebook.react:react-native:0.55.3, com.mixpanel.android:mixpanel-android:5+, com.google.android.gms:play-services-gcm:11.0.4+, com.facebook.fresco:fresco:1.9.0, com.facebook.fresco:animated-gif:1.9.0
 
 # (str) python-for-android branch to use, defaults to master
 #p4a.branch = stable
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java
index 68249a29..821d0537 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/MainActivity.java
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.app.Activity;
 import android.app.ActivityManager;
+import android.content.BroadcastReceiver;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.IntentFilter;
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import android.Manifest;
 import android.net.Uri;
 import android.provider.Settings;
 import android.support.v4.app.ActivityCompat;
+import android.support.v4.app.NotificationManagerCompat;
 import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
 import android.telephony.TelephonyManager;
 import android.widget.Toast;
@@ -22,10 +24,13 @@ import com.facebook.react.common.LifecycleState;
 import com.facebook.react.modules.core.DefaultHardwareBackBtnHandler;
 import com.facebook.react.ReactRootView;
 import com.facebook.react.ReactInstanceManager;
+import com.facebook.react.bridge.ReactContext;
+import com.facebook.react.modules.core.DeviceEventManagerModule;
 import com.facebook.react.shell.MainReactPackage;
 import com.RNFetchBlob.RNFetchBlobPackage;
 
 import io.lbry.browser.reactpackages.LbryReactPackage;
+import io.lbry.browser.reactmodules.BackgroundMediaModule;
 import io.lbry.browser.reactmodules.DownloadManagerModule;
 
 import java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException;
@@ -44,6 +49,8 @@ public class MainActivity extends Activity implements DefaultHardwareBackBtnHand
 
     private static final int PHONE_STATE_PERMISSION_REQ_CODE = 202;
 
+    private BroadcastReceiver backgroundMediaReceiver;
+
     private ReactRootView mReactRootView;
 
     private ReactInstanceManager mReactInstanceManager;
@@ -99,9 +106,36 @@ public class MainActivity extends Activity implements DefaultHardwareBackBtnHand
                 .build();
         mReactRootView.startReactApplication(mReactInstanceManager, "LBRYApp", null);
 
+        registerBackgroundMediaReceiver();
+
         setContentView(mReactRootView);
     }
 
+    private void registerBackgroundMediaReceiver() {
+        // Background media receiver
+        IntentFilter backgroundMediaFilter = new IntentFilter();
+        backgroundMediaFilter.addAction(BackgroundMediaModule.ACTION_PLAY);
+        backgroundMediaFilter.addAction(BackgroundMediaModule.ACTION_PAUSE);
+        backgroundMediaReceiver = new BroadcastReceiver() {
+            @Override
+            public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
+                String action = intent.getAction();
+                ReactContext reactContext = mReactInstanceManager.getCurrentReactContext();
+                if (reactContext != null) {
+                    if (BackgroundMediaModule.ACTION_PLAY.equals(action)) {
+                        reactContext.getJSModule(DeviceEventManagerModule.RCTDeviceEventEmitter.class)
+                            .emit("onBackgroundPlayPressed", null);
+                    }
+                    if (BackgroundMediaModule.ACTION_PAUSE.equals(action)) {
+                        reactContext.getJSModule(DeviceEventManagerModule.RCTDeviceEventEmitter.class)
+                            .emit("onBackgroundPausePressed", null);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        };
+        registerReceiver(backgroundMediaReceiver, backgroundMediaFilter);
+    }
+
     @Override
     protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
         if (requestCode == OVERLAY_PERMISSION_REQ_CODE) {
@@ -230,6 +264,12 @@ public class MainActivity extends Activity implements DefaultHardwareBackBtnHand
             }
         }
 
+        if (backgroundMediaReceiver != null) {
+            unregisterReceiver(backgroundMediaReceiver);
+        }
+
+        NotificationManagerCompat notificationManager = NotificationManagerCompat.from(this);
+        notificationManager.cancelAll();
         super.onDestroy();
 
         if (mReactInstanceManager != null) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/BackgroundMediaModule.java b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/BackgroundMediaModule.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..55c65d6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/BackgroundMediaModule.java
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+package io.lbry.browser.reactmodules;
+
+import android.app.Activity;
+import android.app.Notification;
+import android.app.NotificationChannel;
+import android.app.NotificationManager;
+import android.app.PendingIntent;
+import android.content.Context;
+import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.SharedPreferences;
+import android.os.Build;
+import android.support.v4.app.NotificationCompat;
+import android.support.v4.app.NotificationManagerCompat;
+import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
+
+import com.facebook.react.bridge.ReactApplicationContext;
+import com.facebook.react.bridge.ReactContextBaseJavaModule;
+import com.facebook.react.bridge.ReactMethod;
+
+import io.lbry.browser.MainActivity;
+import io.lbry.browser.R;
+
+public class BackgroundMediaModule extends ReactContextBaseJavaModule {
+
+    private static final int NOTIFICATION_ID = 900;
+
+    private static final String NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID = "io.lbry.browser.MEDIA_PLAYER_NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL";
+
+    public static final String ACTION_PLAY = "io.lbry.browser.ACTION_MEDIA_PLAY";
+
+    public static final String ACTION_PAUSE = "io.lbry.browser.ACTION_MEDIA_PAUSE";
+
+    public static final String ACTION_STOP = "io.lbry.browser.ACTION_MEDIA_STOP";
+
+    private boolean channelCreated;
+
+    private Context context;
+
+    public BackgroundMediaModule(ReactApplicationContext reactContext) {
+        super(reactContext);
+        this.context = reactContext;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return "BackgroundMedia";
+    }
+
+    @ReactMethod
+    public void showPlaybackNotification(String title, String publisher, String uri, boolean paused) {
+        if (!channelCreated && Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+            NotificationManager notificationManager =
+                (NotificationManager) context.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
+            NotificationChannel channel = new NotificationChannel(
+                NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID, "LBRY Media", NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW);
+            channel.setDescription("LBRY media player");
+            notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(channel);
+            channelCreated = true;
+        }
+
+        Intent playIntent = new Intent();
+        playIntent.setAction(ACTION_PLAY);
+        PendingIntent playPendingIntent = PendingIntent.getBroadcast(context, 0, playIntent, 0);
+
+        Intent pauseIntent = new Intent();
+        pauseIntent.setAction(ACTION_PAUSE);
+        PendingIntent pausePendingIntent = PendingIntent.getBroadcast(context, 0, pauseIntent, 0);
+
+        NotificationManagerCompat notificationManager = NotificationManagerCompat.from(context);
+        NotificationCompat.Builder builder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(context, NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID);
+        builder.setColor(ContextCompat.getColor(context, R.color.lbrygreen))
+               .setContentTitle(title)
+               .setContentText(publisher)
+               .setOngoing(!paused)
+               .setSmallIcon(paused ? android.R.drawable.ic_media_pause : android.R.drawable.ic_media_play)
+               .setStyle(new android.support.v4.media.app.NotificationCompat.MediaStyle()
+                         .setShowActionsInCompactView(0))
+               .addAction(paused ? android.R.drawable.ic_media_play : android.R.drawable.ic_media_pause,
+                          paused ? "Play" : "Pause",
+                          paused ? playPendingIntent : pausePendingIntent)
+               .build();
+
+        notificationManager.notify(NOTIFICATION_ID, builder.build());
+    }
+
+    @ReactMethod
+    public void hidePlaybackNotification() {
+        NotificationManagerCompat notificationManager = NotificationManagerCompat.from(context);
+        notificationManager.cancel(NOTIFICATION_ID);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/DaemonServiceControlModule.java b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/DaemonServiceControlModule.java
index b068b27a..5c14850d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/DaemonServiceControlModule.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactmodules/DaemonServiceControlModule.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package io.lbry.browser.reactmodules;
 
 import android.app.Activity;
+import android.app.NotificationChannel;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.pm.ActivityInfo;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ import io.lbry.browser.MainActivity;
 import io.lbry.browser.ServiceHelper;
 
 public class DaemonServiceControlModule extends ReactContextBaseJavaModule {
+
     private Context context;
 
     public DaemonServiceControlModule(ReactApplicationContext reactContext) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactpackages/LbryReactPackage.java b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactpackages/LbryReactPackage.java
index a1c7eba9..6ec81d00 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactpackages/LbryReactPackage.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/lbry/browser/reactpackages/LbryReactPackage.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import com.facebook.react.bridge.NativeModule;
 import com.facebook.react.bridge.ReactApplicationContext;
 import com.facebook.react.uimanager.ViewManager;
 
+import io.lbry.browser.reactmodules.BackgroundMediaModule;
 import io.lbry.browser.reactmodules.DaemonServiceControlModule;
 import io.lbry.browser.reactmodules.DownloadManagerModule;
 import io.lbry.browser.reactmodules.FirstRunModule;
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ public class LbryReactPackage implements ReactPackage {
     public List<NativeModule> createNativeModules(ReactApplicationContext reactContext) {
         List<NativeModule> modules = new ArrayList<>();
 
+        modules.add(new BackgroundMediaModule(reactContext));
         modules.add(new DaemonServiceControlModule(reactContext));
         modules.add(new DownloadManagerModule(reactContext));
         modules.add(new FirstRunModule(reactContext));