diff --git a/android/build.gradle b/android/build.gradle
index 73230734..a0b81e55 100644
--- a/android/build.gradle
+++ b/android/build.gradle
@@ -92,4 +92,5 @@ dependencies {
   implementation "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib:$kotlin_version"
   implementation "com.amazonaws:ivs-player:$ivs_version"
   implementation("com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp:5.2.1")
+  implementation "androidx.media:media:1.6.0"
 }
diff --git a/android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index f8eb3953..ac827a74 100644
--- a/android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
-          package="com.amazonaws.ivs.reactnative.player">
+  package="com.amazonaws.ivs.reactnative.player">
+
   <application>
     <meta-data
       android:name="com.amazonaws.ivs.player.FRAMEWORK_NAME"
@@ -7,5 +8,10 @@
     <meta-data
       android:name="com.amazonaws.ivs.player.FRAMEWORK_VERSION"
       android:value="${sdkVersion}" />
+
+    <service
+      android:name="com.amazonaws.ivs.reactnative.player.IVSBackgroundService"
+      android:exported="false"
+      android:foregroundServiceType="mediaPlayback" />
   </application>
 </manifest>
diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/AmazonIvsView.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/AmazonIvsView.kt
index 5138ef67..2483c46a 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/AmazonIvsView.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/AmazonIvsView.kt
@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
 package com.amazonaws.ivs.reactnative.player
 
+import android.Manifest
 import android.app.Activity
 import android.app.PictureInPictureParams
+import android.content.BroadcastReceiver
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.IntentFilter
 import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import android.net.Uri
 import android.os.Build
 import android.util.Log
+import android.view.View
 import android.widget.FrameLayout
+import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
 import com.amazonaws.ivs.player.Cue
 import com.amazonaws.ivs.player.MediaPlayer
 import com.amazonaws.ivs.player.Player
@@ -36,6 +44,7 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
   private var player: Player? = null
   private var streamUri: Uri? = null
   private val playerListener: Player.Listener?
+  private var controlReceiver: BroadcastReceiver? = null
 
   var playerObserver: Timer? = null
   private var lastLiveLatency: Long? = null
@@ -51,6 +60,10 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
   private var lastPosition: Long = 0
 
   private var progressInterval: Long = 1000
+  private var wasPlayingBeforeBackground: Boolean = false
+  private var playInBackground: Boolean = false
+  private var notificationTitle: String = ""
+  private var notificationText: String = ""
 
 
   private val eventDispatcher: EventDispatcher
@@ -86,6 +99,17 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
 
     context.addLifecycleEventListener(this)
 
+    playerView?.addOnAttachStateChangeListener(object : View.OnAttachStateChangeListener {
+      override fun onViewAttachedToWindow(v: View) {
+      }
+
+      override fun onViewDetachedFromWindow(v: View) {
+        if (!playInBackground) {
+          playerView?.player?.pause()
+        }
+      }
+    })
+
     playerListener = object : Player.Listener() {
       override fun onStateChanged(state: Player.State) {
         onPlayerStateChange(state)
@@ -124,6 +148,26 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
       }
     }
 
+    controlReceiver = object : BroadcastReceiver() {
+      override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
+        val action = intent?.getStringExtra("action")
+        if (action == "pause") {
+          player?.pause()
+          if (playInBackground) startBackgroundService(false)
+        } else if (action == "play") {
+          player?.play()
+          if (playInBackground) startBackgroundService(true)
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    val filter = IntentFilter("IVS_PLAYER_CONTROL")
+    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+      context.registerReceiver(controlReceiver, filter, Context.RECEIVER_EXPORTED)
+    } else {
+      context.registerReceiver(controlReceiver, filter, Context.RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED)
+    }
+
     player?.addListener(playerListener);
     addView(playerView)
 
@@ -140,11 +184,28 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
     }
   }
 
+  private fun startBackgroundService(isPlaying: Boolean) {
+    val context = context.applicationContext
+    val serviceIntent = Intent(context, IVSBackgroundService::class.java)
+    serviceIntent.putExtra(IVSBackgroundService.EXTRA_IS_PLAYING, isPlaying)
+    serviceIntent.putExtra(IVSBackgroundService.NOTIFICATION_TITLE, this.notificationTitle)
+    serviceIntent.putExtra(IVSBackgroundService.NOTIFICATION_TEXT, this.notificationText)
+
+    ContextCompat.startForegroundService(context, serviceIntent)
+  }
+
+  private fun stopBackgroundService() {
+    val context = context.applicationContext
+    val serviceIntent = Intent(context, IVSBackgroundService::class.java)
+    context.stopService(serviceIntent)
+  }
+
   fun setStreamUrl(streamUrl: String) {
     player?.let { player ->
       val reactContext = context as ReactContext
       val uri = Uri.parse(streamUrl);
       this.streamUri = uri;
+      playInBackground = true
 
       finishedLoading = false
       player.load(uri)
@@ -163,6 +224,29 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
     player?.isMuted = muted
   }
 
+  fun setPlayInBackground(playInBackground: Boolean) {
+    if (playInBackground) {
+      checkAndRequestNotificationPermission()
+    }
+    this.playInBackground = playInBackground
+  }
+
+  fun setNotificationTitle(notificationTitle: String?) {
+    this.notificationTitle = notificationTitle ?: ""
+
+    if (isInBackground && playInBackground) {
+      startBackgroundService(player?.state == Player.State.PLAYING)
+    }
+  }
+
+  fun setNotificationText(notificationText: String?) {
+    this.notificationText = notificationText ?: ""
+
+    if (isInBackground && playInBackground) {
+      startBackgroundService(player?.state == Player.State.PLAYING)
+    }
+  }
+
   fun setLooping(shouldLoop: Boolean) {
     player?.setLooping(shouldLoop)
   }
@@ -434,6 +518,7 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
 
   fun onPlayerStateChange(state: Player.State) {
     val reactContext = context as ReactContext
+    this.keepScreenOn = (state == Player.State.PLAYING || state == Player.State.BUFFERING)
 
     when (state) {
       Player.State.PLAYING -> {
@@ -686,7 +771,7 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
     )
   }
 
-  fun setProgressInterval(progressInterval: Int) {
+  fun setProgressInterval(progressInterval: Double) {
     playerObserver?.cancel()
     playerObserver?.purge()
     playerObserver = Timer("observerInterval", false)
@@ -701,12 +786,30 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
 
   override fun onHostResume() {
     isInBackground = false
+    stopBackgroundService()
+
+    if (wasPlayingBeforeBackground) {
+      player?.play()
+      wasPlayingBeforeBackground = false
+    }
   }
 
   override fun onHostPause() {
     if (pipEnabled) {
       isInBackground = true
       togglePip()
+    } else {
+      if (playInBackground && player?.state == Player.State.PLAYING) {
+        startBackgroundService(true)
+        return
+      }
+
+      if (player?.state == Player.State.PLAYING || player?.state == Player.State.BUFFERING) {
+        wasPlayingBeforeBackground = true
+        player?.pause()
+      } else {
+        wasPlayingBeforeBackground = false
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -715,6 +818,7 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
   }
 
   fun cleanup() {
+    stopBackgroundService()
     // Cleanup any remaining sources
     for (source in preloadSourceMap.values) {
       source.release()
@@ -727,6 +831,11 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
 
     playerObserver?.cancel()
     playerObserver = null
+
+    if (controlReceiver != null) {
+      context.unregisterReceiver(controlReceiver)
+      controlReceiver = null
+    }
   }
 
   fun TextCue.TextAlignment.toStringValue(): String {
@@ -737,4 +846,25 @@ class AmazonIvsView(private val context: ThemedReactContext) : FrameLayout(conte
     }
   }
 
+  private fun checkAndRequestNotificationPermission() {
+    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 33) {
+      val reactContext = context as ReactContext
+      val activity = reactContext.currentActivity
+
+      if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(
+          reactContext,
+          Manifest.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS
+        ) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
+      ) {
+        activity?.let {
+          ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(
+            it,
+            arrayOf(Manifest.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS),
+            101
+          )
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/AmazonIvsViewManager.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/AmazonIvsViewManager.kt
index f6beeb10..cab39143 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/AmazonIvsViewManager.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/AmazonIvsViewManager.kt
@@ -184,11 +184,32 @@ class AmazonIvsViewManager : SimpleViewManager<AmazonIvsView>(),
 
   override fun setProgressInterval(
     view: AmazonIvsView?,
-    value: Int
+    value: Double
   ) {
     view?.setProgressInterval(value)
   }
 
+  override fun setPlayInBackground(
+    view: AmazonIvsView?,
+    value: Boolean
+  ) {
+    view?.setPlayInBackground(value)
+  }
+
+  override fun setNotificationTitle(
+    view: AmazonIvsView?,
+    value: String?
+  ) {
+    view?.setNotificationTitle(value)
+  }
+
+  override fun setNotificationText(
+    view: AmazonIvsView?,
+    value: String?
+  ) {
+    view?.setNotificationText(value)
+  }
+
   override fun preload(
     view: AmazonIvsView?,
     url: String,
diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/IVSBackgroundService.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/IVSBackgroundService.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9eb17ae2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/amazonaws/ivs/reactnative/player/IVSBackgroundService.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package com.amazonaws.ivs.reactnative.player
+
+import android.app.Notification
+import android.app.NotificationChannel
+import android.app.NotificationManager
+import android.app.PendingIntent
+import android.app.Service
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.os.Build
+import android.os.IBinder
+import android.util.Log
+import androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat
+import androidx.media.app.NotificationCompat.MediaStyle
+
+class IVSBackgroundService : Service() {
+
+  companion object {
+    const val CHANNEL_ID = "IVS_BACKGROUND_PLAYBACK_CHANNEL"
+    const val NOTIFICATION_ID = 101
+
+    const val ACTION_PLAY = "com.amazonaws.ivs.reactnative.player.PLAY"
+    const val ACTION_PAUSE = "com.amazonaws.ivs.reactnative.player.PAUSE"
+    const val ACTION_STOP = "com.amazonaws.ivs.reactnative.player.STOP"
+
+    const val EXTRA_IS_PLAYING = "IS_PLAYING"
+    const val NOTIFICATION_TITLE = "NOTIFICATION_TITLE"
+    const val NOTIFICATION_TEXT = "NOTIFICATION_TEXT"
+
+  }
+
+  override fun onBind(intent: Intent?): IBinder? = null
+
+  override fun onStartCommand(intent: Intent?, flags: Int, startId: Int): Int {
+    val action = intent?.action
+
+    when (action) {
+      ACTION_STOP -> {
+        stopForeground(true)
+        stopSelf()
+        return START_NOT_STICKY
+      }
+
+      ACTION_PLAY -> {
+        sendBroadcast(Intent("IVS_PLAYER_CONTROL").putExtra("action", "play"))
+      }
+
+      ACTION_PAUSE -> {
+        sendBroadcast(Intent("IVS_PLAYER_CONTROL").putExtra("action", "pause"))
+      }
+    }
+
+    val isPlaying = intent?.getBooleanExtra(EXTRA_IS_PLAYING, true) ?: true
+    val notificationTitle = intent?.getStringExtra(NOTIFICATION_TITLE) ?: ""
+    val notificationText = intent?.getStringExtra(NOTIFICATION_TEXT) ?: ""
+
+    createNotificationChannel()
+    startForeground(
+      NOTIFICATION_ID,
+      buildNotification(isPlaying, notificationTitle, notificationText)
+    )
+
+    return START_NOT_STICKY
+  }
+
+  private fun buildNotification(
+    isPlaying: Boolean,
+    notificationTitle: String,
+    notificationText: String
+  ): Notification {
+    val packageManager = applicationContext.packageManager
+    val launchIntent = packageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage(applicationContext.packageName)
+    val pendingIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(
+      this, 0, launchIntent,
+      PendingIntent.FLAG_IMMUTABLE or PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT
+    )
+
+    val playIntent = Intent(this, IVSBackgroundService::class.java).apply { action = ACTION_PLAY }
+    val pauseIntent = Intent(this, IVSBackgroundService::class.java).apply { action = ACTION_PAUSE }
+
+    val pPlay = PendingIntent.getService(this, 1, playIntent, PendingIntent.FLAG_IMMUTABLE)
+    val pPause = PendingIntent.getService(this, 2, pauseIntent, PendingIntent.FLAG_IMMUTABLE)
+
+    val appIcon = applicationInfo.icon
+
+    val builder = NotificationCompat.Builder(this, CHANNEL_ID)
+      .setContentTitle(if (notificationTitle != "") notificationTitle else "Player")
+      .setContentText(if (notificationText != "") notificationText else if (isPlaying) "Playing" else "Paused")
+      .setSmallIcon(appIcon)
+      .setContentIntent(pendingIntent)
+      .setOngoing(isPlaying)
+      .setVisibility(NotificationCompat.VISIBILITY_PUBLIC)
+      .setStyle(
+        MediaStyle()
+          .setShowActionsInCompactView(0)
+      )
+
+    if (isPlaying) {
+      builder.addAction(android.R.drawable.ic_media_pause, "Pause", pPause)
+    } else {
+      builder.addAction(android.R.drawable.ic_media_play, "Play", pPlay)
+    }
+
+    return builder.build()
+  }
+
+  private fun createNotificationChannel() {
+    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+      val serviceChannel = NotificationChannel(
+        CHANNEL_ID,
+        "Background Playback",
+        NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW
+      )
+      val manager = getSystemService(NotificationManager::class.java)
+      manager.createNotificationChannel(serviceChannel)
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/docs/ivs-player-reference.md b/docs/ivs-player-reference.md
index df9e7914..b360457d 100644
--- a/docs/ivs-player-reference.md
+++ b/docs/ivs-player-reference.md
@@ -211,6 +211,8 @@ Value that specifies how often `onProgress` callback should be called in seconds
 
 default: `1`
 type: `number`
+min: `1`
+max: `5`
 
 ### onTimePoint _(optional)_
 
@@ -266,6 +268,51 @@ Value that enables picture in picture mode.
 default: `undefined`
 type: `boolean`
 
+> **Note:** To support Picture-in-Picture on iOS, you must enable **Background Modes** in your Xcode project settings.
+
+### playInBackground _(optional)_
+
+Value that enables stream playing in background.
+
+> **Note:** To support background play on iOS, you must enable **Background Modes** in your Xcode project settings.
+
+> **Note:** To enable background play on Android, you must add the following permissions to your `AndroidManifest.xml`:
+>
+> ```xml
+> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
+> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK" />
+> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
+> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS"/>
+> ```
+
+default: `false`
+type: `boolean`
+
+### notificationTitle _(optional)_
+
+The main title displayed in the system notification tray when the app is running in the background.
+
+Android only
+
+default: `Player`
+type: `string`
+
+### notificationText _(optional)_
+
+The description text displayed in the system notification tray.
+
+Android only
+
+default: Dynamically changes based on state ("Playing" when active, "Paused" when inactive)
+type: `string`
+
+### showErrorMessage _(optional)_
+
+Show banner on error
+
+default: `undefined`
+type: `boolean`
+
 ### onPipChange _(optional)_
 
 Callback that returns changes to the picture in picture state.
diff --git a/example/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/example/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 9a23fffd..d43f61a0 100644
--- a/example/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/example/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
   package="com.example.amazonivsreactnativeplayer">
 
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS"/>
 
     <application
       android:name=".MainApplication"
diff --git a/example/src/screens/PlaygroundExample.tsx b/example/src/screens/PlaygroundExample.tsx
index c6dd4a98..3281c910 100644
--- a/example/src/screens/PlaygroundExample.tsx
+++ b/example/src/screens/PlaygroundExample.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import * as React from 'react';
-import { useState, useCallback, useEffect } from 'react';
-import { Dimensions, StyleSheet, View, ScrollView } from 'react-native';
+import Slider from '@react-native-community/slider';
+import { useNavigation } from '@react-navigation/native';
+import type { StackNavigationProp } from '@react-navigation/stack';
 import IVSPlayer, {
   IVSPlayerRef,
   LogLevel,
@@ -8,29 +8,33 @@ import IVSPlayer, {
   Quality,
   ResizeMode,
 } from 'amazon-ivs-react-native-player';
+import * as React from 'react';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import {
+  Dimensions,
+  Platform,
+  ScrollView,
+  StyleSheet,
+  View,
+} from 'react-native';
 import {
-  IconButton,
   ActivityIndicator,
   Button,
-  Text,
+  Chip,
+  IconButton,
   Portal,
+  Text,
   Title,
-  Chip,
 } from 'react-native-paper';
-import { Platform } from 'react-native';
-import Slider from '@react-native-community/slider';
-import type { StackNavigationProp } from '@react-navigation/stack';
-import { useNavigation } from '@react-navigation/native';
-import { parseSecondsToString } from '../helpers';
-import SettingsItem from '../components/SettingsItem';
-import SettingsSliderItem from '../components/SettingsSliderItem';
+import type { RootStackParamList } from '../App';
 import LogLevelPicker from '../components/LogLevelPicker';
-import { Position, URL } from '../constants';
+import OptionPicker from '../components/OptionPicker';
 import SettingsInputItem from '../components/SettingsInputItem';
+import SettingsItem from '../components/SettingsItem';
+import SettingsSliderItem from '../components/SettingsSliderItem';
 import SettingsSwitchItem from '../components/SettingsSwitchItem';
-import type { RootStackParamList } from '../App';
-import OptionPicker from '../components/OptionPicker';
-import useAppState from '../useAppState';
+import { Position, URL } from '../constants';
+import { parseSecondsToString } from '../helpers';
 
 const INITIAL_PLAYBACK_RATE = 1;
 const INITIAL_PROGRESS_INTERVAL = 1;
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@ export default function PlaygroundExample() {
   const [url, setUrl] = useState(URL);
   const [origin, setOrigin] = useState('');
   const [muted, setMuted] = useState(false);
-  const [pauseInBackground, setPauseInBackground] = useState(false);
+  const [playInBackground, setPlayInBackground] = useState(false);
   const [manualQuality, setManualQuality] = useState<Quality | null>(null);
   const [detectedQuality, setDetectedQuality] = useState<Quality | null>(null);
   const [initialBufferDuration, setInitialBufferDuration] = useState(0.1);
@@ -95,15 +99,7 @@ export default function PlaygroundExample() {
   const [resizeMode, setResizeMode] = useState<ResizeModeOption | null>(
     RESIZE_MODES[1]
   );
-
-  useAppState({
-    onBackground: () => {
-      pauseInBackground && setPaused(true);
-    },
-    onForeground: () => {
-      pauseInBackground && setPaused(false);
-    },
-  });
+  const [showErrorMessage, setShowErrorMessage] = useState(false);
 
   const log = useCallback(
     (text: string) => {
@@ -182,6 +178,8 @@ export default function PlaygroundExample() {
           autoMaxQuality={autoMaxQuality}
           breakpoints={breakpoints}
           onSeek={(newPosition) => console.log('new position', newPosition)}
+          playInBackground={playInBackground}
+          notificationTitle="Playing in background"
           onPlayerStateChange={(state) => {
             if (state === PlayerState.Buffering) {
               log(`buffering at ${detectedQuality?.name}`);
@@ -233,6 +231,7 @@ export default function PlaygroundExample() {
           onVideoStatistics={(video) => console.log('onVideoStatistics', video)}
           onError={(error) => console.log('error', error)}
           onTimePoint={(timePoint) => console.log('time point', timePoint)}
+          showErrorMessage={showErrorMessage}
         >
           {orientation === Position.PORTRAIT ? (
             <>
@@ -417,11 +416,17 @@ export default function PlaygroundExample() {
                     testID="rebufferToLive"
                   />
                   <SettingsSwitchItem
-                    label="Pause in background"
-                    value={pauseInBackground}
-                    onValueChange={setPauseInBackground}
+                    label="Play in background"
+                    value={playInBackground}
+                    onValueChange={setPlayInBackground}
                     testID="pauseInBackground"
                   />
+                  <SettingsSwitchItem
+                    label="Show error message"
+                    value={showErrorMessage}
+                    onValueChange={setShowErrorMessage}
+                    testID="showErrorMessage"
+                  />
                   <SettingsItem label="Log Level" testID="logLevelPicker">
                     <LogLevelPicker
                       logLevel={logLevel}
diff --git a/example/src/screens/TestPlan.tsx b/example/src/screens/TestPlan.tsx
index 1c739beb..10b30641 100644
--- a/example/src/screens/TestPlan.tsx
+++ b/example/src/screens/TestPlan.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import * as React from 'react';
-import { parse } from 'yaml';
 import IVSPlayer, {
   IVSPlayerProps,
   IVSPlayerRef,
@@ -7,18 +5,20 @@ import IVSPlayer, {
   Quality,
   Source,
 } from 'amazon-ivs-react-native-player';
+import * as React from 'react';
 import { StyleSheet, View } from 'react-native';
+import { ScrollView } from 'react-native-gesture-handler';
 import {
   Button,
-  TextInput,
   Chip,
+  IconButton,
   Subheading,
   Text,
+  TextInput,
   ToggleButton,
-  IconButton,
 } from 'react-native-paper';
-import { ScrollView } from 'react-native-gesture-handler';
 import { proxy, useSnapshot } from 'valtio';
+import { parse } from 'yaml';
 
 type PlanProps = Record<string, any>;
 
@@ -279,6 +279,8 @@ export function TestPlan() {
 
   function runplan() {
     const plandata = parse(testPlan);
+    if (!plandata) return;
+
     Object.keys(plandata).forEach((name) => {
       const lname = name.toLowerCase();
       const value = plandata[name];
diff --git a/example/src/useAppState.ts b/example/src/useAppState.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 4c8063cb..00000000
--- a/example/src/useAppState.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
-import { AppState, AppStateStatus } from 'react-native';
-
-type Props = {
-  onBackground?: () => void;
-  onForeground?: () => void;
-  onChange?: (status: AppStateStatus) => void;
-};
-
-export default function useAppState({
-  onChange,
-  onForeground,
-  onBackground,
-}: Props) {
-  const [appState, setAppState] = useState(AppState.currentState);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    function handleAppStateChange(nextAppState: AppStateStatus) {
-      if (nextAppState === 'active' && appState !== 'active') {
-        onForeground?.();
-      } else if (
-        appState === 'active' &&
-        nextAppState.match(/inactive|background/)
-      ) {
-        onBackground?.();
-      }
-      setAppState(nextAppState);
-      onChange?.(nextAppState);
-    }
-    const state = AppState.addEventListener('change', handleAppStateChange);
-
-    return () => state.remove();
-  }, [onChange, onForeground, onBackground, appState]);
-
-  return { appState };
-}
diff --git a/ios/AmazonIvs.mm b/ios/AmazonIvs.mm
index fde5335f..f8ab2419 100644
--- a/ios/AmazonIvs.mm
+++ b/ios/AmazonIvs.mm
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ + (ComponentDescriptorProvider)componentDescriptorProvider {
   return concreteComponentDescriptorProvider<AmazonIvsComponentDescriptor>();
 }
 
+// disable view recycling otherwise AV resourses fail to load on recycled view
++ (BOOL)shouldBeRecycled
+{
+  return NO;
+}
+
 - (instancetype)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame {
   if (self = [super initWithFrame:frame]) {
     static const auto defaultProps = std::make_shared<const AmazonIvsProps>();
@@ -196,6 +202,10 @@ - (void)updateProps:(Props::Shared const &)props
   if (oldViewProps.progressInterval != newViewProps.progressInterval) {
     _ivsView.progressInterval = @(newViewProps.progressInterval);
   }
+  
+  if (oldViewProps.playInBackground != newViewProps.playInBackground) {
+    _ivsView.playInBackground = newViewProps.playInBackground;
+  }
 
   [super updateProps:props oldProps:oldProps];
 }
diff --git a/ios/AmazonIvsView.swift b/ios/AmazonIvsView.swift
index e540c268..d4eae042 100644
--- a/ios/AmazonIvsView.swift
+++ b/ios/AmazonIvsView.swift
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import UIKit
 
   private var _pipController: Any? = nil
   private var isPipActive: Bool = false
+  private var wasPlayingBeforeBackground: Bool = false
 
   @available(iOS 15, *)
   private var pipController: AVPictureInPictureController? {
@@ -77,6 +78,35 @@ import UIKit
     player.delegate = self
     self.playerView.player = player
     preparePictureInPicture()
+    addApplicationLifecycleObservers()
+  }
+
+  private func addApplicationLifecycleObservers() {
+    NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+      self,
+      selector: #selector(applicationDidEnterBackground(notification:)),
+      name: UIApplication.didEnterBackgroundNotification,
+      object: nil
+    )
+    NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+      self,
+      selector: #selector(applicationDidBecomeActive(notification:)),
+      name: UIApplication.didBecomeActiveNotification,
+      object: nil
+    )
+  }
+
+  private func removeApplicationLifecycleObservers() {
+    NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(
+      self,
+      name: UIApplication.didEnterBackgroundNotification,
+      object: nil
+    )
+    NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(
+      self,
+      name: UIApplication.didBecomeActiveNotification,
+      object: nil
+    )
   }
 
   deinit {
@@ -84,9 +114,14 @@ import UIKit
     self.removeProgressObserver()
     self.removePlayerObserver()
     self.removeTimePointObserver()
+    self.removeApplicationLifecycleObservers()
   }
 
   func load(urlString: String) {
+    if self.playerView.player == nil {
+      self.playerView.player = self.player
+    }
+
     finishedLoading = false
     let url = URL(string: urlString)
     self.onLoadStart?()
@@ -144,6 +179,18 @@ import UIKit
     }
   }
 
+  public var playInBackground: Bool = false {
+    didSet {
+      if playInBackground {
+        try? AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(
+          .playback,
+          mode: .moviePlayback
+        )
+        try? AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   public var pipEnabled: Bool {
     didSet {
       guard #available(iOS 15, *),
@@ -268,6 +315,11 @@ import UIKit
   }
 
   public func play() {
+    if UIApplication.shared.applicationState == .background
+      && pipEnabled == false
+    {
+      return
+    }
     player.play()
   }
 
@@ -531,6 +583,9 @@ import UIKit
 
   public func player(_ player: IVSPlayer, didFailWithError error: Error) {
     onError?(["error": error.localizedDescription])
+
+    player.pause()
+    self.playerView.player = nil
   }
 
   private func preparePictureInPicture() {
@@ -561,7 +616,36 @@ import UIKit
     self.pipController = pipController
     pipController.canStartPictureInPictureAutomaticallyFromInline =
       self.pipEnabled
+  }
+
+  func applicationDidEnterBackground(notification: Notification) {
+    if isPipActive {
+      wasPlayingBeforeBackground = false
+      return
+    }
+
+    if playInBackground {
+      return
+    }
+
+    if player.state == .playing || player.state == .buffering {
+      wasPlayingBeforeBackground = true
+      pause()
+    } else {
+      wasPlayingBeforeBackground = false
+    }
+  }
+
+  func applicationDidBecomeActive(notification: Notification) {
+    if isPipActive {
+      return
+    }
+
+    if wasPlayingBeforeBackground {
+      play()
+    }
 
+    wasPlayingBeforeBackground = false
   }
 }
 @available(iOS 15, *)
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 1cd10c72..9dcc3f14 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     "postinstall": "husky",
     "example": "yarn --cwd example",
     "pods": "cd example && pod-install --quiet",
-    "bootstrap": "yarn && yarn pods",
+    "bootstrap": "yarn && yarn pods && yarn markbuild",
     "e2e:ios": "yarn bootstrap && yarn e2e:reset && yarn e2e:build:ios && yarn e2e:test:ios",
     "e2e:android": "yarn bootstrap && yarn e2e:build:android && yarn e2e:test:android",
     "e2e:reset": "detox clean-framework-cache && detox build-framework-cache",
diff --git a/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
index 4fbaad96..4eea03d7 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
+++ b/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 import { UIManager } from 'react-native';
 import type { IVSPlayerRef } from '../types';
 
-import IVSPlayer from '../IVSPlayer';
+import IVSPlayer from '../components/IVSPlayer';
 
 const URL =
   'https://fcc3ddae59ed.us-west-2.playback.live-video.net/api/video/v1/us-west-2.893648527354.channel.DmumNckWFTqz.m3u8';
diff --git a/src/AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent.ts b/src/components/AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent.ts
similarity index 96%
rename from src/AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent.ts
rename to src/components/AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent.ts
index c538d89a..d07e550e 100644
--- a/src/AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent.ts
+++ b/src/components/AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,10 @@ export interface NativeProps extends ViewProps {
   maxBitrate?: Int32;
   initialBufferDuration?: Double;
   pipEnabled?: boolean;
-  progressInterval?: Int32;
+  progressInterval?: Double;
+  playInBackground?: boolean;
+  notificationTitle?: string;
+  notificationText?: string;
   onLoadStart?: DirectEventHandler<{}>;
   onVideoStatistics?: DirectEventHandler<{
     videoData: {
diff --git a/src/components/ErrorNotification.tsx b/src/components/ErrorNotification.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..97f27b05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ErrorNotification.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { Animated, StyleSheet, Text } from 'react-native';
+
+interface ErrorNotificationProps {
+  message: string | null;
+}
+
+export const ErrorNotification = ({ message }: ErrorNotificationProps) => {
+  const [activeMessage, setActiveMessage] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [showNotification, setShowNotification] = useState(false);
+  const animationValue = useRef(new Animated.Value(0)).current;
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (message && message !== activeMessage) {
+      setActiveMessage(message);
+      setShowNotification(true);
+
+      Animated.timing(animationValue, {
+        toValue: 1,
+        duration: 300,
+        useNativeDriver: true,
+      }).start();
+    } else {
+      Animated.timing(animationValue, {
+        toValue: 0,
+        duration: 500,
+        useNativeDriver: true,
+      }).start(({ finished }) => {
+        if (finished) {
+          setShowNotification(false);
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }, [message]);
+
+  if (!showNotification) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <Animated.View
+      style={[
+        styles.errorContainer,
+        {
+          opacity: animationValue,
+        },
+      ]}
+    >
+      <Text style={styles.errorText}>{activeMessage}</Text>
+    </Animated.View>
+  );
+};
+
+const styles = StyleSheet.create({
+  errorContainer: {
+    position: 'absolute',
+    top: 0,
+    left: 0,
+    right: 0,
+    zIndex: 9999,
+    backgroundColor: '#ff4d4f',
+    padding: '16px',
+    display: 'flex',
+    justifyContent: 'center',
+    alignItems: 'center',
+  },
+  errorText: {
+    color: '#fff',
+    fontSize: 14,
+    fontWeight: 600,
+  },
+});
diff --git a/src/IVSPlayer.tsx b/src/components/IVSPlayer.tsx
similarity index 87%
rename from src/IVSPlayer.tsx
rename to src/components/IVSPlayer.tsx
index 7b3f4702..8e2694d6 100644
--- a/src/IVSPlayer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/IVSPlayer.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-import React, { useEffect, useImperativeHandle, useRef } from 'react';
+import React, {
+  useEffect,
+  useImperativeHandle,
+  useMemo,
+  useRef,
+  useState,
+} from 'react';
 import {
   Platform,
   StyleSheet,
@@ -6,11 +12,6 @@ import {
   type NativeSyntheticEvent,
   type ViewStyle,
 } from 'react-native';
-import AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent, {
-  Commands,
-} from './AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent';
-import type { LogLevel, PlayerState } from './enums';
-import { createSourceWrapper } from './source';
 import type {
   IVSPlayerRef,
   PlayerData,
@@ -20,7 +21,15 @@ import type {
   TextCue,
   TextMetadataCue,
   VideoData,
-} from './types';
+} from '../types';
+import type { LogLevel, PlayerState } from '../types/enums';
+import { createSourceWrapper } from '../types/source';
+import AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent, {
+  Commands,
+} from './AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent';
+import { ErrorNotification } from './ErrorNotification';
+
+const MAX_PROGRESS_INTERVAL = 5;
 
 export type Props = {
   style?: ViewStyle;
@@ -44,6 +53,10 @@ export type Props = {
   maxBitrate?: number;
   initialBufferDuration?: number;
   pipEnabled?: boolean;
+  showErrorMessage?: boolean;
+  playInBackground?: boolean;
+  notificationTitle?: string;
+  notificationText?: string;
   onSeek?(position: number): void;
   onData?(data: PlayerData): void;
   onVideoStatistics?(data: VideoData): void;
@@ -85,7 +98,7 @@ const IVSPlayerContainer = React.forwardRef<IVSPlayerRef, Props>(
       playbackRate,
       pipEnabled,
       logLevel,
-      progressInterval,
+      progressInterval = 1,
       volume,
       quality,
       autoMaxQuality,
@@ -93,6 +106,10 @@ const IVSPlayerContainer = React.forwardRef<IVSPlayerRef, Props>(
       breakpoints = [],
       maxBitrate,
       initialBufferDuration,
+      showErrorMessage,
+      playInBackground = false,
+      notificationTitle,
+      notificationText,
       onSeek,
       onData,
       onVideoStatistics,
@@ -115,6 +132,7 @@ const IVSPlayerContainer = React.forwardRef<IVSPlayerRef, Props>(
   ) => {
     const mediaPlayerRef = useRef(null);
     const initialized = useRef(false);
+    const [errorMessage, setErrorMessage] = useState<string>();
 
     const preload = (url: string) => {
       if (!mediaPlayerRef.current || !url) return null;
@@ -298,6 +316,13 @@ const IVSPlayerContainer = React.forwardRef<IVSPlayerRef, Props>(
 
     const onErrorHandler = (event: NativeSyntheticEvent<{ error: string }>) => {
       const { error } = event.nativeEvent;
+
+      if (showErrorMessage) {
+        setErrorMessage(error);
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          setErrorMessage(null);
+        }, 5000);
+      }
       onError?.(error);
     };
 
@@ -308,8 +333,17 @@ const IVSPlayerContainer = React.forwardRef<IVSPlayerRef, Props>(
       onTimePoint?.(position);
     };
 
+    const constrainedProgressInterval = useMemo(() => {
+      if (!progressInterval || progressInterval <= 0.1) {
+        return 0.1;
+      }
+
+      return Math.min(progressInterval, MAX_PROGRESS_INTERVAL);
+    }, [progressInterval]);
+
     return (
       <View style={[styles.container, style]}>
+        <ErrorNotification message={errorMessage} />
         <AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent
           testID="IVSPlayer"
           muted={muted}
@@ -322,7 +356,7 @@ const IVSPlayerContainer = React.forwardRef<IVSPlayerRef, Props>(
           streamUrl={streamUrl}
           logLevel={logLevel}
           resizeMode={resizeMode}
-          progressInterval={progressInterval}
+          progressInterval={constrainedProgressInterval}
           volume={volume}
           quality={quality}
           initialBufferDuration={initialBufferDuration}
@@ -331,6 +365,9 @@ const IVSPlayerContainer = React.forwardRef<IVSPlayerRef, Props>(
           breakpoints={breakpoints}
           maxBitrate={maxBitrate}
           pipEnabled={pipEnabled}
+          playInBackground={playInBackground}
+          notificationTitle={notificationTitle}
+          notificationText={notificationText}
           onVideoStatistics={onVideoStatisticsHandler}
           onData={onDataHandler}
           onSeek={onSeekHandler}
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 40f1c834..416b7096 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-export * from './AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent';
-export { default as AmazonIvsView } from './AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent';
-export * from './enums';
-export { default } from './IVSPlayer';
-export type { Props as IVSPlayerProps } from './IVSPlayer';
+export * from './components/AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent';
+export { default as AmazonIvsView } from './components/AmazonIvsViewNativeComponent';
+export { default } from './components/IVSPlayer';
+export type { Props as IVSPlayerProps } from './components/IVSPlayer';
 export * from './types';
+export * from './types/enums';
diff --git a/src/enums.ts b/src/types/enums.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/enums.ts
rename to src/types/enums.ts
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types/index.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/types.ts
rename to src/types/index.ts
diff --git a/src/source.ts b/src/types/source.ts
similarity index 91%
rename from src/source.ts
rename to src/types/source.ts
index d77826ec..ffa61b8e 100644
--- a/src/source.ts
+++ b/src/types/source.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { Source } from './types';
+import type { Source } from '.';
 
 let sourceId = 0;