diff --git a/android-exoplayer/README.md b/android-exoplayer/README.md
index e2d4f9faef..9396763b26 100644
--- a/android-exoplayer/README.md
+++ b/android-exoplayer/README.md
@@ -42,6 +42,5 @@ https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer
 
 ## Unimplemented props
 
-- `playInBackground={true}`
-- `rate={1.0}`
 - Expansion file - `source={{ mainVer: 1, patchVer: 0 }}`
+
diff --git a/android-exoplayer/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/exoplayer/ReactExoplayerView.java b/android-exoplayer/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/exoplayer/ReactExoplayerView.java
index 0702806c96..eefd3f6189 100644
--- a/android-exoplayer/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/exoplayer/ReactExoplayerView.java
+++ b/android-exoplayer/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/exoplayer/ReactExoplayerView.java
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ class ReactExoplayerView extends FrameLayout implements
     private long resumePosition;
     private boolean loadVideoStarted;
     private boolean isFullscreen;
+    private boolean isInBackground;
     private boolean isPaused = true;
     private boolean isBuffering;
     private float rate = 1f;
@@ -186,14 +187,15 @@ protected void onDetachedFromWindow() {
 
     @Override
     public void onHostResume() {
-        if (playInBackground) {
-            return;
+        if (!playInBackground || !isInBackground) {
+            setPlayWhenReady(!isPaused);
         }
-        setPlayWhenReady(!isPaused);
+        isInBackground = false;
     }
 
     @Override
     public void onHostPause() {
+        isInBackground = true;
         if (playInBackground) {
             return;
         }