diff --git a/tools/windows/packaging/uwp/package.appxmanifest.in b/tools/windows/packaging/uwp/package.appxmanifest.in
index c4bf60359b38d..1b4a6191518e6 100644
--- a/tools/windows/packaging/uwp/package.appxmanifest.in
+++ b/tools/windows/packaging/uwp/package.appxmanifest.in
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 	xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/foundation/windows10" 
 	xmlns:mp="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/2014/phone/manifest" 
 	xmlns:uap="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/uap/windows10" 
-	IgnorableNamespaces="uap mp">
+	xmlns:uap3="http://schemas.microsoft.com/appx/manifest/uap/windows10/3" 
+	IgnorableNamespaces="mp uap uap3">
 
   <Identity Name="@APP_PACKAGE_IDENTITY@" ProcessorArchitecture="@SDK_TARGET_ARCH@" Publisher="CN=@APP_PACKAGE_PUBLISHER@" Version="@APP_VERSION_CODE@.0" />
   <mp:PhoneIdentity PhoneProductId="0175E9D8-B885-4F34-BE46-F3BA2C70C00C" PhonePublisherId="00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000" />
@@ -234,5 +235,6 @@
     <uap:Capability Name="removableStorage" />
     <uap:Capability Name="userAccountInformation" />
     <uap:Capability Name="videosLibrary" />
+    <uap3:Capability Name="backgroundMediaPlayback" />
   </Capabilities>
 </Package>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/xbmc/windowing/win10/WinEventsWin10.cpp b/xbmc/windowing/win10/WinEventsWin10.cpp
index 7fd1918b2940e..a90345f0810b5 100644
--- a/xbmc/windowing/win10/WinEventsWin10.cpp
+++ b/xbmc/windowing/win10/WinEventsWin10.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "utils/log.h"
 #include "utils/SystemInfo.h"
 #include "windowing/windows/WinKeyMap.h"
+#include "xbmc/GUIUserMessages.h"
 #include "WinEventsWin10.h"
 
 using namespace PERIPHERALS;
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ using namespace KODI::MESSAGING;
 using namespace Windows::Devices::Input;
 using namespace Windows::Foundation;
 using namespace Windows::Graphics::Display;
+using namespace Windows::Media;
 using namespace Windows::System;
 using namespace Windows::UI::Core;
 using namespace Windows::UI::Input;
@@ -134,6 +136,17 @@ void CWinEventsWin10::InitEventHandlers(CoreWindow^ window)
   // system
   SystemNavigationManager^ sysNavManager = SystemNavigationManager::GetForCurrentView();
   sysNavManager->BackRequested += ref new EventHandler<BackRequestedEventArgs^>(CWinEventsWin10::OnBackRequested);
+  // requirement for backgroup playback
+  m_smtc = SystemMediaTransportControls::GetForCurrentView();
+  if (m_smtc)
+  {
+    m_smtc->IsPlayEnabled = true;
+    m_smtc->IsPauseEnabled = true;
+    m_smtc->IsStopEnabled = true;
+    m_smtc->ButtonPressed += ref new TypedEventHandler<SystemMediaTransportControls^, SystemMediaTransportControlsButtonPressedEventArgs^>
+      (CWinEventsWin10::OnSystemMediaButtonPressed);
+    m_smtc->IsEnabled = true;
+  }
 }
 
 void CWinEventsWin10::UpdateWindowSize()
@@ -466,3 +479,45 @@ void CWinEventsWin10::OnBackRequested(Platform::Object^ sender, Windows::UI::Cor
   }
   args->Handled = true;
 }
+
+void CWinEventsWin10::OnSystemMediaButtonPressed(SystemMediaTransportControls^ sender, SystemMediaTransportControlsButtonPressedEventArgs^ args)
+{
+  int action = ACTION_NONE;
+  switch (args->Button)
+  {
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::ChannelDown:
+    action = ACTION_CHANNEL_DOWN;
+    break;
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::ChannelUp:
+    action = ACTION_CHANNEL_UP;
+    break;
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::FastForward:
+    action = ACTION_PLAYER_FORWARD;
+    break;
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::Rewind:
+    action = ACTION_PLAYER_REWIND;
+    break;
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::Next:
+    action = ACTION_NEXT_ITEM;
+    break;
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::Previous:
+    action = ACTION_PREV_ITEM;
+    break;
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::Pause:
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::Play:
+    action = ACTION_PLAYER_PLAYPAUSE;
+    break;
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::Stop:
+    action = ACTION_STOP;
+    break;
+  case SystemMediaTransportControlsButton::Record:
+    action = ACTION_RECORD;
+    break;
+  default:
+    break;
+  }
+  if (action != ACTION_NONE)
+  {
+    CApplicationMessenger::GetInstance().PostMsg(TMSG_GUI_ACTION, WINDOW_INVALID, -1, static_cast<void*>(new CAction(action)));
+  }
+}
diff --git a/xbmc/windowing/win10/WinEventsWin10.h b/xbmc/windowing/win10/WinEventsWin10.h
index ec08d97cbb455..5c7d38c3cca01 100644
--- a/xbmc/windowing/win10/WinEventsWin10.h
+++ b/xbmc/windowing/win10/WinEventsWin10.h
@@ -57,11 +57,14 @@ class CWinEventsWin10 : public IWinEvents
   static void OnDisplayContentsInvalidated(Windows::Graphics::Display::DisplayInformation^ sender, Platform::Object^ args);
   // system
   static void OnBackRequested(Platform::Object^ sender, Windows::UI::Core::BackRequestedEventArgs^ args);
+  // system media handlers
+  static void OnSystemMediaButtonPressed(Windows::Media::SystemMediaTransportControls^, Windows::Media::SystemMediaTransportControlsButtonPressedEventArgs^);
 
 private:
   void UpdateWindowSize();
   void Kodi_KeyEvent(unsigned int vkey, unsigned scancode, unsigned keycode, bool isDown);
   Concurrency::concurrent_queue<XBMC_Event> m_events;
+  Windows::Media::SystemMediaTransportControls^ m_smtc{ nullptr };
 };
 
 #endif // WINDOW_EVENTS_WIN10_H