How to manage Picture-in-picture mode on Android app?

If you are running an Android Oreo or later version on your Android device, chances are you have used many apps which support picture-in-picture (PiP) mode. When you close the app, a floating screen pops up on the screen so you can use multiple apps at the same time.

In case you don’t know, Picture-in-picture is a multi-window feature for apps which remain open on screen without covering the whole screen, such as video calls, media player, and navigation. You can watch your favorite video on a small window at the corner of the screen while going through content or apps on the main display. The PIP window opens in the top corner of the screen and you can drag it to any place.

Turn on PiP Mode on Android 10

Basically, the Picture-in-Picture mode is enabled on Android devices by default (all you need to have is Android 8 or later version on your device). You can also check yourself and ensure it is enabled for each app by going to settings. Here are the detailed steps –

• First of all, open Settings app.
• Go to Picture-in-Picture under Apps & Notifications > Special app access
• Find and select the app that you want to allow for this feature from the list of apps supporting Picture-in-picture
• Switch the “on” toggle button to enable this feature

Now you can use this feature whenever you need. Whenever you minimize a media player app, it will simply show up on the corner of the screen. YouTube is the only exception to this feature. As you may know, YouTube’s free version doesn’t support background video playback. It asks for a YouTube Premium subscription for using this feature.

What if PiP Mode is not working on Android 10?

It is very simple to enable and start using PiP mode on Android app. But there are some instances when this app may not work. Here’s what you can do - 

Make sure the app is compatible

As discussed earlier, Android 8 Oreo was the first which brought Picture-in-picture mode. But some apps still don’t have support for this feature. You can simply go to Settings to figure out yourself. If you can’t find your app listed there, it means there is no support.

If you are playing video and other media on some of the most common apps like YouTube Premium, Rocks Player, Chrome and others, it should support this feature. Even if these apps don’t open PIP mode after minimizing them, go through the next step.

Look out for in-app settings

Some apps come with dedicated PiP mode settings to change. If it is disabled by default in your app, you have to enable it. Simply go to app settings and turn on Picture-in-picture. The process varies on every app but it should work.