Multitasking on mobile devices has long ceased to be just a convenient feature and has become a basic need of the modern user. Imagine the situation: you are watching a training video or a football match, and suddenly an urgent message arrives in the messenger, requiring an immediate response. Previously, you had to pause the video, minimize the application, respond and again look for the moment where you left off. Now Android ecosystem offers an elegant solution to this problem.
The technology known as Picture-in-Picture or PiPallows you to play a video stream in a small floating window on top of other active applications. This means you can chat on Telegram, scroll through your news feed, or work with documents without interrupting the broadcast. However, the implementation of this function may vary significantly depending on the version of the operating system, the manufacturer of your smartphone and the specific video service.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the nuances of setting up and using the separate window mode. We will consider not only standard system tools, but also specific settings of popular applications, which often block this feature by default. Understanding these mechanisms will help you make the most of the capabilities of your gadget gadget for content consumption
The principle of operation of Picture-in-Picture technology in Android
The floating window function has been officially introduced into the operating system Android 8.0 Oreo. Since then, it has become an integral part of the system core, responsible for rendering windows that can be placed on top of other interfaces. Technically, this works through a special system layer that controls the display priority of graphic elements. When an application requests PiP mode, the system reduces its interface to the specified proportions and pins its coordinates on the screen.
It is important to understand that not every application supports this technology at the code level. Developers must explicitly implement support Picture-in-Picture in their application manifest. For example, video players and navigation maps have native support, while many social networks or specific utilities may ignore this request. This is why on one smartphone YouTube works in a window, but video from VKontakte does not.
In addition, the behavior of the window may depend on the energy saving settings. Aggressive battery saving algorithms on smartphones Xiaomi, Huawei or Samsung can forcefully close background processes, which include minimized videos. If the window disappears immediately after minimizing, the problem most often lies not in the absence of a function, but in the prohibition of background activity.
⚠️ Attention: On some custom firmware (MIUI, EMUI, OneUI), the function may be hidden deep in the developer settings or require manual permission in a special menu for accessing accessibility features.
If the video is minimized to a black rectangle, try changing the screen orientation or force closing the application through the multitasking menu and launching it again.
Activating the function in the Android system settings
The first step before using the separate window mode should be to check the global settings of the operating system. In modern versions of Android, such as 11, 12, 13 and newer, management of this option is placed in a separate section of the security and privacy menu. You must ensure that the global switch is enabled, otherwise no application will be able to initiate the creation of a floating window.
To access the desired menu, follow these steps: go to Settings, then select section Applications. In the list, find the item Special access or Advanced settings. This is where the key parameter is hidden Picture in Picture. By clicking on it, you will see a list of all installed apps that theoretically can use this function.
In the list that opens, find the desired application, for example, YouTube or VLC, and make sure that the toggle switch opposite it is in the “On” position. If the switch is turned off, the system will block the app from trying to minimize itself to a window, even if you perform the correct swipe gesture. Some manufacturers add additional options here, such as allowing display on top of other windows or ignoring battery optimization.
- 📱 Go to
Settings → Applications → Accessibility. - 🎬 Select the item "Picture in picture".
- ✅ Activate the switch for all necessary video players and browsers.
- 🔋 Check the battery settings for these applications by disabling them from “freezing” in the background.
Setting up YouTube: official and alternative methods
The most popular question concerns the YouTube video service. Officially, the Picture-in-Picture function on Android mobile devices is available only to tariff subscribers YouTube Premium. For regular users, when trying to minimize an application, the video often stops or the window does not appear. This limitation is due to Google's licensing policy, which monetizes the ability to play in the background.
However, there is a legal way to bypass this limitation by using a browser instead of an application. If you open the YouTube website via Google Chrome or Firefox, request the full version of the site and launch the video, then when you minimize the browser, the Android system will correctly process the video stream as media content of the page. In your browser settings, the “Picture in Picture” option in the multimedia section must be activated.
An alternative option is to use third-party clients such as NewPipe or LibreTube. These open source apps do not use official Google APIs and allow you to watch videos in a separate window without a subscription. They also block ads and allow you to download content, but require manual installation of an APK file, since they are not available in the official store Play Market.
Path in Chrome settings: Settings → Accessibility → Picture in Picture (enable)Why doesn't PiP work in the official YouTube application without a subscription?
Google deliberately limits this feature in the native mobile app to drive Premium subscription sales. On tablets, this limitation is often absent due to differences in the system's classification of devices.
Using browsers to view video in a window
Modern mobile browsers are powerful tools for viewing content from any source that supports the HTML5 standard. Almost any video player embedded in a web page can be displayed in a separate window if the browser correctly interprets the Android system request. This is a universal solution for sites that do not have their own applications or that block multitasking.
In the browser Google Chrome the mechanism of operation is simple: while playing a video, press the “Home” button or make a minimize gesture. If the function is activated in the settings, the video will automatically be reduced and fixed in the corner. In Mozilla Firefox this function works even more stable and often has its own button for calling the PiP mode directly in the player interface, which gives the user more control.
It is worth noting that some sites use their own secure players, which may prevent the window from being removed. In such cases, enabling the “PC Version” mode in the browser settings helps. This forces the site to provide a desktop version of the page, where the operating logic of video players often corresponds to the standards of desktop operating systems and is better compatible with the Browser mode PiP.
| Browser | PiP support | Setting features | Operation stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | High | Requires enabling in the settings | Stable |
| Mozilla Firefox | High | There is a button in the player | Very stable |
| Samsung Internet | Average | Depends on the OneUI version | Intermittent crashes |
| Brave | High | Blocking trackers does not interfere | Stable |
Browsers are often a more reliable tool for viewing video in a window from non-core sites than specialized applications.
Third-party video players and their capabilities
If you store video files locally on the device or on a network drive, the standard The gallery player may not have the necessary functionality. In this case, specialized applications such as VLC for Android, MX Player or BSPlayercome to the rescue. These apps are designed with multitasking in mind and have flexible display settings.
In the application VLC The feature is enabled by default, but its behavior can be fine-tuned. You can set the transparency of the window, its size, and even pin it on top of all other windows, including the lock screen (in some configurations). MX Player offers similar functionality, but in the free version it may require confirmation of rights to display on top of other applications when first launched.
For advanced users, there is the ability to customize gestures. In most advanced players, double tapping on a minimized window can expand it to full screen, and swiping down can close it. This creates a convenient user experience that allows you to control your browsing without returning to the main application menu. It is important to monitor updates to these apps, as changes to the Android API may temporarily disrupt the function.
- 🎞️ Install VLC or MX Player from a reliable source.
- ⚙️ In the player settings, find the “Video” section or "Screen."
- 🖼️ Activate the option "Floating window" or "PiP Mode".
- 📂 Open a local file and minimize the application to check.
⚠️ Attention: When using third-party players, make sure you give them permission to “Display on top of other applications.” Without this system right, the window simply cannot be drawn.
☑️ Checking the player settings
Solving common problems and conflicts
Despite the well-functioning technology, users often encounter a situation where the video is not The window is minimized or disappears after a few seconds. The most common reason is aggressive battery optimization. The Android system strives to conserve charge by closing any processes that are not in active focus. Video in a small window is often perceived as a background process and gets “cleaned.”
To fix this, you need to go to the settings of a specific application, add it to the list of power saving exceptions and select the “No restrictions” or “Do not optimize” mode. The problem may also occur due to a conflict with other applications that use overlays, such as blue light filters or voice recorders. Try turning them off while watching.
Another nuance concerns screen resolution and pixel density. On some devices with a non-standard aspect ratio (for example, very elongated screens), the window coordinates may be calculated incorrectly, and it will extend beyond the visible area. In such cases, resetting application settings or clearing the system cache through the menu helps: Settings → Applications → Show system processes → Settings → Storage → Clear Interfaces for energy saving settings may differ on devices from different manufacturers. If you do not find the item you need, use the search inside the settings menu for “battery” or “optimization.” Settings → Applications → Show system processes → Settings → Storage → Clean.
⚠️ Attention: Energy saving settings interfaces may differ on devices from different manufacturers. If you don’t find the item you need, use the search inside the settings menu for “battery” or “optimization.”
Use applications like “Bubble for Android” to create an artificial floating window if the native function on your device does not work correctly.
Fine-tuning via menu for developers
For those who want maximum control over the behavior of windows, there is a menu for developers. It's hidden by default, but activating it allows you to control settings that aren't available in the regular interface. Here you can force support for free form factor for applications that do not officially declare support for multi-window mode.
To activate the menu, click 7 times on the build number in the section About the phone. Then go to System → For developers. Find the section responsible for multitasking. The option "Forced resizing actions" (Force activities to be resizable) allows you to force the application to work in split-screen or window mode, even if the developer did not provide for this.
Using these settings requires caution. Forced resizing may result in the interface displaying incorrectly, controls overlapping, or the application crashing. However, for watching videos from old or poorly optimized apps, this is often the only working solution. After experiments, it is recommended to return the settings to their original state.
Path to the developer menu: Settings → About phone → Build number (7 clicks) → System → For developersWhat is “Minimum width” in the developer settings?
This The parameter changes the interface density (DPI). Increasing the value makes the elements smaller and can make room for a more convenient placement of the floating window, but the text will become difficult to read.
Why does the video in the window disappear when the screen is locked?
By default, Android turns off graphics when the display is off to save power. To listen to audio with the screen off, you need to use the background playback feature available in YouTube Premium accounts or third-party players. The video stream requires an active display.
Is it possible to move the window to any point on the screen?
Yes, in most implementations the window can be dragged with your finger to any corner or to the center of the screen. However, some firmware only fixes the window in four corners to prevent important interface elements of other applications, such as navigation buttons, from overlapping.
Does PiP mode affect video quality?
Technically, the quality of the video stream is not reduced, since decoding occurs in the same mode. However, due to the small window size, the human eye may not notice high-resolution details, and the system may dynamically reduce the bitrate to save processor resources.
Does this feature work in games?
Generally, no. Games use full screen mode with exclusive capture of graphics accelerator resources. Trying to minimize the game to a window most often results in it pausing or crashing. The exception is some strategy or card games that support multitasking.
How to close a floating window?
To close a window, you usually need to drag it to the bottom of the screen, where the trash can or cross icon will appear, or click on the cross in the corner of the window itself. Also, the window will close automatically if the video ends or if you close the parent application through the recent tasks menu.