Many smartphone users are faced with a situation where they need to simultaneously watch a video and perform other tasks, for example, chat in instant messenger or view the news feed. Picture in Picture mode (PiP) solves this problem by allowing you to display the playing video in a separate floating window on top of other applications. However, on the Android platform, the implementation of this function has its own characteristics and limitations, which depend on the version of the system and the type of account.
Initially, Google positioned this feature as an exclusive privilege for subscribers of the paid service YouTube Premium. This caused a wave of dissatisfaction among device owners who wanted multitasking without paying a monthly fee. However, modern versions of the operating system Android allow you to bypass some restrictions or activate native system functions that intercept the video stream regardless of the wishes of the application itself.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available ways to activate a floating window. We will look at both official methods through subscription settings and system loopholes that work on most modern smartphones. You will learn what parameters need to be changed in the developer menu or the main phone settings in order to enjoy your favorite content while working.
The official method for YouTube Premium subscribers
The simplest and most legal method of activating the function is available to owners of a paid subscription. If you have a tariff YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium, the function should work out of the box without the need for complex manipulations with system files or third-party software. Just make sure that the corresponding checkbox is checked in the settings of the application itself.
To check, go to the user profile in the lower right corner of the screen and select Settings. Next, go to section General. Here you should see a switch named "Picture in Picture". Make sure it is active. If the slider lights up blue or green, it means the system is ready to work in multitasking mode.
After enabling the option, launch any video. To activate the floating window, simply press the Home button on your smartphone or swipe up (depending on the navigation type). The video player will automatically collapse into a compact rectangle that you can move around the screen and resize. This is an ideal option for those who value stability and legality of using the service.
⚠️ Attention: The function may not work if you are using an outdated version of the YouTube application. Be sure to check for updates in the store Google Play before changing settings.
If minimizing does not occur automatically, try pressing the Home button twice quickly instead of the usual single press - on some shells this will forcefully activate PiP mode.
Activation through the Android system settings (without Premium)
Owners of devices without a paid subscription can take advantage of the built-in capabilities of the operating system Android 8.0 and higher. Google has introduced support for Picture-in-Picture at the system kernel level, which allows some applications to use this mode even without direct permission from the video hosting developer. However, by default this feature for YouTube is often blocked.
To unlock the feature, you need to go to the general settings of your smartphone. Find the section Applications or All applications. In the list of installed apps, find YouTube. By clicking on it, you will be taken to the management menu for a specific application, where we are interested in additional permissions.
Inside the application menu, find the item "Advanced settings" or immediately look for the section Picture in Picture. If such an item exists, open it and activate the switch Allow playback in the "Picture in Picture" mode. After this action, the system will have the right to force display the video in a floating window when the application is minimized, ignoring the internal restrictions of the service.
- 📱 This method works on most stock versions of Android, including Pixel, Motorola and Xiaomi with global firmware.
- 🔒 On some Samsung or Huawei smartphones, the path to the setting may be different and located inside the “Special access” section.
- ⚙️ If the “Picture in Picture” item is not in the application settings, it means that your version of Android is too old or the manufacturer has blocked this function at the level shell.
Using developer mode to force launch
If the standard settings do not give the desired result, you can use the hidden menu for developers. This section contains advanced options for controlling the behavior of applications and windows. Activating certain flags here can force the system to treat the YouTube video player as a normal window that supports multitasking.
First, you need to activate the developer mode itself. Go to Settings → About phone → Software information (or simply “About phone”). Find the line "Build number" and quickly click on it 7 times in a row. The system will ask for your PIN code or pattern, after which a notification will appear that you have become a developer.
Now return to main settings menu and find the new item For developers. Scroll down to the Applications section. Look for an option Force to allow actions unloaded from memory or similar wording related to background activity. Enabling the option "Do not unload from memory" for a specific application may also help, although this will require selecting YouTube from the list.
Settings → For developers → Applications → Do not unload from memory → YouTubeBe careful when changing these settings. Aggressive memory management can cause your phone to run slower as the system frees up less RAM. Use this method only if other methods have not worked, and disable it if you notice problems with your device.
⚠️ Attention: Changes to the developer menu may affect the stability of other applications. Write down the original values of the switches so that, if necessary, return everything as it was.
☑️ Check before activating developer mode
Alternative clients and browser solutions
When official methods are exhausted, third-party solutions come to the rescue. There are many alternative clients for YouTube that are created specifically to expand the functionality of the free version of the service. These applications often have built-in support Picture-in-Picture, ad blocking and background playback.
One of the most popular solutions is Project NewPipe. This is a lightweight open source client that does not use official Google APIs, but scrapes the site directly. Thanks to this, it is completely free and has no restrictions. Installation requires downloading an APK file from the official project website or through the store F-Droid, since Google Play does not have such software.
Another option is to use mobile browsers. Browsers Firefox or Brave allow you to install special add-ons or have built-in functions for watching videos in a floating window. In Firefox for Android, you can install the “Video Background Play Fix” addon, which makes the site think that the video continues to play even after minimizing the tab.
| Application / Method | Root required | PiP support | Ad blocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official YouTube | No | Premium only | No |
| Android settings | No | Yes (depending on the version) | No |
| NewPipe | No | Yes | Yes |
| Firefox + Addons | No | Yes | Partially |
Security of third-party clients
Using applications like NewPipe technically violates YouTube's terms of use, but there are very few cases of accounts being blocked for this. The main risk is the lack of automatic updates and potential vulnerabilities in the code if you download the APK from unreliable sources. Always use the official repositories of the developers.
Setting the size and position of the window
After successfully activating the Picture-in-Picture mode, many users wonder how to resize the window or fix it in a convenient place. In pure Android, control is carried out using gestures, but on smartphones with custom shells the behavior may differ. Understanding these nuances will help make viewing as comfortable as possible.
To change the size of the floating window, use a two-finger pinch (as when scaling photos). You can shrink the video down to a thumbnail in the corner of the screen, or stretch it across almost the entire display, leaving just a small strip for another app. The system will automatically snap the window to the edges of the screen if you move it close to the border.
To move a window, simply touch it and drag it to the desired area. There is also a pinning function: if you double-tap the window, it can collapse into a small icon, continuing to play only the sound.
- 🖐 Swiping left or right on the window often closes the video player completely.
- 🔼 Swiping up usually expands the video back to the application's full screen mode.
- 🔽 Swiping down can minimize the video to a minimal widget or close it, depending on the shell settings.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Despite the abundance of methods, users often encounter the fact that the picture does not appear, the video freezes or the sound disappears when minimized. Most often, the reason lies in the aggressive energy saving that is characteristic of modern smartphones. The system tries to put a background application to sleep to save battery power.
To prevent YouTube from being forced to stop, you need to add the application to the battery exceptions list. Go to Settings → Battery → Charge consumption by applications. Find YouTube and select operating mode "No limits" or "Do not save charge". This will allow the video playback process to work in the background unhindered.
Another common problem is a black screen instead of video in a floating window. This often happens when trying to play protected content or due to a hardware acceleration conflict. Try clearing the application cache through your phone settings or reinstalling YouTube updates. In rare cases, disabling the function HW overlay in the developer menu helps.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces may change with each Android update. If you do not find the described item, use the search in the phone settings by entering the keyword “Picture” or “PiP”.
The main reason for the failure of the “Picture in Picture” mode in 90% of cases is the restriction of background activity by the energy saving system, and not the error of the application itself.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the video just stop after minimizing?
Most likely, you do not have a Premium subscription, and the Picture-in-Picture mode is not allowed in the system settings of the application. Check the Apps section of your phone's settings and make sure the switch is enabled. Also exclude YouTube from battery optimization.
Is it possible to watch videos in PiP on older versions of Android?
Native support for the mode appeared only in Android 8.0 (Oreo). On older versions (7.0 and below), this function is not possible without obtaining root access and installing special modified modules, which is not recommended for ordinary users.
Will the sound work if I turn off the phone screen?
In standard PiP mode, the sound works only while the screen is on and the window is active. To listen to sound when the screen is off (background mode), you need a Premium subscription or the use of third-party clients like NewPipe with the “Background Playback” option enabled.
Why does a window overlap control buttons in other applications?
This is a feature of the implementation of floating windows. Try moving the window to the top of the screen. If the problem persists, check your Accessibility settings or overlay an app on top of the screen that blocks touches in certain areas, although this is rarely needed.
Does Picture-in-Picture mode affect your data usage?
No, traffic consumption depends only on the quality of the video being played (480p, 720p, 1080p and etc.). The size of the window on the screen does not reduce the amount of downloaded data, since the video stream continues to download in full resolution unless you manually change the quality settings.