Since iOS 14, it has been possible to play small videos in the foreground on an iPhone using the ‘picture in picture’ function, also called Picture in Picture. In the meantime, you can use another app, useful when making a FaceTime call or playing a game.
You can activate playing the videos in the foreground in various ways, but unfortunately this does not work for all apps. In the YouTube app, you can only use the picture-in-picture feature if you have a premium subscription. Picture in Picture can be used on all iPhone models that have iOS 14 or newer installed.
What is Picture in Picture?
Using the Picture in Picture (PiP) mode it is possible to play videos in miniature in the foreground of the iPhone screen. As soon as you activate picture-in-picture, the current video will be reduced in size and you can use other apps in the meantime without the video stopping playing. In addition to videos, the option is also available for FaceTime calls.
Activate Picture in Picture on an iPhone
There are several ways to activate picture in picture on an iPhone, unfortunately it is not always clear how a developer has implemented the feature in the app. In most cases you can bring the video to the foreground via the special PiP button that is easiest to activate after you have displayed a video in full screen. Then you can tap the two rectangles with the down arrow next to the ‘close button’.
Immediately the video will be reduced in size and displayed in the foreground. In some cases, the PiP button is also immediately displayed in the toolbar when starting a video, but usually it only appears after the full-screen display has been activated.
Sometimes you can also activate Picture in Picture by exiting full screen by pressing the home button or by exiting the app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. The application will then not be closed, but the video will automatically be reduced in size and displayed in the foreground, as is the case with FaceTime, for example.
Adjust picture-in-picture display
As soon as you play a video in the foreground you can change its position by dragging the display to one of the four corners of the screen. You can adjust the size by double-tapping or spreading two fingers over the video. Finally, you can also temporarily hide the view by swiping the PiP video to the edge of the screen until it collapses. You can then open this again by tapping on the ‘arrow’.
Enable picture in picture for specific apps
- YouTube: Only available for premium subscribers
- Netflix: Activate full-screen playback and then press the home button or close the app
- TV app: Tap the PiP icon
- Videos in Safari: Open full screen and tap the PiP icon