Picture in Picture on iPhone: How to activate and use Picture in Picture (PIP)

Picture-in-Picture is one of the new features Apple added to the iPhone in iOS 14. It allows users to do multiple things at the same time on one screen. In this article, let's learn with QuanTriMang about the Picture-in-Picture feature and how to use it fluently!

What is Picture-in-Picture?

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) is a feature that allows users to watch videos in a small window on the phone screen, while still being able to view and operate on other applications. Initially, this feature was only offered by Apple on iPad, but after iOS 14, it was added on iPhone.

Activate Picture in Picture on iPhone

If nothing unusual, the PiP feature is enabled by default on iPhone. If you can't use PiP despite following the instructions below, go to Settings > General > Picture-in-picture and turn on the Start PiP automatically option .

How to watch off-screen videos on iOS 14 web

PiP works with most video streaming websites opened from Safari. On a page with a video, tap to play the video, then click the PiP icon or double-tap the video with two fingers. You can also swipe up from the bottom to activate this mode. So you can watch videos and surf the web normally.

Picture in Picture on iPhone: How to activate and use Picture in Picture (PIP) Picture 1

Use Picture in Picture with the app

PiP is applicable on apps that run video content, but we have to wait for the developers of those applications to update the software to support this function.

As on the iOS 14 beta and official iOS 14, the free YouTube version still does not support PiP. If you want to watch YouTube off-screen on iOS 14, please continue reading below. However, with Apple applications like Apple TV, you can click on the PiP icon to activate this mode, use two fingers to touch the video twice, or swipe up from the bottom to access the PiP function. .

Picture in Picture on iPhone: How to activate and use Picture in Picture (PIP) Picture 2

Exit PiP mode and return to full screen mode in the same way. Close the Picture in Picture window and exit the application by clicking the X icon in the upper left corner.

Use Picture in Picture with Facetime

PiP has FaceTime support on iOS 14, and perhaps this is the biggest benefit of this functionality. From iOS 13 and below, every time you want to switch apps, FaceTime will automatically replay your video, meaning the other end of the line can still hear you but can't see you.

Picture in Picture on iPhone: How to activate and use Picture in Picture (PIP) Picture 3

Starting from iOS 14, the FaceTime window will automatically minimize when you switch to working with another application, your video will still appear on the other end of the line without being deleted.

You can press FaceTime twice in a row to change the window size. If you only press once, FaceTime will return to full screen as usual. You can move the PiP window to any suitable location.

Change the size and position of the Picture in Picture window

You can double-click on any PiP window and use several operations to change its size. There are three sizes for you to choose from: small, medium and large.

Picture in Picture on iPhone: How to activate and use Picture in Picture (PIP) Picture 4

The small window will be the size of two application icons, the average window will be three icons wide and one and a half times as tall, and the large window will be the size of eight application icons.

Picture in Picture can be used with most apps on the home screen. Small and medium windows can move anywhere on the screen, large windows can be placed in the upper or lower corners.

Move the Picture in Picture window off the screen

You can drag the PiP window of any size off the screen if you want. At that time, you will still continue to hear the video or Facetime sound but the image will no longer be displayed.

Picture in Picture on iPhone: How to activate and use Picture in Picture (PIP) Picture 5

You can use Picture in Picture (PiP or picture in picture) to watch YouTube videos off the screen on iOS 14, but YouTube has locked this feature on the app so you can't use PiP directly, you have to add a few things. Another small step that we have detailed instructions in another article: How to watch YouTube off-screen in iOS 14

Micah Soto

Update 05 August 2024