How to Fix YouTube Picture in Picture Not Working Easily

YouTube is a popular video platform where people can watch and share videos on almost any topic. One useful feature that many people enjoy is Picture-in-Picture (PIP). PIP allows you to watch or stream a video in a tiny window while using other apps on your phone or doing something else on your computer. It keeps the video playing in the corner of your screen so you can multitask. However, sometimes, this feature doesn't work as expected. This can be frustrating, especially if you want to watch a video while browsing other apps or checking messages. There could be several reasons why PIP isn't working, such as app settings, software bugs, or compatibility issues. This article will give you more information about these issues and provide solutions to the YouTube picture in picture not working issue.

Navigation

#1 Reasons Why Picture in Picture Not Working for YouTube App
#2 6 Fixes that Can Solve the YouTube PIP Window Not Working
#3 Frequently Asked Questions
#4 Conclusion

Reasons Why Picture in Picture Not Working for YouTube App

Here are some common reasons why PIP may not be working for the YouTube app:

Outdated YouTube App: Running an older version can cause PIP to malfunction.
PIP Disabled in Settings: The picture-in-picture feature may be turned off in your device's or app's settings.
YouTube Premium Required: PIP may only work if you have a YouTube Premium membership in certain regions.
Device or OS Incompatibility: Some devices or older operating systems (OS) may not support PIP for YouTube.
Region Restrictions: PIP is not available for YouTube in all countries.
Browser Issues (on Desktop): If you're using PIP on a browser, extensions or browser compatibility might block it.
App Glitches or Bugs: Temporary glitches or software bugs can stop PIP from working.

6 Fixes that Can Solve the YouTube PIP Window Not Working

1. Check if the Picture-in-Picture Mode is Enabled in the App

Possibility of Success	90%
Required Time/Duration	1-2 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy

The first thing you must do is check if the PIP feature is enabled in your YouTube app. In some instances, when you clear the app's cache, the picture-in-picture mode is disabled. To check if it's enabled, see the guide below.

To begin, open the YouTube app on your iPhone or Android device. Then, click on your profile picture and tap the Settings icon (gear icon) in the top-right corner.
Within the Settings, select the General option and find the picture-in-picture feature in the menu. Now, toggle on the PIP feature, and lastly, try to play a YouTube video and see if it works.

This solution might not fix the issue if the problem lies elsewhere, like software bugs or compatibility issues. Also, it requires manually navigating through the settings, which some users may find confusing.

2. Enable Picture-in-Picture Mode on Your Device

Possibility of Success	85%
Required Time/Duration	2-3 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy

Why is my picture in picutre is not working on YouTube? Another reason why PIP is not working on your mobile device is that the PIP Window mode on your device itself is not enabled. In fact, even though the PIP mode is enabled on the YouTube app and the PIP feature is disabled on your device, PIP doesn't work. That's why you should ensure the YouTube app and your device have the PIP feature enabled. So, to make sure that it is turned on, check your mobile phone settings.

For Android Users

The first thing you must do is open the Settings app. From the menu list, find the Privacy option and select Special Permissions. Alternatively, you can easily use the search bar to find the picture-in-picture option.
On the next screen, you will see a list of apps installed on your device. Find YouTube from the list and toggle it on to activate the feature. Lastly, play a video and try the background play to see if it works.

For iPhone or iPad Users

On your iOS device, find the Settings on your apps and click on it. Then, tap General menu from the lists. After that, tap Picture-in-Picture option, and you will see a Start PIP Automatically option. Turn on that option and return to the home screen.
Now, go to the YouTube app and play any YouTube videos or music videos you want. When the video start playing, simply swipe up to go to the home screen. Then, you will see the video continue playing on a small screen.

Enabling PIP mode might not work if the feature is disabled by the app or operating system restrictions. Additionally, some devices or older Android versions may not support PIP.

3. Clear Cache of the YouTube App

Possibility of Success	75%
Required Time/Duration	3-5 minutes
Difficulty Level	Moderate

Over time, YouTube stores temporary files (cache) on your device to load videos and features faster. If this cache gets corrupted or outdated, it can cause the YouTube application to malfunction, including the PIP feature and the YouTube Shorts not showing issues. When you clear the cache, the app starts fresh with updated and clean data, which can resolve any bugs or glitches affecting PIP functionality.

On Android Devices

To fix the Android YouTube picture in picture not working problem, go to your phone's Settings application. Then, scroll down from the menu lists and find the Apps or Apps & Notifications option, depending on your Android device. Next, tap the Manage Apps option to see all the apps installed on your device.
that, scroll down to find the YouTube app from the lists, or you can use the search bar. Next, at the bottom, you will see four options, one of which is Clear data. Tap the Clear Data option and press Clear Cache in the pop-up window. Wait for a few seconds to clear the app's cache.
Once done, return to the home screen and open the YouTube app. Then, watch YouTube video and press the home or back button. Lastly, see if the video player app continues to play the video on a small screen.

On iOS Devices

To begin, open the Settings and select the General menu from the lists. On the next screen, go to the iPhone Storage option, then wait a few seconds to finish analyzing each app data.
Next, find YouTube from the list of apps and tap on it. After that, you will see two options on the next screen: Offload Data and Delete App. Tap the Offload Data option, and it will clear the YouTube cache.
Once done, tap the Re-install App option that will appear after clearing the cache. Afterward, open YouTube, find and watch videos, and check if the PIP is now working.

Clearing the app cache may cause the app to reload and lose temporary data, which could temporarily affect your user experience. If the root problem is more complex, it’s also not guaranteed that the issue will be fixed.

4. Get YouTube Premium Subscription

Possibility of Success	100%
Required Time/Duration	5-10 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy

Another reason why the PIP window is not working on your devices is that you only have a free account on YouTube. According to the YouTube Support Page, PIP is only available for YouTube premium subscribers. However, if your account is free and you are in the United States, the PIP feature is working but you can't watch certain content like music videos. But, if your account is free and you are outside of the US, picture-in-picture is not available. To solve this and enjoy ad-free, offline, and background play, you need to get a YouTube Premium Membership. Alternatively, you can use or switch on any other account or your family members' Google accounts that have a premium membership.

Individual - $10.99 per month
Family - $16.99 per month (up to 5 family members)
Student - $5.49 per month

Note: All memberships are one month free, so you can watch YouTube without advertisements with the PIP feature.

This solution requires a paid subscription, which may not be ideal for users who prefer free services. Additionally, even with Premium, PIP may still not work due to region or device limitations.

You can use picture-in-picture (PiP) to watch content across YouTube, with a YouTube Premium membership.

Google Help

Using picture-in-picture on your mobile device

5. Update Both the Device and the App

Possibility of Success	80%
Required Time/Duration	10-20 minutes
Difficulty Level	Moderate

Updating your device and the YouTube app can also resolve the issue of Android and iOS YouTube picture in picture not working. Software updates often have bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features that enhance compatibility. On the other hand, an outdated YouTube app might lack the latest PIP functionality or have unresolved issues. Similarly, device updates ensure that the operating system supports new app features and works smoothly with the latest app versions. Keeping the app and your device updated helps avoid compatibility problems. It also ensures you have the latest improvements and security patches. In fact, this troubleshooting method also works when the YouTube auto-play is not working.

Update the YouTube

To update the YouTube app to the latest version, go to your device's App Store (iOS users) or Play Store (Android users). Then, tap the search icon and enter YouTube. From the search results, tap YouTube, and you can see the Update and Uninstall buttons (Android) or the Update button (iOS).
Now, tap the Update button and wait until the update process is finished. Once done, tap the Open button to open the app. Then, find a video and start watching it in full screen. Afterward, go back to your home screen and see if the video will continue playing in a small window.

Update Your Device

To resolve the problem of Android and iPhone picture in picture YouTube not working, ensure your mobile phone has the latest OS version.

iPhone Devices: Go to the Settings and select the General menu. Then, locate the Software Update option by scrolling down from the menu. After that, your iPhone will check for available updates. If an update is available, you'll see a notification with details about the update. "Tap the Download and Install button and wait for the update to finish.". Your iPhone running iOS latest version now.
Android Devices: Open the Settings app and locate the System/About Phone/About Device option, depending on your phone. If the update is available, you will see an option called Software Update. Download and install the update, and your mobile phone will restart to apply it. Once the installation is complete, your device will restart. You may need to follow some on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

Note: If both devices don't have an update available, wait until the developer releases an update.

Updating can take time and might require significant storage space. There’s also a risk that new updates may introduce new bugs or compatibility issues.

6. Watch YouTube Videos in Browser

Possibility of Success	60%
Required Time/Duration	1-2 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy

If the YouTube PIP feature is not working in the app, why don't you try watching videos in the browser? You can use Safari, Google Chrome, or any browser available on your mobile devices and desktop.

Visit the YouTube website on the available browser.
Then, navigate the video you want to stream.
After that, play it and hover your mouse over the video that was playing.
You will see a box with a small box inside that represent the PIP feature
Click on it, and the video will continue playing in a small window.

Watching videos in a browser may not provide the same smooth experience as using the app, and some features might not be available. This solution can also be inconvenient since browsers may not always support full PIP functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Picture-in-Picture feature?

PIP or Picture-in-Picture is a feature that allows users to watch a video in a small window while using other apps or browsing on their devices. This floating window stays on top of other applications, making multitasking easier. PIP is also particularly useful for watching videos while doing other tasks without interrupting the playback.

Did YouTube remove PiP?

No, YouTube has not removed the Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature, but it's only available to certain users. PIP is often restricted to YouTube Premium subscribers, although some regions offer it free on Android. If it's not working, it could be due to app settings or device compatibility issues.

Why won't some YouTube videos play in the background?

Some YouTube videos won't play in the background because background play is typically restricted to YouTube Premium subscribers. Additionally, certain videos may be subject to content restrictions that block background playback. In some cases, device settings or outdated software can also prevent videos from continuing to play in the background.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be frustrating when YouTube’s Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature isn’t working. Still, the issue is often simple to resolve. Common causes include needing a YouTube Premium subscription, outdated apps or device software, and PIP being disabled in settings. To fix the problem, you should ensure that the PIP is enabled on your device and the app. If issues persist, troubleshooting device settings or reinstalling the app might help. By understanding these common reasons and all the tips given, you can quickly restore PIP functionality and enjoy multitasking while watching YouTube.