Picture in Picture (PiP) is a YoutTube feature that shrinks a video playing on the screen into a smaller window. Now you must be wondering what the benefits of the PiP on YouTube are. The feature allows you to view YouTube videos while using any other app. You can move the small player where the video is playing anywhere on the device.
Though the PiP works just fine on many devices, you can experience difficulty while trying to access it on your phone or computer. If the youtube picture in picture not working becomes a significant issue, the first thing you do is to find out the reason.
Mostly, it’s not the device – phone, tablet, or computer, that is at fault; instead, YouTube itself might be dealing with some technical glitch. Let’s first learn the procedure to enable picture-in-picture on Android and iPhone.
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How to Enable Picture-in-Picture
When the picture-in-picture mode is not working, you might not have enabled it. Although it comes enabled by default in the latest devices and operating system versions, you can do it manually too.
- On macOS
To enable youtube picture in picture MacBook, ensure the Safari Browser is up-to-date. With Safari open on your Mac computer, click Safari on the Menu bar. Select Safari Extensions.
In the Mac App Store, type in “picture in picture” and select the extension you’d want to use. Do not install extensions from unknown resources, as it can put your device at risk.
- On Android
To do this on your phone, go to Android Settings, click Apps & notifications, and tap on Advanced. Next, select Special app access and click Picture-in-Picture. Now click YouTube.
To turn on the picture:
- Select Allow picture-in-picture.
- In your YouTube app, go to YouTube app settings and select General.
- Toggle the switch to turn on Picture-in-Picture mode.
- On iPhone
Picture-in-picture mode is enabled by default if you’re using iOS 15 or later. If this feature is turned off, go to iOS device settings, click General, and select picture-in-picture.
Next, tap on Start PiP Automatically to turn it on. Next, go to YouTube app settings and select General. Then toggle the Picture-in-Picture switch to turn it on.
Let’s know how to resolve this issue to make PiP functional on your device.
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Clear YouTube App Cache
When you use YouTube, the app cache keeps building. Clearing cache files also helps with the picture-in-picture not working on the device.
- On Android
To clear the YouTube cache in Chrome on an Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome app.
Click on the three-dot icon available on the top-right side of the screen. Tap History, select Clear browsing data, and choose a time range.
For deleting everything:
- Select All Time.
- Check the boxes available with “Cookies and site data” and “Cached images and files.”
- Select Clear data.
- On iPhone
To clear cache, history, and cookies in Safari on iPhone, go to Settings, select Safari, and click on Clear History and Website Data. If you clear history, cookies, and browsing data from the Safari browser, it won’t change your AutoFill information.
If you wish to delete cookies and keep the history, go to Settings, tap Safari, click Advanced, and select Website Data. Next, select Remove All Website Data.
Update YouTube App on Phone
- On Android
To update the YouTube app on your Android phone, open Google Play Store App. Click on your profile picture and select My apps and games.
If the update is available, you will see the Update button, click on it and update YouTube. To install all updates, click Update All.
- On iPhone
To update YouTube on your iPhone:
- Go to the App Store, and click on your profile picture.
- Swipe down to view the pending updates.
- Check if the YouTube app is updated. If the app is not updated, you will see it in the Updates section.
Select Update next to the YouTube logo.
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Play Video in Landscape Mode
If the above two workaround methods don’t seem to work, try to play the YouTube video in landscape mode. Sometimes, the picture-in-picture is not accessible in portrait mode, and users find difficulty viewing the videos while working in another app.
Moreover, ensure that you have a YouTube Premium subscription to view the picture-in-picture mode. Other apps that support this mode include YouTube app, Facebook, VLC, and WhatsApp video call, or you can view it in Google Chrome and Safari browsers.
Why Do You Need Picture-in-Picture Mode?
Picture-in-picture mode is a useful feature that lets you view the video while accessing other apps. It allows you to continue your work while watching a video. For example, if you are using Procreate on an iPad and want to watch tutorials simultaneously, picture-in-picture mode helps.
In addition, when you are working on a complex project and need guidance, you can use YouTube picture-in-picture mode to listen to the expert. This can help you accomplish your work efficiently and accurately.
Bottom Line
The above solution should fix YouTube picture-in-picture not working on your devices. While the workarounds can be used to fix the problem for those outside the United States, a native solution would be much appreciated. It will hopefully be released in other parts of the world very soon.