Picture-in-Picture mode is one of the most awaited features on YouTube. Even personally I felt the need for this feature many times while watching videos on YouTube. Happily, YouTube finally rolled out this Picture-in-Picture mode, but for its premium users. One more thing to note down that this Picture-in-Picture feature is currently available to only iOS users with a YouTube Premium subscription.
A few months back in June 2021, YouTube first announced the picture-in-picture mode for iOS users. And at the end of August month, started rolling out this feature for iOS users with a YouTube Premium subscription.
This is to note that this picture-in-picture mode is rolling out as an experimental feature specifically for iOS users having a YouTube Premium subscription. You can view and try all the experimental new features rolling out for YouTube Premium users by visiting this page (www.youtube.com/new).
What is Picture-in-Picture Mode?
Many video players and music players on the internet are already having this feature as it helps you browse the other apps on your device while watching videos or listening to songs altogether.
Everyone knows that YouTube never allowed other apps to be used simultaneously while watching YouTube videos. But, it will now be possible with the help of picture-in-picture mode for premium iOS members.
So, if you own an iPhone or iPad and use YouTube Premium, with this all-new picture-in-picture feature, you will be able to use other apps on your smartphone while watching YouTube videos in the picture-in-picture mode.
How to Use Picture-in-Picture Mode in Your iOS Device
As this feature is especially rolling out for iOS users with a YouTube Premium subscription, to try the picture-in-picture feature on YouTube, you must have an iPhone or iPad and a premium YouTube subscription.
If you have an iOS device but don’t have a YouTube Premium subscription, you will first need to sign up for the YouTube Premium subscription and then visit this page for experimental new features in your web browser. Here, click the “Try it out” button under the “Picture-in-Picture on iOS” listing.
While doing this, make sure you’ve already signed in with your YouTube Premium account. Once you’re done with this on your iOS device, you’re ready to use the Picture-in-Picture mode for the YouTube videos on your iOS device.
Just open the YouTube app and start watching any of your favorite videos. While you’re watching the video, just swipe up or press the home button in your iPhone to close the app, it will open the video in Picture-in-Picture mode. If you lock your screen while watching a video in Picture-in-Picture mode, the video will then be paused, however, you resume it anytime. Enjoy watching the YouTube video in a mini-player while using other apps simultaneously.
What Else Do You Need To Know?
The testing of this feature is available until 31st October. As an experimental feature, YouTube wants its premium users to test it out before the testing ends. As it’s in testing/experimental mode now, it’s possible that many interesting improvements to this will come in the future.
In case you’re not getting this Picture-in-Picture mode feature in your iPhone even after doing all the mentioned steps, you should try updating or reinstalling your YouTube app.
That’s all about the new Picture-in-Picture mode for now. New improvements and news are still yet to come. Stay tuned. And share your feedback about this experimental feature for YouTube Premium users.
