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How do you use picture-in-picture apps?

Published in Picture-in-Picture 3 mins read

To use picture-in-picture (PiP) apps, you generally need to enable the feature for specific applications through your device's settings. Here's a breakdown of the steps:

Enabling Picture-in-Picture (PiP)

The exact steps may vary slightly depending on your device's operating system (Android, iOS) and version, but the general process is as follows:

  1. Open Settings: Locate and open the Settings app on your device.
  2. Navigate to Apps: Look for a section labeled "Apps," "Apps & Notifications," or something similar. The wording may differ depending on your device manufacturer.
  3. Special App Access: Within the Apps section, find and tap on "Special app access."
  4. Picture-in-Picture: Scroll down and tap on "Picture-in-picture."
  5. Choose an App: You'll see a list of apps installed on your device that potentially support PiP.
  6. Allow PiP: Tap on the app you want to enable PiP for and toggle the "Allow picture-in-picture" option to the "on" position.

Using Picture-in-Picture After Enabling

Once enabled, the behavior varies slightly based on the specific app:

  • For Video Apps (e.g., YouTube, Netflix): Typically, start playing a video. While the video is playing, either tap the home button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (depending on your device's navigation style) to return to the home screen. The video should automatically shrink into a floating window.

  • For Navigation Apps (e.g., Google Maps): Start navigating. When you leave the app (home button or swipe up), the navigation will continue in a floating window.

Controlling the PiP Window

Once in PiP mode, you can usually:

  • Move the Window: Drag the floating window around the screen to reposition it.
  • Resize the Window: Some apps allow you to pinch-to-zoom on the window to change its size.
  • Pause/Play: Tap the window to reveal controls for pausing and playing.
  • Close the Window: Look for a close button (usually an "X") on the window to dismiss it.
  • Return to Full Screen: Tap the window and look for a button to return to the full-screen app.

Example Scenario: YouTube

  1. Enable PiP for YouTube through Settings (as described above).
  2. Open the YouTube app and start playing a video.
  3. Press the home button (or swipe up to return to the home screen).
  4. The YouTube video will shrink into a floating window, allowing you to browse other apps while continuing to watch the video.

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