YouTube picture-in-picture mode now available for iOS 15

Google announced that YouTube’s picture-in-picture mode is now available for iOS and iPadOS devices. This mode allows users to play videos in a floating window or while opening another application and will start to launch for iOS 15 based devices.

Picture-in-picture mode has long been available on the video platform, but only for YouTube Premium subscribers. In addition, this mode can also be accessed by non-Premium users in the United States (US).

In an official announcement via Twitter, Team YouTube said picture-in-picture mode on iOS and iPadOS can only be used for “non-music content.” As for Android users, nothing has changed because this mode has been available for a long time.

Speaking of picture-in-picture mode recording on YouTube, it took a long time for this mode to finally be used by all users. Google first announced its plans to bring this mode back in June 2021.

Then in August, picture-in-picture mode came as a trial feature for Premium subscribers. However, YouTube ended that trial in April 2022 and said the company had a lot of “details” about the feature to share soon.

YouTube took quite a while to roll out picture-in-picture mode on all platforms. YouTube also acknowledged this in a tweet and blog post saying, “Slow rollout for a much-desired feature.”

To see if your device already has access to the mode, open the YouTube app, try playing a video, then exit YouTube to go to the home screen or another app. If picture-in-picture mode is on, the video will automatically appear as a floating window.

You can also check for the feature by tapping the YouTube profile picture at the top right of the app, going to Settings > General, and checking the switch labeled “Picture-in-picture.”