Picture-in-Picture has made life a lot easier for users by allowing you to do several things at once in a comfortable way. The iPhone has also included this function just like on iPad or Mac, and in this article we explain how it works and everything you should know about it.
This feature is only available in the iOS 14 beta.
Picture-in-Picture utility on iPhone
Starting with iOS 14, Apple allowed using the PiP function on iPhones, extrapolating from the experience on iPads and also on Mac where it could already be used. There are many interesting uses that can be made of this floating window and that improve personal productivity. The most obvious is that you can play and view multimedia content while doing another task with the iPhone. That is, you may be watching a video on YouTube while composing an email or note. In short, you can perform two tasks at the same time without any problem. It is true that this function can make much more sense on those iPhones that have a larger screen, but you can always adjust the playback box as seen below.
In addition to multimedia content such as a video on YouTube or a series on Netflix, it also has other uses. One of these is related to video calls and the possibility of seeing the face of the person you are talking to even if you are not in the application. In this way you can also be taking notes while you are in the video call without having to pause the camera or stop viewing the incoming signal.
Activate Picture-in-Picture on iPhone
In order to activate the Picture-in-Picture function, the first thing is to make sure that you are on iOS 14 or higher . This was the first version of the operating system that included the functionality to be able to view any compatible content in a floating window. Once you have fulfilled this requirement you simply must follow the following steps:
- Open a video or video call playback application.
- Play the video you want or connect the call.
- If you have an iPhone without a Home button , swipe from the bottom to the top as if you were going to return to the iPhone’s main screen.
- In case you have an iPhone with a Home button , you just have to press it.
The image will automatically begin to play in a floating window. Obviously this will happen as long as the application supports this functionality, something that is gradually coming as an update.
Adjust playback window
Once you have the video playing in a floating window, you can adjust it to suit your needs. In other words, the window is not immovable but you can move it around all the corners of your screen without any problem. In this way you can adjust it to what you need, since sometimes it can disturb the floating window when it comes to writing if it is at the bottom.
Size is another of the problems that can arise since there will be people who prefer that it occupies much more screen ratio than others. With two fingers on top of the floating window and making a small pinch on it you can reduce its size or enlarge it without any problem. This gives all possible versatility options to personalize the experience
Compatible apps
As we mentioned earlier, not all applications support this functionality. And some put an insurmountable condition to pay a subscription such as YouTube. But always keep in mind that Safari has also been integrated with Picture-in-Picture, so all the videos you play in the browser can also be integrated on your screen with a floating window. In this way it is possible to avoid the limitations that they put on YouTube with their application.
As mentioned, most native iOS applications support this mode. These include Apple TV, Podcasts, Safari, FaceTime, iTunes, or Home. Also included are any third-party apps that are compatible with the iPad feature. These include, for example, Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, Twitch, YouTube, Telegram and many others.