YouTube Drops Picture‑in‑Picture on iOS After Nine‑Month Tryout
Remember that fancy “picture‑in‑picture” (PiP) feature that let you shrink a video into a little floating window? It sounded like the perfect snazzy tool for multitasking—until YouTube decided it wasn’t worth keeping.
The Quick‑Fire Experiment
In August 2021, YouTube rolled out PiP on its iOS app as a little experiment. For a while, it felt like a backstage pass to keep a tutorial or your favorite meme on a separate corner of the screen while you scrolled the rest of the app.
Bye‑Bye, PiP
Fast forward to April of this year and the feature is just gone. YouTube’s own editor says the option met its demise because it wasn’t essential enough for the average user.
- Initially promised a “multitasking” boost.
- Users found it handy but not mission‑critical.
- Company concluded the feature didn’t add real value.
Bottom line: Think of PiP on iPhone as a friendly ghost—nice to remember, but not actually there anymore.
Picture‑in‑Picture: YouTube’s Rollercoaster Ride
So, the big news is that you can’t toggle the PiP option on or off anymore—at least not on the regular web version. You’ll still see the icon, but YouTube keeps saying it’s kinda “turned off” in the background. Strange times, right?
Why the confusion?
- Only YouTube Premium subscribers had the privilege to use PiP in the past, so it wasn’t a universal feature.
- Now, even after the big rollout in March 2022, some users still manage to sneak into PiP mode, but there’s no official timeline on when or if it’ll stay that way.
It’s Not All Lost
Good news: YouTube TV hasn’t dropped the feature. If you’re streaming through the TV app, PiP is still fully functional.
Bottom line: Keep an eye on updates, and if you can’t find the PiP button, that’s probably the reason. But don’t worry—there are still ways to enjoy black‑and‑white subtitles and multitasking thanks to YouTube TV.
Quick FAQ
- Can I turn PiP on/off? No.
- Does it work on all devices? Only on YouTube TV for now.
- Will it ever go back to being toggleable? Stay tuned.
