How to Enable Picture-in-Picture Mode on WhatsApp

Nowadays, smartphones have evolved into multi-purpose devices that provide great benefits in our daily lives. They are not just limited for communication; they can also serve as a platform for various activities such as watching videos or working.

Realizing this, many apps on the Android system have introduced multitasking features. This functionality allows users to utilize two apps simultaneously. For example, you can watch YouTube while browsing the web.

Therefore, it is commonplace for a person to simultaneously access two apps on their mobile device. One of the common things that happens is sending a message while using another app. WhatsApp also facilitated such actions by introducing the Picture in Picture feature.

This feature undeniably increases user interaction on WhatsApp. So, what exactly is the Picture in Picture feature, and how to enable it on WhatsApp? Find out more in the following review.

What is Picture-in-Picture?

If you're using Android 8.0 or higher, you're probably familiar with the Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature. This multitasking functionality allows other apps to appear in a small window above the app you're currently using.

This PIP feature is different from the split-screen feature. PIP displays apps as floating windows, similar to how apps appear on Windows systems.

For example, let's say you're watching a YouTube video and suddenly receive a message. You can minimize the WhatsApp chat app into a small window, so you can continue watching the video while checking your incoming messages. This feature proves to be very useful for users who often use multiple apps simultaneously.

Meta, as the developer of WhatsApp, has also implemented this multitasking feature in their messaging app. The Picture-in-Picture feature on WhatsApp allows users to watch video links within their message threads while simultaneously opening and responding to other messages on WhatsApp.

In the future, users will have the ability to play video messages from YouTube or other platforms in a small window, without leaving the chat. This will allow you to do other activities while still on WhatsApp.

The video window makes it easy to watch video links without interrupting the flow of other messages you want to read. The video window can be moved freely up and down on the screen.

In the latest WhatsApp update, the Picture-in-Picture window is clearer and more detailed. Below the video window, you will find buttons for 'pause', 'actual size' and 'close'. This makes it easier for you to watch the video. On older versions, these buttons only appeared when tapping on the video.

Picture-in-Picture feature applies exclusively to linking messages from platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr. This feature also appears if the message sent has a preview. If the message is just a link without a video preview, clicking on the link will redirect you to the app in question, just as it did before.

Furthermore, apart from watching video links, the Picture-in-Picture feature can also be utilized during video calls. You can shrink the video call screen into a window, allowing you to check other messages while still on the video call.

How to Enable Picture-in-Picture on WhatsApp

Generally, the Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature will be enabled automatically on WhatsApp through the latest update. However, you need to click on the video preview for the video to appear in the PIP window. If you just click on the link, you will be redirected to the original video app.

Unfortunately, there are certain smartphones and operating systems that require manual activation to enable WhatsApp's PIP feature. Follow the steps below to enable it:

• Go to your phone's setting and tap "Apps". For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be using the realme Narzo 50 5G phone with realme UI 4.0. However, the settings on other phones should be similar.

• Once you are in the Apps section, select "App management."

• You will see a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Search for WhatsApp or use the search function to find it.

• Tap WhatsApp to access the "App info" page. Look for the option labeled "Picture in picture". If the status shows "not allowed", then this feature is currently disabled.

• To enable Picture-in-Picture (PIP), simply slide the toggle button located next to the text "Picture in picture" to the right.

Besides the previously mentioned methods, there are a few other approaches you can try to enable WhatsApp's Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature. Follow the steps below:

• Access your phone's settings and go to the 'Apps' menu. Search for WhatsApp in the list of apps.
• Or, find the WhatsApp icon on your phone's home page and tap on it until the 'App info' option appears. Tap on it.

• The next steps will be similar to the previous method.

If the Picture-in-Picture feature is already enabled, whenever you receive a video link message, simply click the play button on the video preview. The video will instantly appear in a small window. However, if you wish to enlarge the video view, you can press the arrow-shaped icon located in the upper-left corner.

What to Do If the PIP Feature Doesn't Appear

Sometimes, despite having enabled the PIP feature in your phone settings, you may find that it doesn't work. In such cases, just stay calm. There are a few steps you can take to resolve this issue. Here's what you can do:

Like any application, WhatsApp can sometimes experience crashes. If you have multiple apps running simultaneously on your smartphone, try closing the WhatsApp app and clearing its cache. You can use the method discussed earlier for this. If necessary, close all the background apps to ensure that WhatsApp can open smoothly.

The PIP feature only works on the latest updated version of the WhatsApp app. If the PIP feature does not appear, make sure you have the latest version of the app installed.

The Picture-in-Picture feature on WhatsApp offers great convenience. It eliminates the need to close the app to view a shared video. It allows you to continue viewing other messages while watching the video. However, this feature is available for Android and iOS smartphones with relatively new versions.