YouTube’s picture-in-picture functionality for Android and iOS devices is currently expanding to subscribers everywhere, regardless of whether they have a Premium subscription. According to Team YouTube, this capability will gradually appear in user accounts over the next few months, meaning full global coverage may take time. Once enabled, users can minimize the active video into a floating window and continue viewing it while navigating other apps. Activation is straightforward: swipe up or tap the home button to exit YouTube, and the video will resume in a draggable mini-player overlay.
This feature was initially launched for Premium members on Android and iOS in the US in 2018 and 2021, respectively, before becoming available to all American users. Team YouTube confirms that US users will experience no changes to their current functionality. Meanwhile, international users will gain access to picture-in-picture for long-form, non-music videos on both platforms. Premium subscribers will retain an exclusive advantage: the ability to use picture-in-picture for both music and non-music content.