iOS 14: How to Use Picture in Picture Mode on iPhone

With iOS 13, Apple added a Picture in Picture Mode to the iPad, and with iOS 14, that Picture in Picture functionality is available for the iPhone too, letting users do things like watch videos and take FaceTime calls while doing other things on their device.

This guide covers everything that you need to know about using Picture in Picture on the ‌iPhone‌.


Using Picture in Picture With Apps

Picture in Picture works with apps that play video content, but when it comes to third-party apps, app developers have to implement support for the feature.

pictureinpictureappletv

Picture in Picture in the Apple TV app. Content is black because Apple does not allow screenshots of movies and TV shows.

In a compatible app, which includes Apple's apps such as ‌Apple TV‌, you can tap on the Picture in Picture icon available at the top of the app to activate Picture in Picture mode, double tap on the video with two fingers, or swipe upward from the bottom of the ‌iPhone‌'s display to activate Picture in Picture mode.

Exiting out of Picture in Picture Mode and returning to full screen mode with the app reopened can be done by tapping on the same icon in the upper right corner of the Picture in Picture window or double tapping with two fingers. Closing the Picture in Picture window and existing out of the app can be done by tapping on the X in the left corner.

pictureinpicturecontrols
Picture in Picture mode controls for apps that play television and movie content include play/pause and an option to tap to skip 15 seconds forward and 15 seconds back.

Apple's apps that work with Picture in Picture include anything with a video feed, such as ‌Apple TV‌+ or video footage from HomeKit-enabled cameras in the Home app.

YouTube Picture in Picture

YouTube, unfortunately, has not implemented Picture in Picture support yet, so the YouTube app doesn't work with the feature. There are some doubts that YouTube will ever support this feature, but YouTube has been testing it on the ‌iPad‌. Fortunately, there is a workaround for now, using YouTube on the web.

Using Picture in Picture on the Web

Picture in Picture with the Safari app works with almost any video and website developers don't need to implement support. On a site with a video, tap to play the video and then tap the Picture in Picture icon or do a two finger double tap on the video. You can also swipe upwards from the bottom of the ‌iPhone‌ to activate Picture in Picture.

pictureinpicturesafari2
There are some video types that don't work, such as the videos that some sites embed in webpages, so there may need to be some tweaks to some websites before those kinds of videos can be used in Picture in Picture mode. It is compatible with videos from sites like YouTube and Vimeo, however, so websites that use these embeds will have content compatible with Picture in Picture.

pictureinpicturesafari
Note that to use Picture in Picture mode with Safari, if you want to continue browsing another website while a video plays, you need to open a new Safari tab.

Using Picture in Picture with FaceTime

Picture in Picture works with ‌FaceTime‌ in iOS 14, and that's perhaps the most useful way to take advantage of it. In iOS 13, if you need to do something on your phone, you have to swipe out of the ‌FaceTime‌ window, which pauses your video for the person you're speaking with.

pictureinpicturefacetime
In iOS 14, if you swipe out of a ‌FaceTime‌ call it automatically minimizes into a Picture in Picture window that continues to be visible even while you access other apps so you and the other person you're talking to can continue your conversation without the ‌iPhone‌ being otherwise unusable.

You can double tap on the ‌FaceTime‌ window to change its size from large to medium or small and then back again, and if you just single tap the Picture in Picture window expands back to the full size of the ‌iPhone‌'s display. You can also move the Picture in Picture window to the optimal spot on the screen.

pictureinpicturefacetime2

Customizing Picture in Picture Window Size and Position

You can double tap on any Picture in Picture window or use pinch gestures to change the Picture in Picture window size. There are three sizes to choose from: small, medium, and large.

pictureinpicturesizes
The small window is about the size of two app icons, the medium is as wide as about three app icons and as tall as one and a half, while the largest window is the size of eight app icons.

All of the windows are shown in a landscape orientation on the ‌iPhone‌'s Home Screen with the exception of ‌FaceTime‌, which is shown in portrait mode.

Picture in Picture windows can be used with almost any app or while on the ‌Home Screen‌. The small and medium windows can be moved to any corner of the ‌iPhone‌'s display, while the large Picture in Picture window can be placed at the top or the bottom of the screen.

Moving the Picture in Picture Window Off Screen

You can pull a Picture in Picture window of any size over to the side of the ‌iPhone‌ with drag and drop gestures, moving it off of the screen.

pictureinpicturecollapse
With the Picture in Picture window off screen, you will continue to hear the audio from the video or ‌FaceTime‌ call, but it won't be visible on the ‌iPhone‌'s display.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about the Picture in Picture mode on the ‌iPhone‌, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Related Forum: iOS 14

Popular Stories

Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Generic iOS 18

Here's When Apple Will Release iOS 18.4

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch. All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

Here Are the New Apple Products We're Still Expecting This Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring. There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category. M4...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Two of Apple's Oldest Products Are Finally Getting Updated This Year

Friday February 14, 2025 6:03 am PST by
Apple released the HomePod mini in November 2020, followed by the AirTag in May 2021, and both still remain first-generation products. Fortunately, rumors suggest that both the HomePod mini and the AirTag will finally be updated at some point this year. Below, we recap rumors about the HomePod mini 2 and AirTag 2. HomePod mini 2 In January 2025, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is ...

Top Rated Comments

BulkSlash Avatar
60 months ago
Not to be that guy, but picture-in-picture has been available on the iPad since iOS 9 not iOS 13. I‘m pleased we’re finally getting it on iPhone.

I’ve now deleted the YouTube app and am just using the website because you can do picture-in-picture with that. It even seems to support auto-playing the next video so you don’t have to keep switching back to Safari to start the next video, which is really good.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
60 months ago
Apple needs to mandate that video apps support PIP. It’s ridiculous that Google doesn’t have to support an OS feature because they want to charge you for it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arn Avatar
60 months ago

Actually Video overlay, can two videos be played at once?
In some situations yes. YouTube safari and YouTube app didn’t work. But YouTube video and Instagram video with both audio works!

[Click to view video attachment]
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
60 months ago

Hope they introduce the corresponding feature for people on the other end -- Auto Disconnect if more than one thing is showing on the other person's phone!

Just what we need. Calling someone up and they're watching a video, playing a game, and saying "Uh-huh", "uh-huh" every now and then!

No, thank you! It'll be as bad as people who put you on hold to take the other call!
All of the responders to your post are busy assisting other forum members. Your post is very important to us. Please remain on MacRumors constantly refreshing the page and someone will be with you shortly. We appreciate your patience and thank you for choosing MacRumors.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
60 months ago
This works the same on iPadOS. I have used the feature more than I thought I would on my iPad Pro. My SE is too small for such a feature to be practical.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
60 months ago

This works the same on iPadOS. I have used the feature more than I thought I would on my iPad Pro. My SE is too small for such a feature to be practical.
Yeah, makes more sense on the iPad's larger display, but it's especially handy for FaceTime on all devices.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)