🔥 Trending YouTube PiP Mode Not Working? Here's How to Fix It

The Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode on YouTube allows users to watch videos in a small, floating player while using other applications on their device ³. Recently, many iPhone and Android users have reported issues with PiP mode not working ³⁵. Google has acknowledged this bug, stating that while audio may continue, the video player often disappears ⁶. As of July 18, 2026, YouTube is aware of the issue and is working on a fix ⁵⁷.

Despite the ongoing bug, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to attempt to resolve the YouTube PiP issue on your iPhone or Android device.

Troubleshooting YouTube PiP on iPhone

For iPhone users, YouTube's PiP functionality requires iOS 15.0 or later ²⁴.

1. Enable PiP in iOS Settings

The first step is to ensure that PiP is enabled within your iPhone's system settings ²⁴.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Tap on General.
• Select Picture in Picture.
• Make sure the Start PiP Automatically toggle is turned On ².

2. Enable PiP in YouTube App Settings

After enabling it in iOS settings, you also need to check the YouTube app's specific PiP setting ².

• Open the YouTube app.
• Tap on your profile picture (usually in the top right corner).
• Go to Settings.
• Tap on General.
• Locate Picture-in-picture and ensure it is toggled On ².

3. Update YouTube App and iOS

Outdated software can often lead to functionality issues ¹.

• Update YouTube App: Go to the App Store, search for YouTube, and tap "Update" if an update is available.
• Update iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for and install any pending iOS updates.

4. Restart Your Device

A simple restart can often resolve minor software glitches ¹.

• Turn off your iPhone, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.

5. Reinstall YouTube App

If the problem persists, reinstalling the app can clear corrupted data ¹.

• Delete the YouTube app from your iPhone.
• Re-download it from the App Store.

Troubleshooting YouTube PiP on Android

For Android users, the steps are similar but involve different navigation paths.

1. Enable PiP in Android System Settings

• Go to your device's Settings.
• Search for "Picture-in-picture" or navigate to Apps & notifications > Special app access > Picture-in-picture (the exact path may vary slightly depending on your Android version and device manufacturer) ¹.
• Find YouTube in the list and ensure that Allow picture-in-picture is toggled On.

2. Enable PiP in YouTube App Settings

• Open the YouTube app.
• Tap on your profile picture.
• Go to Settings.
• Tap on General.
• Locate Picture-in-picture and ensure it is toggled On ¹.

3. Update YouTube App and Android OS

• Update YouTube App: Go to the Google Play Store, search for YouTube, and tap "Update" if an update is available.
• Update Android OS: Go to Settings > System > System update to check for and install any pending Android updates.

4. Clear YouTube App Cache and Data

Corrupted cache or data can interfere with app functions ¹.

• Go to your device's Settings.
• Tap on Apps or Apps & notifications.
• Find and tap on YouTube.
• Tap on Storage & cache.
• Tap Clear cache and then Clear data (note: clearing data will log you out of the app) ¹.

5. Restart Your Device

• Restart your Android phone.

6. Reinstall YouTube App

• Uninstall the YouTube app.
• Reinstall it from the Google Play Store.

Current Known Issue (July 2026)

It's important to note that as of July 2026, YouTube has acknowledged a widespread bug affecting PiP functionality on both iPhone and Android devices ⁵⁶⁷. While the troubleshooting steps above can help resolve common PiP issues, if the problem persists, it might be due to this ongoing bug. Google has confirmed they are working on a fix ⁶. In such cases, users may need to wait for a future app update from YouTube to fully restore the functionality.