• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Tutorials and fixes for smartphone, gadget, and computer problems

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Browsers
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iPhone
    • Linux
    • macOS
    • Office
    • Reviews
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About
Fix Picture-in-Picture Not Working on Android

Fix Picture-in-Picture Not Working on Android

May 18, 2023 by Judy Sanhz Leave a Comment

When YouTube Picture-in-Picture is not working, you can’t multitask. You can’t read your notes and keep watching that YouTube video simultaneously. Not being able to use the feature can be frustrating. If you’re in the US, you won’t need a Premium subscription to use picture-in-picture, but all users who want to use the feature outside the US will need one. The good news is that there are various tips you can try and fix the issue. Keep reading for beginner-friendly tips to try to get the feature working again.

How to Fix Picture-in-Picture Not Working on Android

The following tips are simple and can be very effective. You can start by restarting your Android device. Restarting a device can fix different issues by giving the apps a fresh start. If that doesn’t work, you can also try updating the app.

To check for pending updates for YouTube, open Google Play and tap on your profile picture. Tap on Manage Apps and Device. The second option will be the Updates Available option, and you will see if you have any pending updates and how many.

Update Android Apps
Checking for pending Android updates

Use the Right YouTube Account to Fix Picture-in-Picture Not Working on Android?

If you have more than one Google account, you can easily forget to switch back to the account where you have your Premium subscription. You can tell what account you’re using by the profile picture. But if you need help remembering which profile picture is for the Premium account, here is how to check. Open the YouTube app: tap on the profile picture. Tap on where you see your name and username. At the top, you’ll see the account you’re currently using, and at the bottom, the other accounts you’ve added. Tap on the Premium account and start enjoying picture-in-picture.

Is Picture-in-Picture Enabled on Your Android Device?

If the Picture-in-Picture feature is off on your Android device, that could explain why the feature is not working. You can check to see if it’s on by going to Settings > Apps and Notifications> See all X apps > YouTube > Advanced > Picture-in-Picture > Toggle on.

Turn on Picture in picture Android
Enabling picture-in-picture mode in Android

Now that you know the picture-in-picture feature is one try using it to see if the issue is fixed.

Is Picture-in-Picture Enabled on the YouTube App?

You can also enable the picture-in-picture feature on the YouTube app. Once the YouTube app opens, tap on your profile picture and go to Settings. In Settings, go to General > Picture-in-Picture. Toggle on the option, and you’re good to go.

Enable pic-in pic YouTube App
Enable pic-in pic YouTube Android App

Are You Using a Custom Launcher?

The reason that your pic-in-picture needs to be fixed is that there could be a compatibility issue. You can use your Android device’s stock launcher to rule out that possibility. To switch back to the stock launcher, go to Settings > Apps and Notifications> Advanced > Default Apps> Home Apps > Choose your default launcher. Once you’ve switched, try using the pic-in-pic mode and start enjoying the feature.

Default app option Android settings
Default app option in Android settings

Have You Tried Clearing the YouTube Cache?

When you haven’t cleared the cache for an app in a while, that can cause different issues. To rule out this possibility, open Settings and tap on Apps and Notifications > See all X apps > YouTube > Storage and cache > Clear cache.

Have You Tried Disabling Battery Optimization?

Trying to save as much battery power as possible is something all Android users go through. But if you turn on battery optimization to Fix Picture-in-Picture Not Working on Android, that could explain why pic-in-pin for YouTube is not working. To turn it off, open Settings and go to Battery. Tap on Battery Saver and turn it off.

Have You Tried Uninstalling Apps?

When you started experiencing the issue, did you previously install a third-party app? You can try uninstalling the apps you installed right before the problem started. To uninstall an app, long-press on the app icon and drag it toward the top, where you should see the trash icon that’ll say Uninstall.

Uninstall Android App
Uninstall option for Android

Another way you can uninstall the app is by going to Settings > Apps and Notifications > (the app you want to uninstall) > Uninstall.

Have You Tried Disabling Gestures on Your Android Device?

The gestures feature can make your home screen look less cluttered. But what if it’s the culprit of the problem? To ensure this isn’t the cause, try turning it off by going to Settings > Accessibility > Swipe down to System Navigation > 3-button navigation. This option gives you a home button to press and quickly go into a pic-in-pic mode when watching YouTube videos. These changes are not permanent, so you can go back and change them at any time.

System Navigation Android
System Navigation in Android settings

Have You Tried Changin the Location on the YouTube App?

It’s no surprise that certain features are only available in some countries. You can try choosing another location to see if you can use the feature. To select another country, tap on your profile picture in the YouTube app. Go to:

  • Settings
  • General
  • Location

You’ll see a long list of countries to choose from, but since the feature is undoubtedly available in the US, you can try that country.

Contact YouTube Help

One last thing you can try is to contact YouoTube Help. You can reach them by opening the YouTube app and tapping your profile picture. Tap on Help and Feedback and select Contact Us. Follow the on-screen instructions to let YouTube know about the issue at hand.

Further Reading

There are other services where you can also use pic-in-pic. See how you can use the feature on WhatsApp and Firefox. See how you can start using the feature there.

Conclusion

No app is perfect, and they will give you issues sooner or later. But when that time comes, you can use all sorts of tips to fix the problem. For example, when YouTube’s pic-in-pic won’t work, you can start with the primary fixes, such as restarting the app and clearing the cache. Maybe you disabled the feature for some reason and forgot to turn it on. There are several possible causes. How long have you been experiencing the problem? Share your thought in the comments below, and remember to share the article with others on social media.

 

You Might Also Like

  • 3 Ways to Enable Picture-in-Picture Mode in Chrome
    3 Ways to Enable Picture-in-Picture Mode in Chrome
  • Picture-in-Picture Mode in Firefox: How to Turn It On
    Picture-in-Picture Mode in Firefox: How to Turn It On
  • YouTube Picture-in-Picture: How to Use It or Disable It
    YouTube Picture-in-Picture: How to Use It or Disable It
  • WhatsApp: How to Use Picture-in Picture Mode
    WhatsApp: How to Use Picture-in Picture Mode
  • How to Effectively Capture a Picture from a Video - Android
    How to Effectively Capture a Picture from a Video - Android
  • Android: Send Picture in Email or Text Message
    Android: Send Picture in Email or Text Message

Filed Under: Android

Reader Interactions

Did this help? Let us know!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • What is SMPS?
  • How to Find Watched Videos on Facebook in 2023
  • How to View Facebook Memories in 2023
  • How to Fix Google Maps Voice Directions Not Working
  • What Happens to Messages When You Permanently Delete Facebook
  • How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to Steam Deck
  • How to Reset Root Password on Steam Deck
  • How to Update Steam Deck

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

You May Also Like

  • 9 Best Android TV box
  • Best Budget Android Phones 2021
  • 10 Best Android Phone Cleaner Apps in 2019

© Copyright 2023 Guiding Tech Media · All Rights Reserved · Privacy