YouTube: Popular premium feature now free for all users

YouTube is releasing a popular multitasking feature for all smartphone users. The picture-in-picture feature, which was previously mainly tied to a premium subscription, is now being rolled out worldwide. However, a restriction still applies to music videos.

Global activation started

Users of Google’s video platform YouTube can expect an innovation for their mobile devices. The so-called picture-in-picture function, often abbreviated as PIP, is now being rolled out worldwide for all users on Android and iOS. Previously, the feature was only available to Premium access subscribers outside the United States (USA). Now people without a paid subscription also have access. PIP mode allows you to continue watching a running video in a reduced window while exiting the actual app or browsing other videos within it. The small playback window can be moved freely on the screen. This allows users, for example, to answer messages or surf the web while the video remains visible in the foreground. To use the function, a simple swipe gesture is usually sufficient.

Like Google in one Support post As reported, the worldwide distribution of the innovation will take a few months. The group also mentions an important restriction for users of the free version. The feature is only available for regular video formats that do not contain music. If you want to play music videos in the background or via PIP, you still need a paid subscription to YouTube Premium.

Requirements and details

According to the company, nothing will change for paying members. You continue to benefit from unrestricted use for all content categories. Users of the cheaper Premium Lite tier receive the same access as free users and can only use the small window for regular videos. If the feature does not start automatically after the update, we recommend taking a look at the system settings of the mobile device. There, permission for picture-in-picture display must be explicitly granted for the app. On Apple iPhones, at least the operating system version iOS 15 is required. For Android devices, the exact menu items vary slightly depending on the manufacturer.