Picture-in-picture mode has become a standard convenience for users who want to keep video playing while navigating other apps. On mobile devices, the feature typically activates automatically when a user exits a video app, letting content continue in a floating window.
That expected behavior is currently failing for many YouTube users, particularly on iOS. Instead of following the viewer into a separate window, videos are either stopping or continuing only in the background without a visible PiP display.
The disruption appears to be widespread rather than isolated. A support thread on the platform’s help forum has drawn more than 11,600 users indicating they are experiencing the same problem.
A company representative confirmed the malfunction, stating that engineering teams are actively investigating why the feature fails to trigger on exit. The statement noted that while most reports come from iOS users, a smaller number of Android users are also affected.
No reliable workaround has been identified. Some users report inconsistent results, with PiP functioning during advertisements but failing once main content begins, or working only after reopening and relaunching a video.
The issue remains unresolved as of now, with no timeline provided for a fix.
