The newly reported YouTube Picture in Picture (PiP) bug has users on both iPhone and Android devices frustrated who depend on the feature for multitasking. Users say the problem has broken Picture in Picture mode or caused it to crash unexpectedly while videos continue to play in the background.

Other customers have voiced similar frustrations on Google’s support threads and a fix is allegedly on the way. As with other app-related issues, it might take some time for the update to reach all devices and regions.

What Problems Can Occur With Picture-in-Picture?

Picture-in-Picture Watch YouTube videos in a small floating window while using other apps. While it is now one of the most popular multitasking features on the platform, especially for Premium subscribers, there is also some supported content that is available in PiP on supported devices.

Some users are complaining about the floating player not appearing or disappearing after a few seconds or not responding at all, after the recent app updates. Others had trouble when switching between apps or when they locked and unlocked their phone.

The exact cause of the bug has not been publicly explained, but temporary feature shutdowns are often caused by software updates and compatibility issues.

Same Issues for Both iPhone and Android Users

It appears to have been a problem for both iOS and Android users, so it’s not just an isolated issue on one operating system. For some users, restarting the app brought the feature back temporarily, while others continued to experience problems even after reinstalling YouTube.

Some users also said the bug appears after they update their mobile operating system or YouTube app, but that is not the case for all devices or software versions.

These differences imply that not all users have been affected in the same way.

Google Said to Be Working on Fixes

Google is apparently aware of the Picture in Picture issue and is working on a fix, according to user support updates and community chatter. The company will most likely fix the problem either with a future update to the YouTube app or a server-side rollout.

Users should enable auto-updates or check the App Store and Google Play Store for the latest version of the YouTube app.

If the update has shipped, it may take several days to propagate to all devices.

May help with interim workarounds

Some users have found that force closing the YouTube app, restarting their device, clearing the app cache on Android, or making sure that Picture in Picture permissions are still enabled in system settings can temporarily resolve the issue until an official fix is released.

These steps might not fix the issue for everyone, but they can help to remove local configuration problems while Google finishes its rollout.

Keep Up to Date with the Latest Fixes

Google is working on the reported Picture in Picture bug and we advise affected users to install the latest YouTube updates and keep an eye on official support channels for further announcements. Make sure you update the app and the device’s operating system, because this kind of software bug usually gets fixed through incremental updates.

Most users should be able to continue to use Picture in Picture once the fix has been fully rolled out.

Sources

• Official support – YouTube Help Forum Latest status on known issues and YouTube features.
• Google Help – Google confirmed service announcements and tips on how to troubleshoot problems.
• Google Play Store – YouTube app official release notes & update info for Android
• App Store (iOS) – iPhone users: What version of the app are you on and is there an update?
• 9to5Google – Coverage of Android, Google services, YouTube updates and reported software issues.