How to use Picture in Picture on an iPhone (iOS 27)

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-use-picture-in-picture-on-an-iphone/ · Checked October 2026 · iPhone 17e · iOS 27.0.1

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

iPhone

Shown on

iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 17e)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › General › Picture in Picture

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Check Start PiP Automatically

   Open Settings, General, Picture in Picture. Start PiP Automatically is the only switch on the page and was on by default on ours. The note says videos and FaceTime calls continue in Picture in Picture when you swipe up to go Home or use other apps.

   Done

2. 

   Play a video full screen

   On ours the Picture in Picture button sat between the close button and the AirPlay button at the top left. Tapping it starts Picture in Picture straight away.

   Done

3. 

   Swipe up to go Home

   The video shrinks into a floating window at the top of the Home Screen and keeps playing. Ours showed a pause button and a skip-10-seconds button in the window.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Picture in Picture button on the video? Apple says Picture in Picture works only with supported apps and videos: if the option isn't there, the app or video may not support it. Ours worked with a video played full screen in Safari. Source: Multitask with Picture in Picture on iPhone
• The video does not float when you swipe Home? Check Start PiP Automatically in Settings, General, Picture in Picture. With it off, tap the Picture in Picture button in the video instead. Source: Multitask with Picture in Picture on iPhone

If this does not work

• The window is in the way? Apple says to drag it to another corner, or drag it off the left or right edge to hide it. Source: Multitask with Picture in Picture on iPhone
• The window is too small? Apple says to pinch open to make it larger and pinch closed to shrink it again. Source: Multitask with Picture in Picture on iPhone

About this guide

Picture in Picture keeps a video or FaceTime call in a small window while you use other apps.

The screenshots are from our iPhone 17e with iOS 27.0.1, in Dark mode. We played a public sample video in Safari, muted.

Good to know

To close the window, Apple says to tap it and then tap the close button. To go back to the full video, tap the window and then the full-screen button.

See also where Live Activities show on an iPhone 17e.

In short: Settings, General, Picture in Picture on. Play a video full screen, swipe Home.