IPHONE
How to use Picture in Picture on an iPhone (iOS 27)
In short
Check that Start PiP Automatically is on in Settings, General, Picture in Picture. Play a video full screen and swipe up to go Home: the video keeps playing in a small window. You can also tap the Picture in Picture button at the top left of the video.
3 of 3 steps show a real screenshot from our iPhone 17e. Each step was checked against the maker's own instructions, linked at the end.
Steps
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- The window is too small? Apple says to pinch open to make it larger and pinch closed to shrink it again.
- The video stops when you leave the app? First check that it was playing full screen before you swiped up, as in step 2. If Start PiP Automatically is on and it still stops, that app or video probably does not offer Picture in Picture, which Apple says can happen.
- The window vanished after you dragged it? Dragging it off the left or right edge hides it rather than closing it, according to Apple. Look along the edge where you pushed it and drag it back onto the screen.
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.
A video in the small window keeps streaming, so it still uses data and battery. On mobile data that adds up, so a long video in the corner is worth pausing when you are not watching. If data is a concern, Low Data Mode on an iPhone can reduce how much apps use in the background.
Switching Start PiP Automatically off does not remove Picture in Picture. The button in supported videos keeps working, so you only get the floating window when you ask for it.
About this guide
- 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
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Spotted a mistake? Menus change with updates, and we want every step to match your screen. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.
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