INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
YouTube has confirmed that picture-in-picture mode — previously a paid-only feature — has now rolled out to all U.S
YouTube users on Android on supported devices
The feature, which works on Android 8.0 (Oreo) or higher, had been slowly rolling out to non-Premium subscribers since this April we
understand, and the full rollout completed on Monday.
The websiteXDA Developers was the first to spot the expansion, noting earlier this
week that it seemed as if picture-in-picture mode had suddenly been turned on for several more YouTube users
They suspected that this had been a gradual launch, but didn&t confirm the status with YouTube directly.
Picture-in-picture mode, as you
likely understand by its name, allows you to continue watching a video in a small window as you continue to browse YouTube, or even use
other apps.
It an especially helpful addition to the service, but had only been offered to YouTube Premium (previously known as YouTube
Red) customers following its launch last year.
The feature is an improvement over the current system of watching while browsing on iOS, as
well, which instead places a floating strip at the bottom of the app where the video plays in a very small thumbnail
YouTube has not announced its plans for a related iOS update
But it would not be able to work in the same way in terms of placing a floating widget that hovers over top of the home screen or other apps
— that something only Android users can do.
