How to Enable Picture-in-Picture in Windows 11

Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode lets you keep a video playing in a small, always-on-top window while you work in other apps. Windows 11 doesn’t have a global PiP toggle, but most video players and browsers include built-in PiP controls. This guide shows you how to enable PiP in Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and popular media players like VLC and Movies & TV.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC (any recent version).
• A video playing in a supported app or website (YouTube, Netflix, Vimeo, etc.).
• For browser PiP: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox installed.
• For media player PiP: VLC Media Player or the built-in Movies & TV app.

Step-by-Step

Using Microsoft Edge (Built-in PiP)

1. Open Microsoft Edge and navigate to the website with the video you want to watch.
2. Start playing the video. You can use any video site, including YouTube, Vimeo, or even embedded videos.
3. Look for the Picture-in-Picture icon (a small rectangle with an arrow pointing into it) in the video player’s controls. It usually appears at the bottom-right corner of the video.
4. Click that icon. The video will pop out into a small, always-on-top window that you can drag anywhere on your screen.
5. To close PiP, click the X button on the floating window, or click the PiP icon again in the original player.

Using Google Chrome

1. Open Chrome and go to the video you want to watch.
2. Play the video, then right-click on the video area twice. The first right-click may show a custom menu from the site (like YouTube’s), so right-click again to see the browser’s context menu.
3. In the browser menu, select Picture in Picture. The video will pop out into a floating window.
4. To exit, click the X on the floating window or right-click it and choose Close.

Using Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox and play a video on any site.
2. Right-click the video area twice (same as Chrome) to get the browser’s context menu.
3. Select Picture-in-Picture. The video will float on top of all windows.
4. To exit, click the X on the floating window.

Using VLC Media Player

1. Open VLC Media Player and start playing a video file.
2. Go to the menu bar and click Video.
3. Select Always on Top from the dropdown. This keeps the VLC window above other windows, but it’s still a full-sized window. To make it smaller, resize the window manually.
4. For a true PiP effect, you can also use the Minimize to Tray feature under Tools > Preferences, but that hides the video entirely. The simplest method is to resize the window and use Always on Top.

Using Movies & TV (Films & TV) App

1. Open the Movies & TV app (or Films & TV on older versions) from the Start menu.
2. Play a video file you have stored locally.
3. While the video is playing, click the PiP icon (a small rectangle with an arrow pointing down) in the player’s controls at the bottom.
4. The video will shrink to a small window that stays on top. You can move it around and continue using other apps.

Common Mistakes

• Right-clicking only once on YouTube: YouTube has its own right-click menu. You must right-click twice to see the browser’s PiP option.
• Looking for a PiP button in Chrome: Chrome doesn’t have a visible PiP button on most sites; you must use the right-click menu.
• Using an outdated browser: PiP is a modern feature. If you don’t see the option, update your browser to the latest version.
• Confusing PiP with split-screen: PiP is a small floating window, not a half-screen snap. Use Snap Layouts (hover over the maximize button) for split-screen.

Tips

• Move and resize: Drag the PiP window by its top bar to reposition it. Resize it by dragging the corners (in browsers) or using the resize handles.
• Control playback: Most PiP windows have play/pause and close buttons. Some also allow seeking by clicking on the progress bar.
• Use keyboard shortcuts: In Edge and Chrome, you can often press Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Ctrl+P on Mac) to toggle PiP for the current video.
• Keep PiP on top: If the PiP window disappears behind other windows, click it once to bring it to the front. In VLC, use Always on Top to ensure it stays visible.

Troubleshooting

PiP option is grayed out or missing: This usually means the video is played in a way that doesn’t support PiP (e.g., DRM-protected content like Netflix on Chrome). Try a different browser or use the site’s own app. Also, check if hardware acceleration is enabled in your browser settings.

PiP window won’t stay on top: Some apps may override the always-on-top behavior. Close other full-screen apps or try using the browser’s PiP again. In VLC, make sure Always on Top is checked.

Video freezes or audio continues: This can happen when the website blocks PiP. Refresh the page and try again. If it persists, try a different browser.

PiP works in one browser but not another: Some sites (like YouTube) support PiP natively in Edge but not in Chrome due to DRM. Use the browser that works for that site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Windows 11 have a built-in PiP mode for all videos?

No, Windows 11 does not have a system-wide PiP toggle. PiP is implemented by individual apps and browsers. However, the Movies & TV app and most modern browsers support it.

Can I use PiP with Netflix or Disney+?

Netflix and Disney+ often block PiP in browsers due to DRM. However, you can use the dedicated apps from the Microsoft Store, which may have their own PiP feature, or use the browser’s PiP if it works (Edge often works with Netflix).

Why doesn’t PiP work on YouTube in Chrome?

YouTube’s custom player can interfere with Chrome’s PiP. Right-click twice to bypass the YouTube menu. If it still doesn’t work, try Edge or Firefox, or use the YouTube app from the Store.

Can I adjust the size of the PiP window?

Yes, in most browsers you can drag the corners of the PiP window to resize it. In VLC, you can resize the window manually. The Movies & TV app also allows resizing.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to toggle PiP?

In Edge and Chrome, you can use Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Cmd+Ctrl+P (Mac) to toggle PiP for the current video. Firefox doesn’t have a default shortcut, but you can customize it in settings.

Does PiP work with local video files?

Yes, you can use PiP with local files in VLC (using Always on Top) or in the Movies & TV app (using the PiP button).

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