# YouTube Picture-in-Picture Mode Not Working on iPhone and Android Users report the mini player feature fails to activate when exiting the app. - **Source:** [9to5Mac](https://brifing.si/source/59447403-ce5b-427c-8132-8614f549929a) - **Published:** 2026-07-18 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/911ad045-73a6-46f7-8ea0-54ed4fc3820c ## What is PiP Mode? Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode allows users to continue watching videos in a small window after exiting the YouTube app, enabling multitasking while viewing content. ## Scope of the Issue Google notes that most complaints come from iOS users. Users report that PiP mode doesn't activate when exiting the app, with only audio continuing to play in the background. ## Technical Details The issue has been identified in YouTube app version 21.28. While Pixel devices remain unaffected, the problem consistently replicates on iPhones. ## User Reactions Users are frustrated, especially when multitasking. The recent rollout of PiP for free users globally has amplified the impact of this disruption. ## YouTube's Statement YouTube acknowledged the issue Friday morning, confirming teams are actively investigating. As of Saturday afternoon, no updates have been provided regarding a fix. ## Significance and Impact This bug significantly degrades the mobile YouTube experience. The absence of PiP functionality directly affects user productivity and video consumption habits. ## Sources covering this story - https://9to5google.com/2026/07/18/youtube-pip-broken/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._