Originally written by Amit Kumar, updated by Dibyajyoti Kabi. First published June 26, 2018. Updated October 24, 2026.
To use picture-in-picture on a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone, play a video in an app that supports it, like YouTube or VLC, and press the home button or swipe home. The video shrinks into a small floating window. If it doesn’t, open Settings, search for Picture-in-picture and allow it for that app.
This post started in 2018, when picture-in-picture was a new feature in the MIUI 10 China beta. Today every Xiaomi phone on MIUI 10 or later, and every phone on HyperOS, has it built in. So I’ve rewritten the guide for current phones.
Key points
- Picture-in-picture, or PiP, has been part of Android since Android 8.0 Oreo, and Xiaomi phones support it on MIUI and HyperOS.
- The app has to support PiP. YouTube, Google Maps navigation, Chrome, VLC and WhatsApp video calls all do.
- PiP is a per-app permission. If one app won’t float, check that its permission is on.
- On YouTube, PiP is free for most videos. Music videos need YouTube Premium.
What is picture-in-picture mode?
Picture-in-picture is an Android feature that keeps a video playing in a small window on top of other apps after you leave the app. You can drag the window around, resize it with two fingers, or tap it to get play and close buttons. Google describes how apps use it on its Android Developers PiP page.
How do I turn on picture-in-picture on a Xiaomi phone?
Open Settings, type Picture-in-picture in the search bar and open the result. You’ll see a list of apps that support it. Tap an app and turn on Allow picture-in-picture. Do this once for each app you want to float, and it stays on.
- Open Settings.
- Tap the search bar at the top and type Picture-in-picture.
- Open the Picture-in-picture result.
- Tap the app you want, like YouTube.
- Turn on Allow picture-in-picture.
On many MIUI phones the same list sits under Settings > Privacy protection > Special permissions > Picture-in-picture. The exact menu moves between MIUI and HyperOS versions, which is why the search bar is the quickest way in.
How do I use picture-in-picture on YouTube?
Play a video in the YouTube app, then swipe up to go home or press the home button. The video keeps playing in a small window. If nothing happens, turn on Picture-in-picture inside YouTube under Settings > General or Settings > Playback, depending on your app version, and check the Android permission above.
Google’s YouTube help page on picture-in-picture says PiP works for most videos for everyone. Music content, like official music videos, is limited to YouTube Premium members.
One more thing. If you pause the video before you leave the app, the floating window won’t appear.
Which apps support picture-in-picture?
Any app that plays video or shows live content can add PiP, but the app developer has to build it in. These are the common ones that work on Xiaomi phones today.
| App | What floats |
|---|---|
| YouTube | Videos (music needs Premium) |
| Google Chrome | Full screen web videos |
| Google Maps | Turn by turn navigation |
| VLC | Local videos |
| Video calls | |
| Google Meet | Video calls |
In Chrome, start the video, make it full screen, then go home. Not every website allows it, so try a different site if one doesn’t float.
Why is picture-in-picture not working on my Xiaomi phone?
PiP usually fails because the app’s permission is off, the app itself doesn’t support PiP, or you paused the video before leaving. Check the permission in Settings first, then the app’s own PiP switch. An app update or a system update can turn the permission off, so check again after updating.
- Open Settings and search for Picture-in-picture.
- Make sure the app is allowed.
- Open the app’s own settings and look for a picture-in-picture switch.
- Start the video, keep it playing and go home.
- If it still fails, update the app from the Play Store.
Frequently asked questions
Is picture-in-picture the same as floating windows on HyperOS?
No. Floating windows let you open almost any app in a small window from the recent apps screen. Picture-in-picture is only for video and live content, and it starts on its own when you leave a supported app.
Can I resize the picture-in-picture window?
Yes. Pinch with two fingers on the window to make it bigger or smaller, and drag it to any corner of the screen.
How do I close the picture-in-picture window?
Tap the window once and tap the close icon, or drag it to the bottom of the screen.
Does picture-in-picture drain the battery?
It uses about as much battery as watching the same video full screen. Close the window when you’re done so it doesn’t keep playing in the background.
Related guides
- Everything about MIUI 10
- How to disable ads on Xiaomi phones
- How to block ads on Android without root
That’s it. Once the permission is on, picture-in-picture just works every time you leave a video.
If an app still won’t float on your phone, leave a comment with your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO model and the HyperOS or MIUI version, and I’ll help you figure it out.
