YouTube is preparing to officially launch picture-in-picture support on iOS devices “in the coming days”, it is support account has been confirmed on Twitter. The tweet was posted in response to a user asking about an earlier test of the feature, which was available to YouTube Premium subscribers. The account did not specify whether availability will be limited to YouTube Premium subscribers.
YouTube’s PiP test with Premium users ended last week and disappeared from YouTube list of available experimental featureswhere it was Previously mentioned with an expiration date of April 8. While some users see the “The feature you are trying to disable” banner after the picture-in-picture test ends, others report that they can still access the feature. Both 9to5Google and iMore report that the feature still works on their YouTube Premium accounts that previously opted in to the test.
Do you use an iOS smartphone? If so, the Picture-in-Picture feature is still rolling out and will be available on all iOS 15+ devices in a few days. Tweet back @ us if needed.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) Apr 10, 2022
Picture-in-picture support is available for video services, generally at the system level for both iPhones and iPads, but YouTube’s support for the feature was spotty, requiring workarounds such as viewing via a browser instead of via its own app. But YouTube’s Premium test made the feature much smoother and allowed viewers to continue watching after exiting the main YouTube app.
YouTube’s test of picture-in-picture support for Premium users was always meant to be limited. The beta period, which was first announced in June of last year, was originally supposed to end on October 31, but was then extended. But while the test was only for Premium users, YouTube reiterated last month that it hopes to roll out the feature “in the coming months” to all iOS users in the US, including non-Premium users.
Last month, the search giant brought picture-in-picture support to its YouTube TV service on iOS. Now it seems poised to add the feature to its regular YouTube service.
Update April 11, 8:12 AM ET: Updated with YouTube confirmation that Picture-in-Picture will launch “in a few days”. Also updated headline.