YouTube picture-in-picture coming to iOS

By Jon Porter via the Verge

Picture-In-Picture

YouTube is preparing to officially launch picture-in-picture support on iOS devices “in the coming days,” its support account has confirmed on Twitter.

Picture-in-picture support is available for video services generally at a system level for both iPhones and iPads, but YouTube’s support for the feature has been spotty, requiring workarounds like watching it through a browser rather than via its native app. But YouTube’s Premium test made the feature much more seamless, and allowed viewers to continue watching after they navigate away from the main YouTube app.

YouTube’s test of picture-in-picture support for Premium users was always meant to be limited. First announced in June last year, the beta period was originally set to end on October 31st, before being extended. But although the test was only for Premium users, last month YouTube reiterated it hopes to roll out the feature for all iOS users in the US, including non-Premium users, “in the coming months.”

Just last month, the search giant brought picture-in-picture support to its YouTube TV service on iOS. Now, it seems ready to add the feature to its regular YouTube service.