Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode allows you to watch Facebook videos in a small window while simultaneously using other apps on your iPhone. This lets you multitask and keep watching your Facebook videos while responding to messages, browsing the web, or using other apps.
Requirements for Picture-in-Picture on Facebook
To use PiP mode for Facebook videos on your iPhone, you need:
- An iPhone model XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro/Pro Max, or newer
- The latest version of iOS (iOS 14 or newer)
- The latest version of the Facebook app
Older iPhones do not support PiP for Facebook. You also need to be using an updated version of iOS and the Facebook app to have access to PiP.
How to Enable Picture-in-Picture for Facebook
Enabling PiP for Facebook only takes a few steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Picture in Picture.
- Enable the Picture in Picture switch.
This will turn on PiP at the iOS level on your device. You can now use PiP with supported apps like Facebook.
Using Picture-in-Picture for Facebook Videos
Once PiP is enabled, using it with Facebook is simple:
- Open the Facebook app and start playing any video.
- While the video is playing, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or press the Home button to go back to the Home screen.
- The Facebook video will shrink down into a small movable window.
- You can now open other apps and use your iPhone normally while the Facebook video continues playing in the mini window.
- To close PiP, tap on the small window.
The video window can be dragged around and positioned anywhere on the screen so it doesn’t block other content. Pinch to zoom in or out of the PiP window.
Tips for Using Picture-in-Picture
- Use the iPhone’s orientation lock to prevent the PiP window from rotating.
- Try watching Facebook livestreams or longer videos in PiP mode.
- Open PiP while viewing Facebook videos full screen for better performance.
- You can pause, play, or jump around the video timeline while using PiP.
Troubleshooting Picture-in-Picture Issues
PiP Not Working on Facebook
If the PiP feature doesn’t seem to be working properly with Facebook videos, try these steps:
- Confirm PiP is enabled in your iPhone’s settings (Settings > General > Picture in Picture).
- Check that both your iPhone and the Facebook app are updated to the latest versions.
- Force quit and restart the Facebook app if PiP fails to trigger.
- Try restarting your iPhone if PiP still doesn’t work.
Facebook PiP Window Disappears or Closes
If the PiP window disappears or closes unexpectedly when using Facebook, it’s likely caused by one of these reasons:
- You tapped on the window to close PiP.
- The video finished playing.
- The Facebook app was forced closed in the background.
- You switched to a different video in the Facebook app.
As long as PiP is enabled, you can simply reopen the video in Facebook and use PiP again as needed.
Facebook Video PiP on iPhone vs iPad
Picture-in-Picture for Facebook works similarly on iPhone and iPad with a few minor differences:
| Feature | iPhone | iPad |
|---|---|---|
| PiP Trigger Method | Swipe up or press Home button | Swipe up or press Home button |
| Move PiP Window | Drag window around screen | Drag window around screen |
| Resize PiP Window | Pinch to zoom in/out | Drag corners to resize |
| PiP on Home Screen | Yes | No, only within apps |
On both iPhone and iPad, you can use PiP with Facebook while doing things like checking notifications, browsing other apps, etc. The main iPad limitation is that the PiP window can’t be overlaid on the Home screen like on iPhone.
Picture-in-Picture for Facebook on Other Platforms
Facebook’s implementation of PiP varies across platforms:
- Desktop:Facebook doesn’t have built-in PiP on the desktop. You’ll need to use a browser extension/add-on to get PiP functionality.
- Android: PiP is only supported on Android 8.0+ devices. Enable it in Settings, then trigger it like iPhone by going back to the Home screen during video playback.
- Facebook Mobile Site: You can use the HTML5 video tag to enable PiP on the mobile browser version of Facebook.
So iPhone has one of the most straightforward and native experiences for using Facebook’s PiP feature to multitask while watching videos.
Conclusion
Picture-in-picture is a handy feature for iPhone users who want to keep watching Facebook videos while simultaneously using other apps. By enabling PiP at the iOS level and updating the Facebook app, you can easily trigger PiP for Facebook by swiping up or going back to the Home screen during video playback.
PiP makes Facebook videos much more versatile on iPhone. You can catch up on videos from friends or watch streaming content without being limited to the Facebook app. It helps you save time and multitask more effectively.
Some limitations like PiP window placement exist on iPad, but overall the experience is similar. Just remember to install app and iOS updates as they’re released to ensure this useful feature keeps working smoothly.