Google has been working on Picture-in-Picture mode for Chrome desktop for almost three years now. This feature allows you to play any video in PiP mode and works on all platforms. It’s one of the cool features the browser has to offer, but it can only be enabled using a Chrome flag or an extension. Here we will discuss both methods to help you enable Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode in Google Chrome on your computer in 2021.
Enable Picture-in-Picture Mode on Chrome Desktop in 2021
The methods described below work on all relatively recent versions of Google Chrome, including the latest stable channel, Chrome 87. This feature has been added to Chrome v70, but is still hidden behind a flag. However, the way to enable the function is much easier today than it was three years ago when you had to enable multiple flags to do so. Today we are going to discuss how you can enable Picture-in-Picture mode in Google Chrome on desktop.
Method 1: Using Built-in PiP Mode
The built-in PiP mode in Google Chrome is easy to enable and works like a charm on most sites. Here’s how to do this:
- Open Chrome. Then type
chrome://flags
in the address bar of the browser and press Enter. Call me nowGlobal Media Controls Picture-in-Picture
The flag in the Flags search box.
- The setting will most likely be ‘Default’. Click this button and select ‘Enabled’ from the drop-down menu. Now restart Chrome.
- Go to YouTube and start playing any video. Now double right click in the video to access the hidden menu that will give you the ‘Picture in Picture’ option..
- Now you can use PiP mode on YouTube and drag the video window anywhere on the screen.
Method 2: Using Extension
The built-in picture-in-picture mode for Google Chrome works fine on some sites like YouTube, but not on other video sharing sites like Dailymotion. This is exactly where you should use the ‘Picture-in-Picture Extension’ for Google Chrome. It was created by Google itself and works on most sites I’ve tested, including Dailymotion. Install the Picture-in-Picture extension to use it (Free). Now go to YouTube, Dailymotion or any other video site and start playing a video.
- Now click on the media controls icon in the upper right corner and click on the PiP icon to output a video. You can simultaneously press Alt+P on Windows or Option+P on Mac for the same effect.
- Doing any of the above will play the video in a separate window that can be dragged anywhere on the screen and resized to your preference.
- You can click the “X” in the upper right corner of the player to return to the original tab (it appears when you hover your mouse cursor over the video).
Multitask Using Picture-in-Picture Mode in Google Chrome
Whether you’re using the built-in mode or the picture-in-picture extension, remember that PiP in Chrome only works for one video at a time. If you enable PiP on a second video while another video is playing, the latter will replace the former. Regardless, it’s still a great way to multitask online.
So the next time you’re in the mood to watch a game while working on your thesis, enable Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode in Google Chrome and multitask like a pro. In the meantime, since Google Chrome is your browser of choice, you should also check out our articles on Google Chrome tips to get the most out of this incredible browser, the Chrome settings you need to change, and how to change the default search engine in Chrome.