Hey there, iPad user! Are you ready to take your YouTube viewing experience to the next level? Imagine being able to watch your favorite videos while simultaneously Browse the web, checking emails, or even sketching in a drawing app. Sounds awesome, right? Well, that's exactly what the YouTube mini-player, often referred to as Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, lets you do on your iPad.
It's incredibly handy for multitasking, and while it should be straightforward, sometimes it needs a little nudge to get going. Don't worry, we're here to guide you through every step to ensure you're enjoying seamless YouTube PiP on your iPad. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Ensure Your iPad is Ready to Multitask
Before we even touch the YouTube app, we need to make sure your iPad's operating system (iPadOS) has the Picture-in-Picture feature enabled. This is the foundation for the mini-player to work.
Sub-heading: Check Your iPadOS Version
First things first, let's confirm your iPad is running a compatible version of iPadOS. For YouTube PiP to work, you generally need iPadOS 15.0 or later. If you're on an older version, it's a good idea to update.
- How to check:
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on About.
- Look for "Software Version" – if it's below 15.0, you'll want to update!
Sub-heading: Enable System-Wide Picture in Picture
Now, let's switch on the main PiP toggle in your iPad's settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPad.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Picture in Picture.
- Make sure the toggle next to "Start PiP Automatically" is turned on (it should be green). If it's already on, try toggling it off and then back on again, just to give it a refresh.
Step 2: Configure the YouTube App for Mini-Player Magic
With your iPad's system settings in order, it's time to tell the YouTube app that it's okay to play in a small, floating window.
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Open the YouTube app on your iPad.
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Tap on your profile picture (usually located in the top-right or bottom-right corner, depending on the app version).
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Scroll down and tap on Settings (it's the gear icon).
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Tap on General.
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Look for "Picture-in-picture" and ensure the toggle is turned on (green). Important Note: Some users have reported finding this setting under "Playback & Performance" or "Video and audio preferences" instead of directly under "General." If you don't see it in General, explore those options.
If it was already on, try toggling it off and then back on to refresh the setting.
Step 3: Initiating the YouTube Mini-Player
Now for the moment of truth! With both system and app settings enabled, using the mini-player is incredibly simple.
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Play a video in the YouTube app. Ensure the video is playing, not paused, for PiP to work.
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Once the video is playing, simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen (if your iPad has no Home button) or press the Home button (if your iPad has one) to return to your Home screen.
Voila! The YouTube video should now shrink into a small, movable mini-player, continuing to play in the corner of your screen.
Sub-heading: Controlling the Mini-Player
The mini-player isn't just a static window; you can interact with it!
- Move: Tap and hold the mini-player, then drag it to any corner of your screen.
- Resize: Pinch in or pinch out on the mini-player with two fingers to make it smaller or larger. You can also double-tap it to switch between its maximum and minimum sizes.
- Pause/Play: Tap once on the mini-player to reveal playback controls, then tap the play/pause button.
- Go back to full screen: Tap on the mini-player, then tap the icon with the arrow pointing inwards (usually in the top-left corner). This will take you back to the full-screen video within the YouTube app.
- Close: Tap on the mini-player to reveal controls, then tap the "X" button in the top-left corner to close it.
Step 4: Understanding YouTube Premium and Mini-Player Restrictions
While the PiP feature is a standard iPadOS function, YouTube has its own rules, especially regarding certain content and regions.
Sub-heading: YouTube Premium and Music Content
- In the United States: For most non-music content, the YouTube mini-player (PiP) is generally available to all users (even non-Premium subscribers) on iPhone and iPad. However, for music videos, you will need a YouTube Premium membership to use PiP.
- Outside the United States: If you are located outside the United States, you typically require a YouTube Premium membership to use the Picture-in-Picture feature for any content on the YouTube app. This includes both music and non-music videos.
Sub-heading: Shorts and "Made for Kids" Content
It's important to note that the YouTube mini-player (PiP) is not available for YouTube Shorts or videos that are explicitly marked as "made for kids." This is a YouTube policy, regardless of your Premium status.
Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Mini-Player Issues
Sometimes, even with all settings enabled, the mini-player might not cooperate. Here are some common fixes:
- Force Quit and Reopen YouTube: A quick restart of the app can often resolve minor glitches.
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or double-press the Home button) to bring up the App Switcher.
- Find the YouTube app preview and swipe it upwards to close it.
- Reopen the YouTube app and try again.
- Restart Your iPad: The classic "turn it off and on again" works wonders for many electronic issues.
- Press and hold the power button (and a volume button if your iPad has Face ID) until the "slide to power off" slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn off your iPad.
- Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo.
- Update the YouTube App: Ensure you have the latest version of the YouTube app installed.
- Open the App Store.
- Tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Scroll down to see if there are any pending updates for YouTube. If so, tap "Update."
- Check for iPadOS Updates: As mentioned before, an outdated iPadOS can cause issues.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Download and install any available updates.
- Clear YouTube App Cache (Reinstall): If persistent issues arise, a clean slate might be needed. Deleting and reinstalling the YouTube app clears its cache and data.
- Warning: This will remove any downloaded videos within the app.
- Tap and hold the YouTube app icon on your Home screen.
- Tap "Remove App" or "Delete App," then confirm.
- Go to the App Store and re-download YouTube. Sign in with your account.
- Ensure Video is Playing: The video must be actively playing within the YouTube app before you swipe up to enable PiP. If it's paused, it won't trigger the mini-player.
- Verify Google Account (for Premium): If you rely on a YouTube Premium subscription, ensure you are signed into the correct Google account within the YouTube app that has the Premium membership.
Step 6: Alternative: Using Safari for PiP (No Premium Needed for Music in the US)
If you're in the US and encountering issues with music videos in the YouTube app's PiP, or if you simply prefer not to use the app, Safari can be a workaround.
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Open Safari on your iPad.
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Go to youtube.com.
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Important: Request the Desktop Website version. You can usually do this by tapping the "aA" icon in the address bar and selecting "Request Desktop Website."
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Find and play a video.
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Once the video is playing, tap the full-screen icon within the YouTube player on the website.
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Now, tap the Picture-in-Picture icon (a square with an arrow pointing to a smaller square, usually in the video controls).
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Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or press the Home button) to go to your Home screen. The video should continue playing in PiP mode.
This method can sometimes bypass regional or content-based restrictions imposed by the YouTube app, especially for music videos if you're in the US and don't have Premium.
You're now a master of the YouTube mini-player on your iPad! Enjoy the freedom of multitasking while staying glued to your favorite content.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about the YouTube mini-player on iPad:
How to move the YouTube mini-player on iPad?
Simply tap and hold the mini-player, then drag it to any of the four corners of your iPad screen.
How to resize the YouTube mini-player on iPad?
You can pinch in or pinch out on the mini-player with two fingers to make it smaller or larger. Alternatively, double-tap the mini-player to toggle between its maximum and minimum sizes.
How to close the YouTube mini-player on iPad?
Tap the mini-player once to reveal controls, then tap the "X" button in the top-left corner of the mini-player.
How to go back to full-screen from the YouTube mini-player on iPad?
Tap the mini-player once to reveal controls, then tap the icon with the arrow pointing inwards (usually in the top-left corner) to return to the full-screen video in the YouTube app.
How to fix YouTube mini-player not working on iPad?
Ensure PiP is enabled in both iPad Settings > General > Picture in Picture and YouTube App > Settings > General > Picture-in-picture. Try force-quitting and reopening the app, restarting your iPad, or updating both the app and iPadOS.
How to get YouTube mini-player for music videos on iPad without Premium (US)?
If you're in the US, open Safari, go to youtube.com, request the Desktop Website, play the music video, tap the full-screen icon, then the PiP icon, and swipe up to go to your Home screen.
How to play YouTube in the background on iPad?
The YouTube mini-player (PiP) allows background playback by keeping the video visible. For true audio-only background playback with the screen off or when other apps are active without a visual player, you generally need YouTube Premium.
How to prevent YouTube from going into mini-player mode automatically?
Go to iPad Settings > General > Picture in Picture and toggle "Start PiP Automatically" to off. This will prevent it from automatically activating when you leave an app that supports PiP.
How to use YouTube mini-player with Shorts or "Made for Kids" videos?
Unfortunately, the YouTube mini-player (PiP) is not available for YouTube Shorts or videos marked as "made for kids" due to YouTube's content policies.
How to know if I have YouTube Premium for PiP on iPad?
In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture > Paid memberships. If you see "YouTube Premium" listed, you have it. Additionally, if you see the "YouTube Premium" logo instead of the regular YouTube logo, you're signed in to your Premium account.
