I'm sure it's happened to you a thousand times: you're watching a video someone sent you on WhatsApp, and right at that moment, you need to reply to another chat or check something quickly in another app. Until now, you had to do one of two things: either pause the video or forget what you were doing to keep listening. Well, the Meta app is working on a solution so we don't have to choose between audiovisual content and our multitasking abilities.
We're talking about the rollout of Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, a feature that promises to change how we watch videos on the world's most popular messaging app. While the concept isn't new to tech enthusiasts, WhatsApp's current integration aims to make the experience much smoother and more natural, allowing us to multitask without missing a single second of what we're watching.
What exactly does WhatsApp's PiP mode consist of?
For those unfamiliar with the term, Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, or floating window mode , allows a video to move outside its usual frame and hover over the rest of the screen. This way, the content continues playing in a small window while we browse other chats , reply to urgent messages, or even switch to other external applications without interrupting playback.
It's important to clarify that this tool isn't entirely new to the app. It was already used for video calls and for certain external content, such as displaying YouTube videos in a floating window on Android . However, the big news is that it's now being extended to native videos uploaded by users , meaning that any clip someone sends you can be turned into that mobile window.
How to activate and manage the floating window
If you're lucky enough to already have this feature, you'll find the process incredibly simple. When you play a video, a button with a diagonal arrow will appear . Tapping it will automatically minimize the image. The video will then transform into a small window that you can move anywhere on the screen as needed, ensuring it doesn't obscure important information.
In addition to moving it, users can adjust the size of the window , adapting it to their needs. This flexibility makes the tool an ideal ally for those who manage dozens of conversations a day and don't want to interrupt their workflow or entertainment.
Current availability and compatibility
Currently, not everyone can boast of having this option enabled. According to WABetaInfo, the functionality has been detected primarily in the iOS beta version (specifically version 24.7.10.71), indicating that Meta is still polishing the final details before the global release. It is expected that, once the testing phase is complete, the stable version will also arrive on Android devices for all users.
However, there's a curious detail regarding WhatsApp Web. In the browser, Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode is usually activated by clicking on the video thumbnail. If for some reason it's not working, it's recommended to clear your browser cache and restart it so that links from platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube load correctly in this format.
Other improvements coming to the app
Picture-in-Picture mode isn't the only crown jewel Meta is working on. To prevent our chats from becoming chaotic, they're testing new sorting filters and other hidden WhatsApp features . These will allow users to quickly separate unread messages from those belonging exclusively to groups, making it easier to avoid missing any important notifications.
To complement these filters, they've added an "All" overview button , which removes any restrictions and shows the complete list of conversations. Furthermore, there are rumors of automatic voice note transcription and significant improvements to chat privacy, demonstrating that the app intends to remain central to our daily communication.
The arrival of PiP mode for internal videos, along with intelligent chat management through filters and the already known ability to make background video calls, makes WhatsApp a much more powerful multitasking tool , eliminating the barriers that forced the user to stop their activity to consume audiovisual content.
