Multitasking on Windows 11 becomes much easier once you start using Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode. Whether you’re watching a YouTube video, following a troubleshooting guide, or keeping a tutorial open while working, PiP lets you detach the video into a small floating window that stays visible on top of everything else.
Windows 11, modern web browsers, and popular media players already support Picture-in-Picture in different ways. In this guide, we’ll walk through all the practical methods to use PiP on Windows 11, step by step.
How to Use Picture in Picture on Windows 11
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) allows a video to continue playing in a small, resizable window while you use other apps. This floating window stays on top, so you don’t have to switch tabs or pause your work just to keep watching.
On Windows 11, PiP is mainly available through web browsers for online videos, media players like VLC, and app-specific mini-player features. Let’s discuss all of them.
1. Use Picture-in-Picture in Chrome
Google Chrome offers one of the most reliable Picture-in-Picture implementations on Windows 11.
1. Open Google Chrome and play a video on YouTube or any supported website.
2. Right-click on the video twice. The first right-click opens the website’s menu, while the second opens Chrome’s menu.
3. Click Picture in Picture, and the video will instantly pop out into a floating window.
4. On some websites, you can also click the Picture-in-Picture icon directly in the video controls to enable PiP immediately.
Once PiP is active, you can move the window anywhere on your screen, resize it, and control playback without returning to the browser tab.
2. Enable Picture-in-Picture in Microsoft Edge and Firefox
If you use Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox, the process is very similar to Google Chrome. Both browsers also offer additional ways to enable and use Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode.
1. Open Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox and start playing a video.
2. Hover your mouse over the video area until the playback controls appear.
3. Click the Picture-in-Picture icon if it’s available.
4. If the icon doesn’t appear, right-click on the video twice and select Picture in Picture from the menu.
Once enabled, the video detaches into a small floating window. You can move or resize the PiP window as needed while continuing to work in other apps.
If you don’t see the Picture-in-Picture option in Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox, you may need to enable it through the browser settings. Click the menu icon, open the Settings page, and look for the option related to Picture-in-Picture or video playback. Once enabled, restart the browser and try using PiP again.
3. Using Windows Media Player
Apart from browsers, you can also use Windows Media Player for a Picture-in-Picture–like experience when playing local videos. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the video you want to watch in PiP using the Media Player app. You can right-click the video file in its folder and select Open with → Media Player.
2. Click the Mini Play icon at the bottom of the Media Player window. Alternatively, press Ctrl + M to enable Picture-in-Picture mode instantly.
3. The video will switch to a compact mini view and stay in a corner of your screen (or wherever you drag it), allowing you to continue working while watching the video.
This mini view works well for offline videos, tutorials, and lectures when you want playback to stay visible without taking up much screen space.
4. Use Picture-in-Picture with VLC
If you mostly watch offline or downloaded videos, VLC Media Player is an excellent alternative.
VLC doesn’t officially label this feature as Picture-in-Picture, but its Always on Top option works in almost the same way.
1. Open a video in VLC Media Player.
2. Click View from the top menu bar and select Always on Top from the list.
3. Resize the VLC window and move it to any corner of your screen.
You can also enable this feature quickly using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + H. Once enabled, the video window will stay above all other applications.
Final Thoughts
Picture-in-Picture on Windows 11 is one of those features that quietly improves your workflow once you start using it regularly. Whether you’re watching videos in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, or relying on VLC Media Player for offline content, PiP helps you stay productive without constantly switching between windows.
To get the most out of PiP, keep the floating window small and place it in a corner of your screen to minimize distractions. Pairing Picture-in-Picture with Windows 11’s Snap Layouts makes multitasking even smoother.
