You know that feeling when you're watching an amazing YouTube video on your iPad, but then you need to quickly reply to a message, check an email, or simply browse something else? It's frustrating to have to pause your video or miss out on what's happening. Well, guess what? Your iPad is a multitasking master, and you can absolutely "small screen" YouTube to keep your video playing while you do other things!
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every way to get YouTube playing in a small, floating window on your iPad, from the native Picture-in-Picture mode to the in-app Miniplayer, and even how to use Split View for a side-by-side experience. Let's dive in and unlock your iPad's true multitasking potential!
Mastering Multitasking: How to Small Screen YouTube on Your iPad
There are a few fantastic ways to achieve that "small screen" YouTube experience on your iPad, each with its own advantages. We'll cover the most effective methods step-by-step.
Step 1: The Ultimate Multitasking Tool - Picture-in-Picture (PiP)
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) is arguably the best way to small screen YouTube on your iPad. It allows your video to shrink into a floating, resizable window that stays on top of other apps, letting you do pretty much anything else on your iPad while the video continues to play.
Understanding Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Requirements
Before we jump into enabling PiP, it's important to understand the prerequisites:
- iPadOS Version: Your iPad needs to be running iPadOS 15.0 or later. Most modern iPads will already be on a compatible version, but it's always good to check. You can find this in Settings > General > About > iPadOS Version.
- YouTube Premium (Mostly): This is the crucial part for many users. While PiP for YouTube was available more broadly for a period, currently, to use Picture-in-Picture for most YouTube content (especially music videos and if you're outside the United States), you need a YouTube Premium subscription. If you're in the US and don't have Premium, you might still get PiP for non-music content, but it's not guaranteed for everything. If you're outside the US, Premium is essentially a must.
Step 1.1: Enable System-Wide Picture-in-Picture (PiP) on Your iPad
This setting ensures your iPad is ready to handle PiP for any compatible app, including YouTube.
- Open the Settings App: Tap on the grey "Settings" icon on your iPad's Home Screen.
- Navigate to General: In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down and tap on "General".
- Find Picture in Picture: On the right side, locate and tap on "Picture in Picture".
- Toggle "Start PiP Automatically": Make sure the toggle next to "Start PiP Automatically" is switched on (it should be green). If it's already on, you can try toggling it off and on again to refresh the setting, especially if you're having issues.
Step 1.2: Enable Picture-in-Picture (PiP) within the YouTube App
Even with system-wide PiP enabled, YouTube has its own internal setting that you need to check.
- Open the YouTube App: Launch the "YouTube" app from your Home Screen or Dock.
- Access Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture (usually in the top-right corner).
- Go to Settings: From the dropdown menu, tap on "Settings".
- Select General: In the Settings menu, tap on "General".
- Enable Picture-in-Picture: Find the "Picture-in-picture" option and ensure its toggle is on (green). If it's off, switch it on.
Step 1.3: Activating YouTube PiP in Action!
Now that everything is set up, let's see PiP in action!
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Start Playing a Video: In the YouTube app, select and start playing any video. Make sure the video is actively playing (not paused).
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Swipe Up or Press Home: While the video is playing, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (for iPads without a Home button) or press the Home button (for iPads with a Home button).
- Voila! The YouTube video should now instantly shrink into a small, floating window on your iPad's screen.
Step 1.4: Controlling Your PiP Window
Once your YouTube video is in PiP mode, you have several ways to control it:
- Move the Window: Simply touch and hold the small video window and drag it to any corner of your screen.
- Resize the Window:
- To make it larger, pinch outwards on the small video window with two fingers.
- To make it smaller, pinch inwards on the small video window with two fingers.
- You can also double-tap the PiP window to cycle between a couple of pre-set sizes.
- Show/Hide Controls: Tap on the PiP window once to bring up controls like play/pause, rewind, fast-forward, and a button to return to the full YouTube app.
- Close the PiP Window: Tap the PiP window to show controls, then tap the "X" icon in the top-left corner of the window.
- Return to Full Screen: Tap the PiP window to show controls, then tap the Picture-in-Picture icon (a square with an arrow pointing out of it, usually in the top-right or left corner). This will expand the video back into the full YouTube app.
Step 2: The In-App Miniplayer
While PiP lets you use other apps, the YouTube Miniplayer is perfect for when you want to continue Browse within the YouTube app itself while watching a video in a small window. This is a default feature and doesn't require special settings.
Step 2.1: Activating the Miniplayer
- Play a Video: Start playing any video in the YouTube app.
- Swipe Down or Tap Back:
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Swipe down from the top of the video player.
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Alternatively, tap the "back" arrow in the top-left corner of the video player.
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The video will automatically shrink into a small "Miniplayer" bar at the bottom of your YouTube app screen.
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Step 2.2: Controlling the Miniplayer
The Miniplayer offers basic controls and easy navigation:
- Play/Pause: Tap the play/pause icon on the Miniplayer.
- Move: Touch, hold, and drag the Miniplayer to move it around the bottom section of your screen.
- Dismiss: Tap the "X" in the top-right corner of the Miniplayer to close it. The video will stop playing.
- Return to Full Screen: Tap the Miniplayer itself to instantly return to the full-screen video watch page. You can also swipe up on the Miniplayer to expand it.
Step 3: Side-by-Side Viewing with Split View
If you want to view YouTube alongside another app (not just floating over it), Split View is your go-to. This lets you divide your iPad screen into two adjustable sections.
Step 3.1: Initiating Split View
There are a couple of ways to set up Split View:
Method A: Using the Multitasking Menu (iPadOS 15 and later)
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Open Your First App: Start by opening the YouTube app (or the other app you want to use alongside YouTube).
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Tap the Multitasking Button: Look for the small three-dot icon (•••) at the very top center of your screen. Tap it.
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Select Split View: A menu will appear. Tap the "Split View" icon (a rectangle divided vertically into two halves).
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Choose Your Second App: The first app will slide to the side, revealing your Home Screen. Now, tap the second app (e.g., Safari, Notes, Mail) you want to use alongside YouTube.
- Result: Both apps will now appear side-by-side on your screen.
Method B: Dragging from the Dock
- Open Your First App: Open the YouTube app.
- Bring Up the Dock: Swipe up slightly from the bottom edge of the screen to reveal the Dock.
- Drag the Second App: Touch and hold the icon of the second app you want to use (ensure it's in your Dock).
- Position for Split View: While still holding the icon, drag it to either the left or right edge of the screen. As you approach the edge, the existing app will shift, indicating where the new app will snap into Split View.
- Release: Release your finger, and both apps will settle into Split View.
Step 3.2: Adjusting Split View
Once in Split View, you have control over the size of each app:
- Resize the Apps: In the middle of the dividing line between the two apps, you'll see a small vertical grey bar. Touch and drag this bar left or right to adjust the width of each app.
- Switch Apps: If you want to replace one of the apps in Split View, simply swipe down from the top edge of that app to bring up the Multitasking menu, and then choose a new app.
- Exit Split View: Drag the grey dividing bar all the way to one side of the screen until one of the apps disappears, leaving the other app in full screen.
Step 4: Considerations and Troubleshooting
Sometimes, things don't go as smoothly as planned. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:
- YouTube Premium is Key (Outside US): As mentioned, if you're outside the US, YouTube Premium is almost always required for Picture-in-Picture to work on YouTube. If you don't have it, consider subscribing if PiP is a must-have feature for you.
- Music Videos and PiP: Even with YouTube Premium, some official music videos might have restrictions on PiP playback due to content licensing. This is less common but can occur.
- Check for App Updates: Ensure both your iPadOS and the YouTube app are updated to the latest versions. Developers often release updates to fix bugs and improve features.
- To update iPadOS: Settings > General > Software Update.
- To update YouTube app: Go to the App Store, tap your profile picture, and look for pending updates.
- Restart Your iPad: The classic fix! A simple restart can often resolve minor software glitches that might be preventing PiP or other multitasking features from working correctly.
- Video Must Be Playing: For PiP to activate, the video in the YouTube app must be actively playing when you swipe up or press the Home button. If it's paused, PiP won't engage.
- Permissions: Double-check that all PiP settings (both system-wide and within the YouTube app) are enabled as described in Step 1.
You're now equipped with all the knowledge to seamlessly integrate YouTube into your iPad multitasking workflow. Enjoy watching your favorite videos while staying productive!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to enable Picture-in-Picture for YouTube on iPad?
You need to enable "Start PiP Automatically" in your iPad's General Settings under "Picture in Picture", and also enable "Picture-in-picture" within the YouTube app's General settings.
How to move the small YouTube video window on my iPad?
Simply touch and hold the small video window and drag it to any of the four corners of your iPad screen.
How to resize the YouTube Picture-in-Picture window on iPad?
You can pinch inwards or outwards on the small video window with two fingers to make it smaller or larger, or double-tap it to cycle through pre-set sizes.
How to close the YouTube Picture-in-Picture window?
Tap the PiP window to reveal its controls, then tap the "X" icon located in the top-left corner of the window.
How to return to the full YouTube app from Picture-in-Picture?
Tap the PiP window to show controls, then tap the Picture-in-Picture icon (a square with an arrow pointing out) to expand the video back to full screen within the YouTube app.
How to use YouTube's in-app Miniplayer on iPad?
While a video is playing in the YouTube app, swipe down from the top of the video player or tap the back arrow. The video will shrink to a small bar at the bottom.
How to watch YouTube and use another app at the same time on iPad?
Use Split View! Open YouTube, tap the three-dot multitasking icon at the top, select the Split View option, and then choose your second app. You can also drag the second app from the Dock.
How to fix YouTube Picture-in-Picture not working on iPad?
Ensure you have YouTube Premium (especially outside the US), your iPadOS is 15.0 or later, and both system-wide and YouTube app PiP settings are enabled. Try restarting your iPad and updating the YouTube app.
How to adjust the size of apps in Split View on iPad?
Drag the vertical grey bar in the middle of the screen between the two apps to adjust their respective widths.
How to exit Split View on iPad?
Drag the grey dividing bar in the middle of the screen all the way to either the left or right edge until one of the apps disappears, leaving the other in full screen.
