Quick Answer
Right-click on most playing videos in Chrome and select “Picture in picture” to pop it into a small floating window that stays on top of other apps. Drag it anywhere on screen, resize it from any corner, and close it with the X that appears on hover.
How Picture-in-Picture Works on ChromeOS
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) is a browser feature, not a system-wide one, so it works with video playing inside Chrome, including most streaming sites and embedded video players. Once activated, the floating window stays visible even if you switch apps, open another virtual desk, or minimize the browser entirely.
How to Use It
Step 1: Start playing a video
Open any video in Chrome and start playback.
Step 2: Right-click the video
Right-click directly on the video and choose “Picture in picture” from the menu that appears. Some sites also show a dedicated PiP icon in the player’s own controls.
Step 3: Move and resize the floating window
Drag the small window to any corner or edge of the screen. Resize it by dragging from a corner, and it will snap into place near screen edges automatically.
Step 4: Control playback from the mini window
Hover over the floating window to reveal play/pause, seek, and close controls without needing to switch back to the original tab.
Step 5: Close Picture-in-Picture
Click the X that appears on hover, or simply close the original browser tab, which ends PiP automatically.
Still Stuck?
If the right-click menu doesn’t show a Picture-in-Picture option, the site may be blocking it for that specific video player, which some streaming services do intentionally. Try a different video to confirm whether it’s site-specific. If the floating window disappears behind other apps instead of staying on top, switching virtual desks and back can reset its always-on-top behavior.
FAQ
Does Picture-in-Picture work with Android apps, not just Chrome tabs?
Some Android apps support their own PiP mode independently of Chrome’s, triggered by minimizing the app rather than right-clicking, though support varies by app.
Can I use Picture-in-Picture with video calls?
Yes, many video call platforms support popping the call window out into PiP so you can keep talking while working in another app.
Why does the video freeze when I pop it into Picture-in-Picture?
This is usually a performance issue rather than a PiP-specific bug, more likely on Chromebooks already struggling with multiple tabs or apps open at once.
