Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the App Switcher. Swipe left or right to find the YouTube app. Swipe up on the YouTube app to minimize it.
Launch the Miniplayer
If you're using the YouTube app, the Miniplayer will automatically pop up at the bottom of the screen if you swipe down while watching a video. Note: If the content you're watching in the app is set as made for kids, the Miniplayer will be paused.
Launch the YouTube app on Android or iOS smartphone. Choose a video you want to watch and start playing it. Turn off the screen or switch to another app while the video is playing. The video will continue to play in the background, even if you're not actively using the app.
One method to minimize YouTube on your iPhone is to use the Home button. This option will allow you to keep the video playing in the background while you use other apps or browse the web. Another option is to use the Control Center, which can be accessed by swiping up from the bottom of your screen.
To use picture-in-picture (PiP), exit the YouTube app while a video is playing. If you have the PiP setting turned on, the video will shrink into a PiP window. The PiP window can be dragged to different parts of the screen, allowing playback to continue on top of other apps.
Update YouTube on Your iPhone, iPad, or Android Phone
The YouTube app on your phone may be experiencing an issue, causing the PiP mode not to work. This usually happens if you're using an outdated version of the app. If that's the case, update the app on your phone, and your issue will be fixed.
To use PiP mode, simply exit the YouTube app when a compatible video is playing. You can do this by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to go to the main screen on iOS devices, and by swiping from the bottom/pressing the 'home' button on Android phones.