Instagram tests PiP mode, lets you keep Reels playing in the background

Instagram

Meta is reportedly testing a new feature on Instagram, which could allow users to watch Reels while texting or doing other things on their phone. Like YouTube, this Picture in Picture (PiP) mode will allow users to keep watching videos in a floating window even after they exit the Instagram application. Reportedly, selected Instagram users are receiving a pop-up explaining the feature and how to activate it.

Instagram’s picture-in-picture mode: Here’s how it works

As reported by TechCrunch, the PiP feature was first spotted by app researcher Radu Oncescu, and currently, selected Instagram users are receiving a pop-up that explains how to activate it. This functionality could prove especially useful for longer Reels, where viewers may otherwise lose interest or want to check other apps while watching the content.

The feature functions very similarly to what is already available on YouTube and other popular streaming apps, making Reels consumption more flexible and less restrictive. For creators, this feature could lead to higher engagement and watch time, reducing abrupt closure of their videos and helping their content reach wider audiences.

In case a user wants to turn off Picture-in-Picture mode for Instagram Reels, they need to simply tap on the three-dot menu that appears when watching a Reel and turn off the toggle named ‘Picture in Picture.’ Previously, Instagram head Adam Mosseri had suggested that the team was exploring the possibility of adding PiP support for Reels, and we could see a wider rollout of the feature in the coming weeks.