Instagram trials floating Picture-in-Picture mode for Reels multitasking viewing

📅 Published: 9/2/2025
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 6:11:24 PM
📊 15 updates
⏱️ 9 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments

Instagram has begun testing a **floating Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels**, allowing users to watch videos in a small, movable window while simultaneously browsing other apps on their mobile devices. This new feature aims to enhance multitasking capabilities and improve user engagement by enabling continuous video playback outside the Instagram app interface[1][2][3].

The PiP feature is currently in a limited live testing phase...

The PiP feature is currently in a limited live testing phase, with select users receiving prompts to enable the option via a toggle in their playback settings. Once activated, Reels videos shrink into a floating window that remains visible as users switch between different apps or perform other tasks on their phones. This playback-only function is distinct from Instagram’s existing PiP effects for content creation and focuses solely on improving the viewing experience[1][3].

This move brings Instagram in line with competitors like Tik...

This move brings Instagram in line with competitors like TikTok and YouTube, both of which have offered similar PiP functionality for their short-form video content for some time. The ability to watch Reels while multitasking is expected to increase video retention rates, particularly for longer clips, by allowing users to keep content playing in the background as they respond to messages or browse other social media platforms[1][2][3].

Instagram head Adam Mosseri had hinted at this development e...

Instagram head Adam Mosseri had hinted at this development earlier in the year, mentioning plans to explore PiP in response to user interest. The current rollout to a test group will help Instagram gather user feedback and engagement data before deciding on a wider release[2][3].

In summary, Instagram’s floating Picture-in-Picture mode for...

In summary, Instagram’s floating Picture-in-Picture mode for Reels marks a significant enhancement in video consumption convenience, catering to modern multitasking behaviors and aligning Instagram’s features with industry standards in short-form video viewing[1][2][3].

🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 3:50:46 PM
Instagram's trial of Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels has sparked positive reactions among users who appreciate the ability to multitask while watching videos. Early testers report the floating PiP window makes it easier to browse other apps without missing content, with one user noting it "could be a game-changer for long Reels and multitasking" [1][2]. However, since the feature is currently limited to a small test group, broader public sentiment is still forming as Instagram monitors engagement and feedback before a wider rollout [1][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 4:00:54 PM
Instagram has begun testing a floating Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels, allowing users globally to watch videos in a small window while multitasking across apps, a feature currently available only to a limited test group[1][2][3]. This move positions Instagram alongside TikTok and YouTube, which already offer PiP, potentially boosting global creator retention and longer content engagement, as noted by Instagram head Adam Mosseri during a March Q&A[1][2]. The international response is cautiously optimistic, viewing the feature as a competitive step for Instagram to enhance user experience amid shrinking attention spans and broaden its global reach.
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 4:10:53 PM
Instagram has launched a limited test of picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Reels, enabling videos to play in a floating window while users multitask across apps, aligning with features already offered by TikTok and YouTube Shorts[1][3][4]. This move positions Instagram to better compete in the short-form video space by potentially increasing user retention and engagement, as viewers can now watch longer Reels uninterrupted in the background—a capability TikTok has provided for years and YouTube has integrated for Android users[1][3]. Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, indicated earlier this year that PiP was under consideration, and the current small-scale rollout signals Meta’s intent to enhance content consumption flexibility amid intensifying competition[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 4:20:50 PM
Instagram is currently testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Reels, allowing videos to float in a resizable window while users multitask across apps. Industry analysts note this feature could significantly boost engagement by enabling longer content retention and background viewing, aligning Instagram with rivals like TikTok and YouTube that have offered PiP for years[1][3]. Instagram head Adam Mosseri previously indicated interest in PiP, underscoring its strategic importance amid fierce short-form video competition[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 4:31:08 PM
Instagram has begun testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Reels, allowing videos to continue playing in a resizable and repositionable floating window while users multitask across other apps on their devices[1][3]. This feature, currently available to a limited test group, includes a toggle in the playback settings for enabling or disabling PiP, aiming to boost engagement by allowing longer Reels to play in the background without interruption[2][4]. By matching TikTok and YouTube’s multitasking capabilities, Instagram positions itself to enhance user retention and potentially influence creators to design audio-heavy content optimized for background listening[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 4:41:07 PM
Instagram has begun testing picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Reels with a small group of users, allowing videos to float in a resizable window while multitasking across apps, a feature TikTok and YouTube have supported for years[1][3]. This move aims to enhance user retention and engagement by enabling background playback, helping Instagram compete more effectively in the short-form video market where TikTok currently leads[1][4]. Instagram head Adam Mosseri previously acknowledged the feature and indicated it was under consideration before testing began[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 4:51:21 PM
Instagram has begun testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Reels, allowing videos to float in a small window while users multitask across apps, a feature currently limited to a small group globally as part of a live test by Meta Platforms[1][3][4]. This move aligns Instagram with competitors TikTok and YouTube, who have long offered PiP, and is expected to boost user engagement and retention worldwide by enabling uninterrupted video playback alongside other activities[1][2]. Instagram head Adam Mosseri had hinted at this feature earlier in 2025, highlighting its potential to transform Reels consumption amid growing global demand for multitasking-friendly video experiences[3].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 5:01:24 PM
Instagram is currently live-testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Reels, enabling users to watch videos in a floating window while multitasking across other apps. Industry experts highlight that this feature positions Instagram alongside TikTok and YouTube, which already support PiP, and could significantly boost user engagement and retention by offering seamless multitasking[1][4]. According to Instagram, early access is limited to a select group as they monitor usage and feedback, with wider rollout contingent on positive test results[1].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 5:11:24 PM
Instagram is trialing a floating Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels, enabling users to watch videos in a small window while multitasking across other apps, marking a strategic push to enhance user engagement amid fierce competition from TikTok and YouTube Shorts[2][4]. This move aims to differentiate Instagram's video experience by facilitating seamless multitasking, a feature that could shift user attention patterns and intensify the battle for time spent on short-form video platforms[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 5:21:24 PM
Instagram has begun testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Reels, allowing a floating video window that users can resize and move while multitasking across apps, currently available to a small group worldwide[1][2][3]. This move aligns Instagram with competitors like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, which already offer PiP, reflecting growing global demand for flexible multitasking in short-form video consumption[1][3]. While Meta has not disclosed a full rollout timeline, early international reactions highlight the potential to boost engagement by enabling users to watch Reels continuously without interrupting other mobile activities[2].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 5:31:37 PM
Instagram is currently testing a floating Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels, enabling users to watch videos in a small, resizable window while navigating other apps on their mobile devices[1][4]. The feature is accessible via a toggle in playback settings for a limited test group, accompanied by a pop-up tutorial, indicating Instagram’s focus on multitasking and enhanced user engagement during viewing[1]. If successful, this PiP mode could significantly increase video retention by keeping Reels visible outside the main app interface, potentially shifting content consumption patterns across the platform[1].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 5:41:32 PM
Instagram has begun testing a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels, allowing videos to play in a floating, resizable window while users multitask across other apps. This limited rollout to a small group of users aims to boost engagement by enabling background viewing, following similar features already established on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, as confirmed by both Instagram and industry reports on September 2, 2025[1][2][3]. Instagram head Adam Mosseri previously indicated plans for this feature, emphasizing its potential to increase retention, especially for longer Reels content.
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 5:51:28 PM
Instagram’s trial of a floating Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels has sparked mixed reactions among early users, with many praising the multitasking convenience and others cautious about potential distractions. Some testers highlight the ease of resizing and repositioning the PiP window, enhancing user control, while others have expressed that the floating video might clutter their screen when switching apps. With this feature limited to a small group so far, Instagram continues to gather feedback before a broader rollout, aiming to boost engagement amid stiff competition from TikTok and YouTube, which already offer similar PiP capabilities[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 6:01:32 PM
Instagram has begun live-testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Reels, allowing select users to watch videos in a small floating window while multitasking across other apps. Early access users receive a pop-up notification explaining the feature and can toggle PiP on or off within the playback settings, signaling Instagram’s move to boost engagement and retention through more flexible viewing[1][3][5]. The rollout remains limited as Instagram evaluates user feedback before deciding on a wider release.
🔄 Updated: 9/2/2025, 6:11:24 PM
Instagram is currently testing a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels, which allows users to watch videos in a small floating window while multitasking across other apps[2][3]. This feature is in its early testing phase and is not yet widely available; testers receive a pop-up notification explaining how to enable it[2]. Instagram has not disclosed a specific rollout timeline or user numbers involved in the trial[1].
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