A big change that came in with the release of iOS 14.5 for iPhones was Picture in Picture mode. This feature was already available on Android devices, and now we have it on iOS devices too. People love having a video playing in a little tab while texting, browsing the internet, or doing something similar to that. But the inclusion of this feature in iOS 14.5 has not worked for every iOS user.
Some iOS 14.5 users have reported that they cannot make use of this newly added picture in picture mode feature. There are several reasons this feature might not work in an iOS 14.5 device, and here in this article, we will take a look at all of them. If you are also struggling to use the new Picture in Picture Mode on your iOS device, this article will help you out. So without any further ado, let’s get into it.
How to fix Picture in Picture Mode Not Working Issue in iOS 14.5?
This feature is entirely dependent on an application. The application that you want to use in Picture in Picture Mode must have the support for it. If you face this issue with a particular application while the feature is working fine with other applications, it is definitely an issue with the application. You have to wait for the application developers to push out an update that would fix this problem. But if you are unable to use this feature in any of your applications, then it could be a bug too. Well, whatever may be the case for you, the solutions provided below will solve your problem.
How to enable it and use it:
Before we get to the solutions for Picture in Picture Mode not working in iOS14, we need to first understand how we can enable it. When you are playing a video in a compatible application, you will see the icon for the Picture in Picture Mode in the top right corner of the application. If you tap on it, the video will appear as a floating window, and you can keep viewing the video while doing anything you want on your phone. There is also a shortcut to get into the Picture in Picture Mode by double-tapping the video with two fingers. You can also swipe up from the home bar(Face ID iPhones) or press the Home button to open up the Picture in Picture Mode.
Once you have a video playing in the picture in picture mode, you can pinch outward on the video to make the floating window larger or pinch it inward to make the floating window smaller. You can even drag it to the left or right edge of your screen, and that will make it disappear. You can make it appear again by tapping the pull-tab arrow button. Tapping on the enlarger icon in the top right corner of the floating picture will return it to its full-screen mode, with that particular application taking up the whole screen.
When you tap on the floating picture, you will see all the playback options such as pause, forward and backwards. You will also see a cross in the top left corner of the floating picture. If you tap on that, the floating picture will disappear entirely.
Check the App’s compatibility:
To even use the Picture in Picture mode, the app developers first need to implement it with their applications. If the app developers decide not to implement this feature, then the iPhone users can’t use Picture in Picture with those applications. So if you are wondering why Picture in Picture mode is not working on your iPhone only in one particular application, then chances are that the application does not have the option to implement the picture in picture mode.
To make things simpler, we have compiled a list of compatible applications with the Picture in Picture Mode.
The Picture in Picture Mode in an iOS 14.5 device only works in these applications.
Turn Picture in Picture Mode On:
Some users could solve all problems related to the Picture in Picture Mode simply by turning the feature Off and then On again in the phone’s settings. So it would be best if you gave this feature restart method a try too.
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Then tap on Picture-in-Picture mode.
- Turn off the toggle for this option.
- Wait for a while, and then turn the toggle on again.
Now check whether the Picture in Picture Mode not working issue is resolved or not. If you are still having problems, then try the next potential solution.
Force restart your iPhone:
Force restart has been a default software problem solver for man iPhone users over the years. Here, even with the Picture in Picture mode not working, you should try force restarting your iPhone. But first, you need to turn off your device.
To force restart an iPhone 8 or later, press and quickly release the volume up button. Then press and quickly release the volume down button. Now press and hold the side button(power button) until the Apple logo appears on your iPhone’s screen.
To force restart an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, press and hold the Volume down button and the side button(power button) simultaneously and wait for the Apple logo to show up on your screen.
To force restart the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, 6, 6 Plus, SE, press and hold the home button and power button simultaneously and wait for the Apple logo to show up on your screen.
Update the Application:
If you are using an older and outdated version of a compatible application, you won’t be able to use the Picture in Picture Mode with that application. This feature was added when the iOS14 was officially announced. So if you are using an application’s version that predates the release date of iOS 14.5, the Picture in Picture Mode won’t work. You need to update these applications right away, which could help you get rid of the Picture in Picture Mode not working issue in iOS.
You can also try uninstalling the application and then installing it again. This has actually solved many issues faced by the various users with the Picture in Picture mode.
If you face the same issue, even after updating the application, try the following fixes mentioned below.
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Reset all:
If none of the solutions mentioned above worked for you, then it is time for you to reset your phone to factory default. Resetting the phone will take your phone back to what it was when you first bought it. Yes, you will have to customize your setting again, but if this method works then, you can be sure that the Picture in Picture mode was not working on your iPhone due to setting customization.
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Scroll to the bottom and then tap on Reset.
- Then choose Reset All Settings.
- You will have to enter your passcode now to confirm your action.
- After entering your passcode, you will see a pop-up at the bottom that will show you information about the reset. It will read, “This will reset all settings. No data or media will be deleted.” Here, you will see the “Reset All Settings” option. Tap on that, and your reset will begin.
After your reset is complete, try using any compatible application in the Picture in Picture mode. If you still can’t get it to work, go for the next possible solution.
Update phone’s software:
There is a possibility that this feature is not working on your iPhone due to a bug in the operating system. If that is the case, then you don’t need to worry at all. Apple pushes out updates to the iPhone lineup multiple times in a year to fix the bugs and feature defects that are bothering some users. So you need to update your iOS to the latest version to make sure you are not affected by any known bugs.
To update your iOS version,
- open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Then tap on Software Update.
- You need to follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of iOS on to your iPhone.
Once you have the latest version of iOS running on your iPhone, you should not face any problems with the Picture in Picture mode.
As a side note, you need to know that this feature is available only for those iOS devices that have iOS 14.5 running on them. If you have an iPhone that is not compatible to receive the iOS 14.5 update, then you can’t use this feature at all. The list of iPhones that received the iOS 14.5 update and are compatible with the Picture in Picture Mode feature is iPhone SE 1/2, iPhone 6s/6s Plus, iPhone 7/ 7 Plus, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone X, XS, XS Max, XR, iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max.
This is how you can fix the Picture in Picture Mode Not Working Issue in iOS 14.5. If you have any questions or queries about this article, then comment down below, and we will get back to you. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more useful information.
