Instagram Tests Picture-In-Picture Viewing for Reels
Instagram tests Picture-In-Picture viewing for reels, giving users a way to watch short videos in a floating window while multitasking. This update means you can keep a reel playing in the corner of your screen while checking messages, scrolling other feeds, or using different apps.
Image Credits:Silas Stein/picture alliance/ Getty Images
The experiment was first noticed by app researcher Radu Oncescu, and Instagram later confirmed the test. Selected users will see a pop-up notification explaining how to enable the feature.
Why Picture-In-Picture Could Be a Game-Changer
Picture-In-Picture (PiP) is not entirely new in social apps—YouTube and TikTok already offer it. But for Instagram, adding PiP could help creators keep audiences engaged with longer reels. Instead of dropping off when attention fades, users could keep content running in the background while doing other things.
For Instagram, this means more minutes spent inside the app, an important metric for competing with rivals. For creators, it opens up more opportunities to retain viewers without losing them to multitasking.
What Instagram Has Said So Far
Earlier this year, Instagram head Adam Mosseri hinted that Picture-In-Picture viewing might arrive soon. He responded to a user’s question about background playback by saying he’d “talk to the team and see if we can figure something out.”
Now, with this limited test rolling out, Instagram seems closer to making PiP a permanent feature.
The Bigger Picture
As short-form content grows, platforms are racing to hold users’ attention. Instagram tests Picture-In-Picture viewing for reels at a time when multitasking is the norm. If successful, the feature could roll out globally, helping Instagram compete directly with YouTube’s background play and TikTok’s PiP mode.
For users, it’s all about flexibility. Whether you’re replying to a text, scrolling X, or reading an article, you won’t have to pause your reel. And for Instagram, it’s another step toward making its app stickier in an era of constant digital distraction.
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