WhatsApp PiP mode feature and how it works: Chat, watch and stay

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WhatsApp PiP mode feature rolls out to all Android users. Here is how to use it and know what are its limitations.

It can be really annoying if you desperately want to watch a video sent on WhatsApp by one of your friends but that friend is more interested in chatting with you than wanting to know your response on that video. What do you do? You probably won't ignore that friend and put your eagerness to watch the video on hold for some time. This is where the WhatsApp's new PiP mode feature comes in play.

After being tested for few months, WhatsApp has finally rolled out the new PiP mode feature for all its Android users. The feature is available on WhatsApp version 2.18.385 and above. Before we understand how does the feature help, it is important to know what exactly is this is PiP mode.

The PiP mode or Picture-in-picture mode is a feature that we see now almost all of the popular services today like Facebook, YouTube and now on WhatsApp. The feature is also available in some televisions and smartphones of today. The feature allows user to open one program on the full screen and at the same time one or the other programs running in the same window but in the background.
This is how it can be understood in terms of WhatsApp. With this feature, WhatsApp users can chat as well as play a video in the same window.

Previously, clicking upon any video link in the WhatsApp chat would direct the user to its corresponding app. So there was no way out to watch the video and chat simultaneously. This changes now with this new feature. WhatsApp's PiP mode supports YouTube, Facebook and Instagram videos.

Using the feature: I was scrolling through my boring WhatsApp chats when I received the teaser of Avengers Endgame from one of my friends on WhatsApp chat. After reading the rumours that Captain America and Iron Man may die in the Endgame, I couldn't wait for a second to see the teaser and quickly clicked on the link. Being a die-hard fan of Marvel Comics which both me and my friend are, it was no less than a celebration for us to discuss and dissect every part of the teaser through WhatsApp chat while I was watching the trailer at the same time.

It was a YouTube link. I tapped the video and it started playing in the same inset window in which I was chatting with my friend. Just like in YouTube, the video can be played on the full screen, supports pinch-to-zoom functionality and can be played on both landscape and portrait mode. Slide left and video will be closed. So basically you get a complete YouTube feel while remaining inside the WhatsApp. You no longer have to go to YouTube, Instagram or Facebook to watch the video. It can be played within the chat app while you chat along.
Note that you click on the video preview icon and not the link. You will be directed to YouTube upon clicking the URL.

Coming to the shortcomings, I could spot just one while using the PiP feature in WhatsApp. It does allow you to chat and play but with just one person. So if my friend sends me a video that I can chat only with him and while watching the video. Get out of the chat window and your video will be gone.

YouTube and Facebook also support the Pip mode but you can scroll through your entire news feed on Facebook while the video is playing. Same with YouTube. You can scroll through the window while one video is being played in the foreground.

However, it still remains one of the important features on WhatsApp. Talking about the other top features that are expected to come on WhatsApp are- Vacation and Silent modes, Dark mode, Touch ID an face unlock, automatically play voice messages and more.