All that work is now eliminated since you can watch the video without leaving the app. There are some things to keep in mind when using the picture-in-picture or else you could unwillingly end up leaving the app to watch a video.
How to Use WhatsApp’s Picture-in-Picture Mode
There is no need to go into your device’s settings to use the picture-in-picture mode in WhatsApp. Whenever you are sent a video from a third-party link, just tap on the Preview, and the feature will be activated automatically.
The video will be at the top of your display, but you won’t be able to forward or rewind the video. You can get around that by tapping on the square at the top-right. You’ll go into full-screen mode, and at the bottom you can use the slider to either rewind or forward the video. To get out of full-screen mode, tap on the option that looks like four arrows pointing at each other. The picture-in-picture mode will only work if you tap on the preview. If you select the link, you’ll be taken directly to YouTube.
What to Do When WhatsApp’s Picture-in-Picture Fails
Every app will fail from time to time, and WhatsApp is no exception. So, when it starts acting up, there are some simple tips you can try to get it working again. For example, you can try clearing WhatsApp’s cache. Do this by going to “Settings -> Apps -> Application Manager -> WhatsApp -> Storage -> Clear Cache.”
Make Sure WhatsApp Is Up to Date
It’s vital that all your apps and your device are up to date. Updates fix any bugs that may cause an app not to work correctly. To make sure that all your apps are up to date, open Google Play, and tap on the hamburger icon at the top-left. Tap on “My apps & games,” and any pending updates should be at the very top of the list.
To make sure that the Android version you are using is the latest, go to “Settings -> About device,” and make sure that the “Download updates automatically” is toggled on. With this option on, your device will only update when you are using Wi-Fi.
Make Sure that the Picture-in-Picture Mode Feature Is Enabled (Oreo)
If you are using Android Oreo, you might want to check that you have Picture-in-Picture mode enabled. That could be the reason why it’s not working when you use WhatsApp.
To see if you have the feature enabled, go to “Settings -> Apps & notifications -> Advanced option -> Picture-in-Picture.” You should see a list of apps that support the feature. Swipe down until you see WhatsApp, and make sure that the feature is enabled.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s picture-in-picture mode is an advantageous feature since you no longer have to leave the app to watch a video. But since no app is perfect, it will fail from time to time. Was a tipped missed that you use? Share it with us in the comments.
