Instagram brings Picture-in-Picture mode to Reels, testing floating video playback for multitaskers

Instagram is experimenting with a long-awaited upgrade—Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels. The feature, now being tested with select users, lets short-form videos play in a floating window even after leaving the app, enabling seamless multitasking across devices.

First flagged by app researcher Radu Oncescu on Threads, the test was later confirmed by Meta to TechCrunch. Users included in the pilot see a prompt: “Try picture in picture. Turn this on to continue watching Reels in a floating window on your device after you’ve left Instagram.”

Beyond boosting screen time, PiP mode could significantly increase retention rates, giving creators a better chance to hold audiences’ attention—even during longer Reels. Viewers will now be able to keep videos running while sending messages, booking cabs, or browsing other apps.

For those preferring uninterrupted scrolling, the option can be turned off via the three-dot menu while watching a Reel.

The rollout reflects Instagram head Adam Mosseri’s earlier hints that PiP support was in the works, aligning the platform with competitors YouTube and TikTok, both of which have long offered floating video playback. It remains unclear, however, when the feature will reach all users.