The frustration of having to pause a Reel to reply to a text may soon be a thing of the past. Instagram is actively testing a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, a feature that allows videos to play in a persistent floating window, enabling seamless multitasking for users on the platform.
This development, which has been a standard on competing apps like YouTube, means users can leave the Instagram app to perform other tasks without interrupting their video. The Reel simply shrinks into a small overlay that can be moved around the screen. This is a significant quality-of-life improvement, particularly for individuals who consume longer-form video content on the platform and want the flexibility to juggle multiple activities.
While currently only available to a select group of testers, the implications are broad. The feature is expected to drive up watch times for Reels, as the barrier to leaving a video is significantly lowered. Creators will likely see this as a positive change, as it could lead to better content performance and audience retention. Users who prefer not to use the feature will be able to easily disable it from the video’s option menu.
Coinciding with this test is another major platform update: the official release of an Instagram app for the iPad. The new app is tailored for the larger display, promising a superior user experience with improved layouts and navigation, further cementing Instagram’s focus on enhancing its video-centric features.