How to Use Picture-in-Picture Mode in Safari

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

Using Picture-in-Picture Mode in Safari

Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode in Safari is a convenient feature that allows you to watch videos from websites while simultaneously multitasking on your Mac. With PiP, you can keep a video playing in a floating window that remains on top of other windows and applications. In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you how to use Picture-in-Picture mode in Safari on your Mac running macOS.

Prerequisites:

A Mac running macOS Sierra (10.12) or later.

Safari browser (PiP may not be supported on all websites). 

Enabling PiP Mode:

Open Safari: Launch Safari on your Mac.

Visit a PiP Supported Website: Go to a website that plays video content (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, or a streaming service).

Start Playing a Video: Play a video on the website. Once the video starts, you will see the PiP icon on the video player. It typically looks like a small rectangle or an icon resembling two overlapping squares.

Activate PiP Mode:

Method 1: Right-click (or Control-click) on the video while it's playing. In the context menu that appears, you should see an option that says "Enter Picture-in-Picture."

Method 2: Click on the PiP icon on the video player (if available). This icon may appear in the video controls or in the video player itself.

Method 3 (Keyboard Shortcut): You can also activate PiP mode using a keyboard shortcut. While the video is playing, press Command + Shift + P.

Video in PiP Mode: The video will now detach from the web page and play in a separate floating window. You can move and resize this window as needed.

Managing PiP Mode:

Once a video is in Picture-in-Picture mode, you have various controls to manage it:

Move the PiP Window: Click and drag the PiP window to move it anywhere on your screen.

Resize the PiP Window: Hover your cursor over one of the corners of the PiP window. When the cursor changes to a double-headed arrow, click and drag to resize the window.

Pause/Play: You can pause or play the video directly from the PiP window by clicking the play/pause button.

Return to Full Screen: To return the video to its original web page or full-screen view, click the blue button in the center of the PiP window. This button typically looks like an arrow pointing to the right.

Close PiP: To close the PiP window and stop the video, click the "X" button in the top-left corner of the PiP window.

Adjust Volume: Hover your cursor over the PiP window, and you'll see a volume control slider. Click and drag it to adjust the volume.

Skip Forward/Backward: Some websites support skipping forward or backward in the video using on-screen controls in the PiP window.

PiP Shortcuts:

Here are some keyboard shortcuts that can be handy when using Picture-in-Picture mode:

Command + Shift + P: Toggle PiP mode on/off.

Command + Option + Arrow Keys: Move the PiP window to different corners of the screen.

Spacebar: Pause/play the video in PiP mode.

Additional Tips:

Not all websites support PiP mode in Safari. If you don't see the PiP icon when playing a video, it might not be available on that site.

You can have multiple PiP windows open at the same time if you need to watch multiple videos simultaneously.

PiP mode works with HTML5 video players, but may not work with Flash-based video players.

If you encounter issues with PiP mode on certain websites, try reloading the page or using a different browser.

Picture-in-Picture mode in Safari is a fantastic feature that enhances your multitasking capabilities while enjoying online videos. By following the steps in this comprehensive guide and making use of the provided shortcuts, you can seamlessly use PiP mode on your Mac and have an enhanced browsing experience.

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