Usually, watching YouTube videos keeps users tied to a single browser tab. Switching away often means missing something important, while manually enabling “picture in picture” mode each time can be inconvenient and distracting. Recognizing this, Google developers have introduced a new feature in the Chrome browser aimed at making multitasking easier without sacrificing the viewing experience.
The feature is currently available in Chrome Canary, the browser’s experimental version. When a user switches from a YouTube tab to another for the first time, a small miniplayer window appears, along with a prompt asking whether to allow “picture in picture” mode either just for now or on an ongoing basis. If granted permanent permission, the video will continue playing in a small floating window whenever the user switches to a new tab. This allows users to browse or work in other tabs while still keeping an eye on the video content.
A Flexible Viewing Option
The new miniplayer functionality is designed with flexibility in mind. Users who prefer to listen to content without watching it can also block the feature entirely. This might be especially useful when using YouTube to stream music or podcasts, where the video itself isn’t important.
At the moment, this function is still in testing and has only been rolled out to a limited group of Chrome Canary users, notes NIX Solutions. The feature may evolve based on feedback, and there is currently no confirmed timeline for a wider release. Yet we’ll keep you updated as more integrations become available and the feature progresses beyond the testing stage.
What to Expect Next
This update reflects Google’s ongoing effort to improve user experience by adapting to how people actually use their browsers day to day. Whether you want to keep watching videos while working or just prefer an easier way to stay entertained across tabs, this new feature could be a welcome addition. We’ll keep you updated as soon as more details or wider availability are announced.