A majority of smartphone users prefer to multitask on their devices. If they watch a YouTube video, they want it to run in picture-in-picture mode.
While the video plays on a floating mini videoplayer, users can use other apps to send messages, receive emails, or check different social media apps.
If you have an iPhone, you can also play YouTube in the background using picture-in-picture mode. For that, you can use the lightweight Orion browser for iOS. This browser supports the installation of Chrome and Firefox extensions.
Normally, we know Chrome and Firefox extensions are available on their respective web stores. Adding to the problem, these extensions are aimed at PC users.
However, the Orion browser bridges this gap as it supports installing several useful Chrome and Firefox extensions. In one of our recent guides, we explained how to install Chrome extensions on an iPhone.
This guide explains how to use the Orion browser to install necessary extensions to enable PiP mode on YouTube for iOS.
If you prefer a video demonstration, check out our YouTube video that explains how to use the Orion browser and install a Chrome extension to play YouTube videos in Picture-in-Picture mode.
Get Orion Browser for iOS
First, download the Orion browser on your iPhone.
To install the Orion browser,
- Open the App Store.
- Search for Orion Browser.
- Tap Get to install the application on your iPhone.
- Access the app library of iOS to launch the Orion browser.
Enable Chrome and Firefox Extensions on Orion Borwser
After installing the Orion browser, allow it to look for and install Chrome/Firefox extensions. To do that,
- Launch the Orion browser.
- Tap the menu button at the bottom right corner.
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Go to the Advanced tab within the settings menu.
- Enable the toggle for Chrome Extensions.
- Also, turn on the toggle beside Firefox Extensions.
How to install the Picture-in-Picture Mode Extension on an iPhone?
Let us grab a Firefox extension that will allow you to play YouTube videos in PiP mode on an iPhone.
- Open the Orion browser.
- Tap the menu button at the bottom right corner.
- Go to Extensions.
- Press the + button in the left corner and select Install Firefox Extension.
- You will be redirected to the Mozilla add-ons official website.
- Type picture-in-picture on the add-ons search bar.
- From the search results, tap on the correct extension to view its details.
- Tap Add to Orion.
- Confirm the add-on integration by pressing Add.
Now, go to the Orion browser home page and tap the menu button > go to Extensions. The newly installed extension will appear under the Extensions tab. The extension will be enabled by default right after it is installed.
NOTE: For this article, I have installed the Mozilla Firefox add-on. You can also install Chrome extensions using the same steps described above. In Step 4, select Install Chrome Extension.
How to Play YouTube Videos in Pip Mode on iOS?
It is time to test the add-on/extension you installed on the Orion browser.
- Go to the YouTube homepage on the Orion browser.
- Search for any video of your choice and start playing it.
- Press the menu button and tap the option Enable Picture-in-Picture.
How to delete the Picture-in-Picture Extension on iPhone?
For some reason, if you don’t find the picture-in-picture extension currently installed on the Orion browser useful, you can uninstall it or replace it with other add-ons of your choice.
To uninstall the extension from the Orion browser,
- Open the Orion browser.
- Tap the menu button and go to Extensions.
- Swipe from right to left to reveal the option Uninstall.
- Tap Uninstall.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Can I use the Picture-in-Picture Extension on iPad?
If your iPad is running on iPadOS 15.0 or later, you can install the Orion browser and follow the necessary steps to integrate the Chrome/Firefox extensions.
Will the Picture-in-Picture Mode Extensions Work on Videos Playing on Other Sites Apart from YouTube?
YES. Extensions are native to browser apps. Regardless of which site you visit, PiP mode should work on all sorts of websites playing videos.
Why does The Picture-in-Picture Mode Extension not work on iPhone?
Refresh the webpage and retry enabling the extension. Due to web and mobile app incompatibility, some extensions may not work, while most of the other extensions will work just fine.
Bottom Line
The usefulness of watching YouTube videos using Picture-in-Picture mode is not only limited to allowing you to multitask on other apps.
Even on YouTube, you can browse for other videos, check and interact with YouTube community posts, create YouTube playlists, and save videos to watch them later.
You can do all these while watching the current video in the mini player through the Picture-in-Picture mode extension for iOS. Try it out and share your experiences in the comment section.
If you've any thoughts on Free PiP on iOS: Play YouTube Videos in Background, then feel free to drop in below comment box. Also, please subscribe to our DigitBin YouTube channel for videos tutorials. Cheers!
