Instagram Trials Picture-In-Picture Viewing for Reels

Instagram is trialing a new Picture-in-Picture feature of Reels, which lets users multitask when viewing videos.

Instagram is also testing a picture-in-picture (PiP) playback of Reels so that a user can keep watching videos outside the app. This follows previous signals in March that Instagram was looking into PiP features to improve the viewing experience. Instagram’s

New PiP Feature

App researcher Radu Oncescu posted examples of users being prompted to test the new PiP option, which is available in a toggle in the playback settings.

It is also necessary to mention that such a PiP feature works only in the context of video viewing, not in the creation of video-like content (not video editing, which is found in Instagram already).

PiP is available in both TikTok and YouTube, offering users the ability to watch the videos and multitask simultaneously, meaning reducing playback out of the main application window.

As the modern attention range is geared towards multitasking, the introduction of PiP to Instagram will fit into the habits of the users and the standards of the industry.

Instagram’s Official Confirmation

Back in March, in a question-and-answer session with Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, the leader said that PiP is something the company was thinking about. Today, the company has assured that PiP is in fact being tested on a limited user basis, a clear indication that the rollout is underway.

Picture-in-picture will be able to increase the retention rates by enabling users to maintain content playing in the background as they interact with other apps. This feature can increase Reel time and general user interaction.

Final Thoughts

Being utilized either as a multitasking tool or as a mere addition of convenience, the PiP testing of Instagram becomes a worthy addition to the Reels experience. With the growth of testing, users will have greater opportunities to engage with the video content on the platform.