Header Banner
gadgethacks.mark.png
Gadget Hacks Shop Apple Guides Android Guides iPhone Guides Mac Guides Pixel Guides Samsung Guides Tweaks & Hacks Privacy & Security Productivity Hacks Movies & TV Smartphone Gaming Music & Audio Travel Tips Videography Tips Chat Apps
Home
Android

Use VLC's Picture-in-Picture Mode on Android Oreo to Watch Videos While Multitasking

Jul 14, 2017 12:31 AM
May 30, 2018 01:09 AM
Mobile phone displaying a map with an embedded image of greenery.

A new feature in Android O is making it incredibly easy to multitask while you're watching a video. It's called Picture-in-Picture mode, and if you've ever used a TV with this option, you should already have a pretty good idea of how it works.

PiP mode is fairly intuitive, and it already works with VLC for Android — however, it's not quite as simple as pressing a button on your remote. For one thing, you'll have to enable a new option in VLC to use the feature, and even then, you'll have to get acclimated to the new floating video player interface.

But it's really not that hard once you get the hang of things, so below, I'll give you a tour of the new feature in Android 8.0 and show you everything you need to do to get the most out of Picture-in-Picture mode with VLC.

Make Sure You're Running the Latest Version of VLC

First up, you'll obviously need to be running Android 8.0 or higher to use the new PiP feature, but you'll also need to make sure you're running the latest version of VLC. So to start, head to the Play Store and make sure to accept any updates for VLC if they're available.

VLC media player for Android app interface showing options to uninstall or open.

Enable Background Playback

Next, you'll need to enable an option in the VLC app to get PiP mode working. So swipe in from the left edge of your screen to open the side navigation menu, then select "Settings." From there, tick the box next to the "Play videos in background" option.

Menu options on a mobile app, including Audio, Documents, Local Network, Messages, Settings, and Profile.
Settings menu for media library and playback options.
Menu options on a mobile app, including Audio, Documents, Local Network, Messages, Settings, and Profile.
Settings menu for media library and playback options.

Minimize the Video Player

From now on, whenever you're watching a video in VLC and would like to do a bit of multitasking, it's easy to put the player into Picture-in-Picture mode. To do so, just tap the three-dot menu button in the player controls (tap your screen once if the player controls are hidden), then select the Picture-in-Picture icon, which looks like a rectangle within another rectangle.

Use VLC's Picture-in-Picture Mode on Android Oreo to Watch Videos While Multitasking
Use VLC's Picture-in-Picture Mode on Android Oreo to Watch Videos While Multitasking
Use VLC's Picture-in-Picture Mode on Android Oreo to Watch Videos While Multitasking
Use VLC's Picture-in-Picture Mode on Android Oreo to Watch Videos While Multitasking

Watch Videos in PiP Mode

Immediately after pressing the PiP icon in VLC, your video will shrink down to a small floating window in the bottom-right corner of your screen. From here, you can drag the floating window to any position on your screen, and you can even open any app. All the while, the video window will remain on top, so you can get directions, text a friend, read an article, or whatever you need to do, but your video won't be interrupted.

When you'd like to go full-screen again, you can tap the video window to reveal a set of controls. From here, you can tap the full-screen icon to return to the full VLC app. You can also pause playback and skip to the next or previous video in a playlist. Or, if you'd like to stop the video, you can press the "X" icon to close VLC and the PiP window.

Map of San Diego, California, featuring nearby highways and points of interest.

Default PiP window placement (left); PiP window moved (center); PiP window expanded to reveal controls (right).

Map of San Diego with an inset image of green citrus fruits.
Map of San Diego, California, with a small inset showing a garden area.
Map of San Diego, California, featuring nearby highways and points of interest.

Default PiP window placement (left); PiP window moved (center); PiP window expanded to reveal controls (right).

Map of San Diego with an inset image of green citrus fruits.
Map of San Diego, California, with a small inset showing a garden area.

Now that you've mastered Picture-in-Picture mode with VLC, how often do you see yourself using this feature? Is it a once-in-a-while thing, or will you be watching videos while multitasking all the time now? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cover image and screenshots by Dallas Thomas/Gadget Hacks

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!