- Enable Picture-in-Picture mode in your Android and iOS device settings and retry playing a video in WhatsApp.
- Disable App lock from WhatsApp Settings > Privacy > App lock.
Basic Fixes
- Update WhatsApp : Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, search WhatsApp, and tap Update (if available).
- Reinstall WhatsApp : Long-tap the WhatsApp icon to remove the app and head to your respective device app store to reinstall the WhatsApp. Ensure taking a backup from WhatsApp Settings > Chat > Chat Backup before uninstalling it.
- Update the system software : Open your device’s Settings app, tap Software Update, and install available system updates.
Fix 1: Enable Picture in Picture Mode From Device Settings
WhatsApp picture-in-picture mode may not work on your phone if it is disabled under device settings . Enable it manually and retry playing a video in WhatsApp.
Android
Step 1: Open the Settings app > select the Search icon at the top-right > search Picture-in-Picture .
Step 2: Tap Picture-in-Picture from the search results and scroll down to select WhatsApp .
Step 3: Toggle on Allow picture-in-picture to enable it for WhatsApp.
iOS
Step 1: Open iPhone Settings > select General > tap Picture in Picture .
Step 2: Toggle on Start PiP Automatically .
Fix 2: Clear WhatsApp Cache (Android)
Excessive cache accumulation can malfunction WhatsApp resulting in issues in using its picture-in-picture mode. Clear the WhatsApp cache manually to restore its normal functioning.
Long-tap the WhatsApp icon to open App info , select Storage and cache , and tap Clear cache .
Fix 3: Disable App Lock in WhatsApp
If Picture-in-Picture mode stops working as soon as you run WhatsApp in the background, its app lock feature might be preventing it. Disable it under WhatsApp settings and retry playing a video.
Android
Step 1: Open WhatsApp, tap the vertical three-dot menu at the top-right, and select Settings .
Step 2: Select Privacy and scroll down to view more options.
Step 3: Tap App Lock and toggle off Unlock with biometric to disable the WhatsApp app lock.
iOS
Step 1: Tap the Gear icon in WhatsApp to open its app Settings, and select Privacy .
Step 2: Select App lock and toggle off Require Face ID .
Fix 4: Leave WhatsApp Beta Program (Android)
A buggy update in WhatsApp Beta can cripple its Picture-in-Picture mode. Leave the WhatsApp Beta program from the Google Play Store, uninstall the app, and reinstall its stable version.
Before you uninstall the beta version of WhatsApp, take a backup of your chats from WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup , to easily restore them later.
