How to make a floating YouTube window on Xiaomi: all the ways of 2026

The floating window (Picture-in-Picture, PiP) feature allows you to watch YouTube videos on top of other apps — convenient for multitasking. On Xiaomi smartphones, this mode does not always work out of the box: restrictions impose like the shell itself. MIUI, In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to activate PiP for YouTube on Redmi devices, POCO Xiaomi in 2026 – from standard settings to workarounds for premium users and beyond.

Many users face a problem: the floating window button simply does not appear in the YouTube app, although everything works on other Android devices. MIUI And Google's restrictions on free accounts, but there are solutions, both official and alternative, and then you'll find step-by-step instructions for different versions of the firmware, including the ones that you can use. MIUI 12, 13 and 14, and ways to bypass locks without rooting rights.

1. Standard method: enable PiP in settings MIUI

On most Xiaomi smartphones, the floating window function is activated through system settings. However, not all models support this mode for YouTube by default.

Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Floating window. There should be a slider to turn on the mode. If there is not one, your model does not support PiP at the system level (relevant for budget devices like Redmi). 10A or POCO M4).

• 🔧 Enable the Floating Window Slider (if available).
• 📱 Restart your smartphone – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.
• 🎥 Launch YouTube, open the video to the full screen, and tap the icon home (button or gesture). If the PiP is up, you'll see a thumbnail of the video in the corner of the screen.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 13/14 The floating window option is hidden. To find it, search by settings (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner.

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If the settings do not include "Floating window", try updating the firmware to the latest version. MIUI 14 PiP support extended to most models, including the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5.

2.Why the PiP doesn't work on YouTube: Google's limitations

Google artificially limits the floating window mode for free YouTube accounts, and even if your Xiaomi PiP is system-level enabled, the button may not appear in the app itself.

Important: Since 2023, Google has tightened its policy, with the floating YouTube window now officially available only to users with an active YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium subscription. All other ways (except for alternative clients) require circumvention of restrictions.

If you do not plan to buy a premium, go to the following sections - there we will analyze the working workarounds.

3.Pip permission for YouTube in app settings

Even if the PiP is enabled on the system, YouTube may need a separate permission.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find YouTube in the list and open its settings.
3. Select Additional → Display over other windows.
4. Enable the slider Allow display on top of other applications.

Then try to re-start the video on YouTube and roll it up with the Home button. If the PiP doesn't work, check out another option:

• 🔄 Go back to YouTube settings and open permissions.
• 📱 Make sure that the Floating Window (or Picture-in-Picture) resolution is enabled.
• 🔧 If you don’t have an option, your version MIUI Does not support manual PiP management for individual applications.

Enable a floating window in the settings MIUI|Youtube permission to display over other windows|Update YouTube to the latest version|Reboot your smartphone-->

4. Google's circumvention of restrictions: 3 working methods

If standard methods don’t work, try one of these workarounds. They don’t require root rights and work on most Xiaomi devices. MIUI 12-14.

Method 1: Using a browser (Chrome or Firefox)

The easiest method is to watch YouTube through the browser in desktop mode:

1. Open Chrome or Firefox and go to youtube.com.
2. Press. ⋮ → PC version (in Chrome) or activate desktop mode in browser settings.
3. Run the video, then tap the Home button. The video should roll up into a floating window.

Method 2: Alternative YouTube Clients

Apps like NewPipe or Vanced (if available) support PiP without restrictions. NewPipe does not require a Google account and works on all devices:

• 📥 Download NewPipe from the official website (newpipe.net) or via F-Droid.
• 🔧 At the first start, give all the necessary permissions.
• 🎥 Start the video and tap the Home button – the PiP will work automatically.

Method 3: Reverse to the old version of YouTube

On YouTube versions until 17.30.34 (released before 2023), the floating window worked without being tied to Premium.

1. Remove the current version of YouTube.
2. Download. APK version 17.20.37 from a verified source (e.g. APKMirror).
3. Install the file by disabling the source check in the security settings.
4. Block the automatic update of the app in Google Play.

⚠️ Note: Using outdated versions of YouTube is fraught with security and compatibility issues.

5.Pip customization for specific Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi devices have unique features when working with a floating window. Below are nuances for popular lines:

For devices on MIUI 12 (e.g. Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3) Additional adjustments may be required:

1. Activate Settings → Additionally. → Functions laboratory.
2. Find the Floating Window option for all applications and turn it on.
3. Reset the device.

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On flagship models (Xiaomi) 13/14, POCO F5) PiP is more stable thanks to optimization for Android 13+. On budget smartphones (Redmi) 10A, POCO M4) It is better to use alternative methods (browser or NewPipe).

6. Solving PiP problems on Xiaomi

If the floating window is not working or is not working properly, check these points:

• 🔄 Rebooting the device: Sometimes the PiP is not activated due to temporary failures in the device MIUI.
• 📶 Shutdown VPN: Some of them VPN-YouTube services are blocking YouTube functionality, including PiP.
• 🔧 Resetting the app settings: For YouTube, perform Settings → Annexes → YouTube → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 🛠️ Update MIUI: Older versions of firmware may have bugs with multitasking.

If the video in the floating window slows down or hangs:

• 📉 Downgrade video quality in YouTube settings (e.g., to 720p).
• 🔋 Close the background applications consuming resources (check in Settings) → Battery).
• 🔄 Switch to another player (for example, from YouTube to NewPipe).

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi devices, the floating window can automatically close when the screen is locked. MIUI. To avoid this, add YouTube to the battery optimization exception list:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
2. Find YouTube in the list and select Unlimited.

Alternatives: multi-window and split screen

If the floating window doesn’t work, consider other ways to multitask on Xiaomi:

Multi-window mode (Split Screen)

It allows you to use two apps at the same time, for example, YouTube and the browser:

1. Open YouTube and start the video.
2. Tap the recent apps button (swipe up with a delay).
3. Click on the YouTube icon at the top of the card and select Split screen.
4. Select the second app for the bottom of the screen.

Voice search with background playback

If you only need to listen to a video (such as a podcast or music):

• 🎤 Activate voice search on YouTube (mic icon).
• 🔍 Say a command like "Put [video title] on YouTube".
• 🎧 After launching the video, roll the application - the sound will continue in the background.

These methods will not replace a full-fledged PiP, but will help in situations where a floating window is not available.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the floating window on Xiaomi