YouTube just unlocked free picture-in-picture mode for everyone worldwide

There have been a lot of great features introduced to YouTube since its release. And while background playback and offline downloads are among my personal favorites, being able to watch videos in picture-in-picture mode is likely to be another one that sits at the top of the list.

While picture-in-picture mode used to be an exclusive feature reserved for Premium accounts, Google slowly rolled it out as a part of the general experience for Android and iOS that are in the US. Those in other regions have been patiently waiting, and it now looks like that day is finally here.

You can't argue with free

We reported about this feature potentially going global back in February, and it now appears to be rolling out to users all around the world. 9to5Google shares that picture-in-picture (PiP) mode on YouTube is now free to all users. Users will no longer need a Premium account to access it.

However, there is just one stipulation, and it is that it can only be used for "longform, non-music content." If you've never used PiP before, it's simple to activate. Just head into the Advanced settings for the YouTube app, and ensure that you have PiP enabled. Once this is activated, you can just start watching a video like normal.

When you minimize the app, the video will continue to play in a small window on your screen. You can customize the size of the video player, or close it out if you don't need it anymore. It's a great way to multitask. You can catch up on your favorite YouTube content while answering text, emails, and more.

If you're not really convinced, you can check out the full details about PiP in the video above. Personally, it's a feature that I've used for quite some time, and found very convenient. While I don't usually multitask a ton, having a video open and being able to do other things is convenient to say the least.

So, if you've been looking to give this feature a try, it's now available on the YouTube app on Android and iOS.