How to Get Picture in Picture on Mac.
The essence of Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode is the ability to seamlessly watch video while performing multiple tasks. PIP technology has appeared on almost all mobile devices, including the iPhone and iPad. In fact, WhatsApp supports PIP mode if you share videos on YouTube. Usually the point is that the larger the screen, the more you multitask, but then why is macOS still missing this useful feature in macOS Catalina?
Fortunately, there are several legitimate solutions for getting PiP on Mac using both traditional browser extensions and third-party applications. And yes, they support all popular websites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. So let’s take a look at them. Shall we?
Enable picture-in-picture mode on your Mac
First method: browser extensions
While I’d love to get the Netflix app for Mac, the truth is that most streaming services still only offer a web version of the service, and you have no choice but to use a browser. Extensions and add-ons have always been a strong point of web browsers. One of the utilities is to enable PIP mode for your browser windows.
Safari Browser
Piper is your key to unlocking picture-in-picture mode in the Safari browser. The best thing about the extension is that it is natively available on the macOS App Store and seamlessly integrates with almost all video streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, and more.
To use Piper in the Safari browser, download the app from the macOS App Store and install it. After installation, you will need to activate the extension in Menu Bar Safari Preferences Extensions Piper and check the box.
Once installed and activated,
the extension will automatically sync with all online media players in your browser. The extension does not appear in the browser control panel like other extensions, but interacts directly with the media player, where you can see the Piper shortcut in the lower right corner.
Just click the icon and a small window will appear with your video playing. The default window is set to float to any of the edges of the screen, which means that if you drag it to a corner, it will automatically align and adjust. The floating window is also set to always be at the top, so you work with your emails while the video plays in the corner.
Google Chrome Browser
Google Chrome recently introduced its own version of the picture-in-picture extension, which is now available in all Chrome browsers. The extension can be downloaded from the Chrome Web Store. Like any other Chrome extension, you can see an icon next to the address bar in your browser.
All you have to do is click on the icon and the video will appear separately in the current browser window. It is, of course, a floating window, programmed to always be on top, but it can be further resized and placed anywhere on the screen, unlike the Safari browser extension.
Method 2: a third-party application
Read : How to Install Third-Party Browsers On Chromebook
HeliumLift
No, the title is ok and the app hasn’t been updated. I know the Helium app scans the web if you’re looking for Picture-in-Picture for Mac, which is nothing more than a browser window that floats on your screen. So, I decided to struggle a little and found another similar but better application, HeliumLift.
Unlike the regular Helium app,
HeliumLift has its own interface that provides shortcuts to your favorite streaming services. The browser window stays on top of all other windows and is of course a floating window so you can drag it anywhere on the screen.
HeliumLift is also better than the Helium app in terms of shortcuts and ease of access. The HeliumLift icon is on your Mac’s menu bar and is accessible from any window. You can see options like control panel, show / hide app, and open url using the icon in the menu bar. All options have convenient shortcuts while using the app, so you don’t have to always open the menu bar.
Final Words
I could either give you what you wanted and love while working on a boring document, or I could do something that would make your boss angry. Either way, these are the best options available to enable picture-in-picture mode on your Mac. Browser extensions work fine, but if you find yourself in a situation where you might have to suddenly hide the PIP window, you should continue with HeliumLift. Let me know your choices and experiences in the comments below.
How to Get Picture in Picture on Mac