Picture-in-Picture (PiP)

Watch videos in a floating window while using other apps on your Android TV

SmartTube supports Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, allowing you to watch videos in a small floating window while using other apps on your Android TV.

What is Picture-in-Picture?

Picture-in-Picture lets you continue watching a video in a small window while navigating to other apps or the home screen.

PiP mode creates a floating video window that stays on top of other content, allowing you to:

• Multitask - Browse other apps while watching
• Stay informed - Keep videos playing while checking notifications
• Background viewing - Continue watching without the full app interface

Picture-in-Picture is a standard Android feature that SmartTube integrates with. Your TV must support PiP (Android 8.0 Oreo or higher).

Enabling Picture-in-Picture

PiP is not enabled by default. Follow these steps to activate it:

1. Open SmartTube Settings

   Launch SmartTube and navigate to the Settings menu (gear icon).

2. Navigate to General Settings

   Select “General” from the settings menu.

3. Find Background Playback

   Scroll down to “Background playback” section.

4. Enable Picture in Picture

   Toggle on “Picture in picture” mode.

   This enables PiP when you press the Home button during video playback.

5. Optional: Enable on Back Button

   In the same section, find “Background playback (activation)”.

   Enable this to also trigger PiP when you press the Back button during playback.

The setting path is: Settings > General > Background playback > Picture in picture

How to Use Picture-in-Picture

Once enabled, activating PiP is simple:

Method 1: Home Button (Default)

1. Start Playing a Video

   Open any video in SmartTube and start playback.

2. Press Home

   Press the Home button on your remote while the video is playing.

3. Video Enters PiP Mode

   The video shrinks into a floating window and continues playing while you navigate your TV’s home screen or other apps.

Method 2: Back Button (Optional)

1. Enable in Settings

   Make sure you’ve enabled “Background playback (activation)” in Settings.

2. Press Back

   During video playback, press the Back button on your remote.

3. Video Enters PiP Mode

   The video enters PiP mode instead of going back to the previous screen.

If you enable PiP activation on the Back button, pressing Back will no longer navigate to the previous screen during playback - it will always trigger PiP instead.

Controlling PiP Window

Once in PiP mode, you can control the video:

Playback Controls

• Play/Pause - Click on the PiP window
• Close PiP - Press the close button (X) on the PiP window
• Return to Full Screen - Click on the PiP window and select expand

Window Position

On most Android TV devices:

• Move the window - Use directional buttons to reposition
• Resize - Some devices allow resizing (limited support)
• Corners - Typically snaps to screen corners

PiP window controls vary by device and Android version. Not all features may be available on your TV.

Use Cases

Picture-in-Picture is perfect for:

Music While Browsing

Keep music videos or playlists playing while browsing for your next video or using other apps.

News & Live Streams

Watch news or live streams in the corner while checking other apps or browsing.

Tutorial Videos

Follow along with tutorials while taking notes or using other apps.

Sports Highlights

Keep sports content playing while checking scores or schedules in other apps.

Podcasts & Talks

Listen to podcasts or talks while doing other tasks on your TV.

Background Entertainment

Keep entertainment going while navigating menus or settings.

Configuration Options

Background Playback Settings

SmartTube offers several background playback configurations:

Picture in Picture (Main Setting)

Location: Settings > General > Background playback > Picture in picture

What it does: Enables PiP mode when pressing Home during video playback.

Recommended: Enable for PiP functionality

Background Playback Activation

Location: Settings > General > Background playback (activation)

What it does: Controls which button triggers PiP mode.

Options:

• Home button only (default)
• Back button only
• Both Home and Back buttons

Recommended: Home button only (to preserve Back button’s normal function)

Audio-Only Background Playback

Alternative to PiP: If you don’t want the video window but want audio to continue:

Location: Settings > General > Background playback

What it does: Continues audio playback without a video window when you leave the app.

Use case: Perfect for music or podcasts where you don’t need to see the video.

Limitations

Picture-in-Picture has some limitations depending on your device:

Device Compatibility

• Requires Android 8.0+ (Oreo or higher)
• Not all Android TVs support PiP - some manufacturers disable it
• Feature availability varies by device manufacturer and model

Functional Limitations

• Limited window control - position and size options depend on your TV
• No quality adjustment - video quality is maintained from full-screen mode
• Single window only - cannot have multiple PiP windows
• May pause in some apps - certain apps may interfere with PiP playback

Performance Considerations

PiP mode requires your TV to:

• Decode video while running other apps
• Maintain multiple apps in memory
• Render the floating window overlay

Older or less powerful devices may experience performance issues.

Troubleshooting

PiP mode doesn't activate

Possible causes and solutions:

1. PiP not enabled in SmartTube
   • Check Settings > General > Background playback > Picture in picture
2. Device doesn’t support PiP
   • Verify your TV is running Android 8.0 or higher
   • Some manufacturers disable PiP - check your TV’s documentation
3. System PiP permissions
   • Some devices require system-level PiP permission
   • Check TV Settings > Apps > SmartTube > Permissions

Video stops when entering PiP

Try these solutions:

1. Check background playback settings
   • Ensure audio background playback isn’t conflicting
2. Device memory issues
   • Close other apps to free up RAM
   • Restart SmartTube
3. System restrictions
   • Check if your TV has battery/performance modes that limit PiP

Can't control PiP window

Control options vary by device:

1. Try different buttons
   • Navigate: D-pad/arrow keys
   • Play/Pause: OK/Select button
   • Close: Back or Menu button
2. Device-specific controls
   • Check your TV’s manual for PiP controls
   • Some TVs have dedicated PiP buttons on remote
3. Return to full screen
   • Usually: Click on the PiP window and select expand
   • Or: Reopen SmartTube from launcher

PiP window is too small/large

Window size is typically controlled by Android TV:

1. System default size
   • Most devices use a fixed PiP window size
   • SmartTube cannot override this
2. Check TV settings
   • Some TVs allow PiP size adjustment in system settings
   • Look in Display or Accessibility settings
3. Device limitation
   • Window size may be fixed on your device
   • This is a hardware/OS limitation, not a SmartTube issue

Back button triggers PiP instead of going back

This is by design if you enabled it:

1. Disable Back button PiP activation
   • Go to Settings > General > Background playback (activation)
   • Change to “Home button only”
2. Use Home button instead
   • Keep Back button for navigation
   • Use Home button to trigger PiP

PiP vs Audio Background Playback

SmartTube offers two types of background playback. Choose based on your needs:

Feature	Picture-in-Picture	Audio Background Playback
Video visible	✅ Small window	❌ No video
Audio continues	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Device requirements	Android 8.0+	Any version
Performance impact	Higher	Lower
Best for	Multitasking with video	Music, podcasts
Screen overlay	✅ Floating window	❌ None

For music videos or podcasts where you don’t need to see the video, audio background playback uses less resources than PiP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does PiP work with all videos?

Yes, PiP works with all videos that play in SmartTube, including:

• Regular videos
• Live streams
• Music videos
• Playlists
• Age-restricted content (if logged in)

Can I use PiP while gaming on my TV?

This depends on your TV and the game. PiP is an Android system feature that should work across apps, but:

• Some games may pause PiP
• Performance may suffer with both running
• Android games typically support PiP
• Native TV games may not

Does PiP use more battery/power?

Yes, PiP uses more resources than audio-only playback because:

• Video decoding continues
• Multiple apps run simultaneously
• Display renders additional layers

However, on plugged-in TVs, this is rarely a concern.

Can I adjust PiP quality to save bandwidth?

PiP inherits the quality settings from your full-screen playback. The quality doesn’t automatically reduce in PiP mode. To save bandwidth:

• Lower video quality before entering PiP
• Use audio background playback instead

Why doesn't my TV support PiP?

Some Android TV manufacturers disable PiP because:

• Hardware limitations on older/cheaper models
• Manufacturer customization choices
• Regional firmware differences

Check your TV’s system settings or manual for PiP availability.

Tips for Best Experience

Use with Music

PiP is perfect for keeping music videos playing while browsing for your next song.

Home Button Only

Keep Back button PiP disabled to preserve normal navigation behavior.

Close Background Apps

Free up RAM by closing unused apps for better PiP performance.

Audio for Podcasts

For podcasts and talks, consider audio background playback instead of PiP to save resources.

Experiment with PiP to find your preferred workflow! Some users love it for multitasking, while others prefer full-screen focus or audio-only playback.