After years of user requests and watching from the sidelines as competitors innovated, Instagram is finally addressing one of its most significant feature gaps. The platform has officially begun testing a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Reels, a functionality that has long been standard elsewhere.
The delay in implementing such a crucial multitasking feature has been a source of speculation, with potential reasons ranging from technical challenges to a strategic focus on an immersive, full-screen experience. However, with the rise of long-form Reels, the need for PiP has become undeniable, prompting this long-awaited move.
The feature works as expected: a Reel shrinks into a floating window when the user navigates away from the app. For the millions who have grown accustomed to this on YouTube and TikTok, its arrival on Instagram will be a welcome, if overdue, improvement. The test is currently limited, with a wider rollout pending its success.
This game of catch-up is also being played on the tablet front, with Instagram simultaneously launching a native iPad app. This finally provides a first-class experience for iPad users, resolving another long-standing complaint and modernizing the platform across the board.
