How To Use Picture-In-Picture On Your PS5

Quick Links

• Getting PiP Set Up

• Accessing PiP Through The Control Center

• Starting PiP From Within Video Apps

• Launching PiP Hands-Free

• Customizing And Controlling Your PiP Window

• Best Uses Of Picture-In-Picture Mode

• FAQ

People, you can now forget all about needing to toggle back and forth between gaming and your favorite shows. Why? Oh, that's an easy one. That's because the PS5 brings multitasking to your fingertips with the game-changing picture-in-picture (PiP) feature. This thing enables you to watch videos, live streams, sports events, and more...all in an independently movable mini window pinned on top of your games and apps!

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This guide will explore everything you need to know about utilizing this amazing feature, from getting set up, exploring different ways of accessing this mode, and even customizing your experience. Scientists are actually saying that this might just be the last PS5 PiP guide you will ever need. Which is why you should totally check out this cool guide, just below.

Getting PiP Set Up

It's a breeze to start using picture-in-picture on the PS5. The first step is checking if the console has system software version 22.02-04.00.00 or newer. How do you go about checking that though? Just head on over to the Settings menu from the PS5's main screen. Now go into the System tab, followed by opening System Software, and then finally, Console Information. The sanctum sanctorum, where users can find details on the existing System Software along with the specific version number.

Accessing PiP Through The Control Center

Control Center delivers a super convenient way to open picture-in-picture, and it doesn't really matter what game, app, or activity has the focus on the console. Not to mention it just takes seconds to call up PiP this way. Here's what you need to do to launch a PiP window from the Control Center:

Step 1: Press the PlayStation button located in the center of the DualSense wireless controller. This brings up the Control Center overlay on the right side of the screen.

Step 2: Scroll down through the various function cards of the Control Center until you find the dedicated picture-in-picture card. Select this card to open PiP options.

Step 3: A menu will appear allowing you to select which streaming video app you want to launch in the smaller PiP window.

After picking your preferred streaming app (ours would be Netflix), it will then automatically open an independently movable PiP video pane. Good news, you can then pin this window wherever you want on the screen. At this point, feel free to go back into gaming, using apps, chatting with your mates, whatever works.

Starting PiP From Within Video Apps

If the process we talked about before this was too boring for you, no worries. Some of the streaming video apps actually allow you to launch picture-in-picture right from the app itself:

1. Open the video app you want to use for PiP.
2. Play a video, any video.
3. Press down on the D-pad or thumbstick to open the app-specific menu.
4. Select “Start Picture-In-Picture”.

The app will shift to a small movable window pinned on top of your screen. From here you can open a game or other apps, aand the PiP will keep playing.

Launching PiP Hands-Free

PS5 offers yet another super convenient, and also hands-free way to call up picture-in-picture streaming (big shout out to the integrated voice command support). Users with their console set up to accept voice inputs can now launch PiP by using their voice, instead of having to navigate all these iffy menus (just kidding, Sony, we love your interface).

But first, make sure voice command options are properly enabled under Settings > System > Voice Command. Also, make sure to confirm a compatible microphone device is connected if you're using a third-party mic and not the built-in DualSense controller mic.

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As of now, these are the apps supporting voice controls:

• YouTube
• Apple TV
• Amazon Prime Video
• Disney+
• Hulu
• HBO Max
• Peacock

To use voice commands, press the mic button on your DualSense controller and say something like “Hey PlayStation, open YouTube picture-in-picture.” And et voilà, the chosen app will open a PiP window.

Customizing And Controlling Your PiP Window

Once you have PiP open, you have loads of options to customize and control it. Here's what you can do:

● Move the window - Use the left thumbstick or D-pad to move PiP around your screen, so it’s out of the way.

● Resize the window - Press L3 or R3 to make the PiP window bigger or smaller.

● Play/pause video - Press X to play and pause the PiP video.

● Reset position - Hold L3+R3 to reset PiP back to the default centered position at a medium size.

● Close PiP - Hold Circle to close the PiP window and go back to standard view.

● Return to app -Press the PS button and select the video app from the console menu to return to the full screen view.

Best Uses Of Picture-In-Picture Mode

If you're wondering what practicap purpose PiP would serve, it's really helpful when you want to focus on two separate things on a single screen:

• Following a video guide while playing the game on the same screen.
• Watching a video or TV show while you're grinding out a mundane task in a game.
• Watching a video podcast while playing a game.
• Watching a live sporting event while playing a game.

FAQ

Can I use headphones to listen to PiP audio?

Yes! One of the coolest things about using PiP is that you can redirect the audio from your video to headphones connected to the DualSense controller or the console itself. This keeps the video's sound isolated from the main game audio that's coming through your speakers. To enable this, just go to Sound > Audio Output and select your headphone device.

Does PiP work with DVDs and Blu-ray discs?

Unfortunately, PiP does not currently support DVD, Blu-ray or 4K UHD playback. This means you can't open a small movable video window with physical media inserts. If we had to take a guess, this limitation is most likely due to content decryption restrictions.

Is there a way to prevent the PiP window from automatically closing?

Yes, this can be a bit of an issue sometimes because, by default, the PiP window will automatically close itself after a few hours (even if the video is still playing). To get rid of this, go to Settings > System > HDMI > Enable HDMI Device Link and turn this setting off. Now your PiP display can remain open indefinitely!

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