Keep Watching: Instagram’s PiP Test Means Reels Play On

Instagram is testing a new feature that will let you “keep watching” even when you’re busy with something else. The platform has introduced a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) trial for Reels, a function that allows videos to continue playing in a floating window while you multitask on your device.
This innovative feature addresses a common frustration: having to pause or close a video to answer a text. With PiP, when you switch apps, the Reel you were watching automatically scales down and remains on screen. You can drag it around, reply to your message, and not miss a second of the content, integrating entertainment directly into your communication workflow.
The benefit extends directly to content creators, for whom audience retention is paramount. By removing a major reason for viewer drop-off—the need to attend to a notification—this feature is poised to increase video completion rates significantly. It allows a creator’s content to persist through the small distractions of daily digital life.
This social-focused update arrives alongside another key development: a new, native application for the iPad. This provides a vastly improved, optimized experience for tablet users, making content on the larger screen more engaging and easier to interact with.