YouTube Miniplayer Gone or Not Working? How to Use It on Other Tabs

YouTube miniplayer: bring it back and use it on other tabs

YouTube’s miniplayer only works inside youtube.com: switch tabs and it is gone. If the button has disappeared, press i to toggle it. If you want the video to stay visible on other tabs and apps, you need picture-in-picture instead, and that takes one click.

Updated October 12, 2026 · Applies to Picture in Picture for Videos 1.6

Miniplayer vs picture-in-picture

	YouTube miniplayer	Picture-in-picture
Where it shows	Corner of the YouTube page	Its own window, on top of everything
Other tabs	No	Yes
Other apps	No	Yes
Move and resize	Limited	Anywhere, any size
How to open	Press `i`	Right-click twice, or one click on an extension
Good for	Browsing YouTube while watching	Working in other tabs and apps while watching

Miniplayer gone? Bring it back

Click the video once so the player has keyboard focus.
Press i. The video shrinks into the corner and you can keep browsing YouTube. Press i again to expand it.
Look in the player controls. If YouTube shows a miniplayer icon for your account, it sits near the theatre-mode and full-screen buttons. It is not always there; the shortcut is the reliable way.

If i does nothing, an extension that restyles YouTube may have removed the feature. Try an Incognito window to confirm.

Get a miniplayer that works on other tabs

This is what most people actually want from the miniplayer. Picture-in-picture floats the video in a separate window that stays on top when you switch tabs, open another app or move to a different desktop.

Install Picture in Picture for Videos. Free, no account.
Play the YouTube video.
Click the extension icon. The video pops into a floating window.
Drag it to a corner and resize it. Carry on in any tab or app.

Without an extension, right-click the video twice and choose “Picture in picture”. The details are in the YouTube picture-in-picture guide.

Which one should you use?

Searching YouTube for the next video while the current one plays: the miniplayer.
Writing, coding, studying or gaming in another tab or app: picture-in-picture.
Queueing music inside YouTube: the miniplayer.
Following a tutorial while you do the steps: picture-in-picture.

If picture-in-picture does not open

See YouTube picture-in-picture not working for the fixes in order.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the YouTube miniplayer button go?

YouTube has moved the miniplayer control more than once during player redesigns, and it is not always visible on the control bar. The keyboard shortcut still works: press the letter i while the video is in focus to switch the miniplayer on and off.

Can I use the YouTube miniplayer on other tabs?

No. The miniplayer lives inside the YouTube page, so it disappears when you switch to another tab or app. To keep a video visible everywhere, use picture-in-picture, which opens a separate window that stays on top.

What is the difference between the miniplayer and picture-in-picture?

The miniplayer is a small player in the corner of youtube.com that lets you keep browsing YouTube. Picture-in-picture is a Chrome feature that floats the video in its own always-on-top window over every tab and every application.

Is there a YouTube miniplayer extension for Chrome?

Yes. A picture-in-picture extension gives you a miniplayer that works on all tabs. Picture in Picture for Videos pops the playing video into a floating window with one click on its toolbar icon.

Why is the YouTube miniplayer not working?

Usually the video is not in focus when you press i, a browser extension has changed the player, or you are on a Shorts or embedded player that has no miniplayer. Click the video once, then press i, or use picture-in-picture instead.