Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

**Google Messages Brings Back Integrated Picture-in-Picture YouTube Viewer**

Google Messages previously offered an integrated picture-in-picture (PiP) YouTube viewer, allowing users to watch YouTube clips directly within the app while continuing their conversations. However, this convenient feature was discontinued in August 2024.

Earlier this year, signs emerged that Google was working to restore this functionality. In March, an APK teardown revealed evidence that the YouTube PiP code was making a return. Now, eight months later, the feature has begun rolling out to some Google Messages beta testers.

According to reports from Stephan on X, the PiP YouTube player in Messages is not only back but is fully operational for those with access. Unlike before, the PiP player is baked directly into the Messages app, meaning you don’t need to have the YouTube app installed separately to use it.

At present, the PiP interface is quite basic—users can pause and resume playback within the window. However, tapping to go fullscreen unlocks a richer interface, including a navigation bar and additional playback options. One limitation noted is that the PiP window does not yet persist when switching between apps, which may be related to testing on accounts without YouTube Premium access.

It’s important to note that not all YouTube beta accounts currently have access to this PiP feature, so testing remains limited. Still, the reappearance of the functionality in beta is a promising sign that we could see a public release soon, hopefully much sooner than the eight months it took to reach this stage.

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Stay tuned for more updates!
https://www.androidauthority.com/messages-youtube-pip-player-3613751/