WhatsApp has started rolling out picture-in-picture mode for iOS video calls. The new feature, first spotted by 9to5Mac, was introduced in December last year as a beta test and allows you to use other apps while your WhatsApp video call is on.
Similar to other apps, WhatsApp will minimise your video call to a small window allowing you to switch to another on your phone. That way, you’re able to multitask while still seeing the person you’re chatting with over the service.
If you have the most recent version of WhatsApp for iOS (23.3.77), you can use picture-in-picture mode, but it may take a while before it becomes available. The update includes a small number of other features, all of which will be rolled out by WhatsApp “over the coming weeks.”
Included in this update is the option to include a caption when sending a document, expanded description and topic fields for groups, and the introduction of custom avatars for use as stickers and profile pictures.
Note that Google included support for PiP mode in Android 8 (also known as Android Oreo) in 2017, while Apple didn’t do so until 2020 with the release of iOS 14. Support for PiP mode in third-party Android apps has been rolling out faster than on iOS; iOS users of YouTube only gained the ability to minimise video playback to a floating window in the second half of 2022.
Innovation Village also reported this month the introduction of new status capabilities on WhatsApp, including the ability to post your status to a select group of people, respond to another user’s status with an emoji, record a voice status, and more.
