For a while, Google Meet has allowed desktop users to use a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, as long as they are using their Web browserThis allows them to check other websites while still watching the video streams of the calls. To improve the feature and make it more intuitive, Google is removing the need for manual user input. So, when a user switches to a different Chrome tab, Google’s video conferencing service It should now automatically activate PiP mode.
Google has announced that its Meet service will no longer require Chrome users to press the PiP button every time they want to use the feature. Instead, the mode will activate on its own whenever a desktop user views a different tab. The company stated:
Picture-in-picture mode will now automatically activate when you switch tabs during a meeting. Previously, you had to manually turn this feature on during a meeting. This simple, yet impactful update will help ensure your meeting remains visible and accessible if you need to switch tabs to take notes, view meeting-related documents, and more.
Support for automatic PiP mode has started rolling out gradually to Rapid Release domains, with Scheduled Release domains starting September 10. The company notes that the feature could take up to 15 days to appear and will work with all account types, including personal and Workspace accounts. The only notable prerequisite for this feature is using Chrome on your desktop computer.
If you’re not happy with the PiP window appearing automatically when you switch tabs, you can easily revert to the manual behavior. All you have to do is press the “View site info” button in Chrome’s URL bar, then disable the “Automatic picture-in-picture” option.