Comprehensive Guide to Enable Picture-In-Picture Controls and Progress Bar in Google Chrome Desktop

Essential Information

• Google Chrome is gradually enhancing its Picture-in-Picture (PiP) controls, introducing improved navigation options and a progress bar.
• Currently, the useful progress bar feature in PiP is only available on Chrome Canary, though the revamped controls can be activated in the stable version of Chrome.
• To activate the updated PiP controls on both Chrome Canary and the stable version, enable the chrome flag labeled Video picture-in-picture controls update 2024.
• When compared to Google Chrome, browsers like Opera and Firefox provide far superior PiP window features, including controls for volume, track navigation, and rewind/fast forward functionalities.

In the realm of popular web browsers, Google Chrome’s Picture-in-Picture mode is often regarded as the least user-friendly. While Opera and Firefox present comprehensive media controls along with a progress bar in their PiP windows, Google Chrome’s desktop version still falls short with just a ‘Back to tab’, play/pause button, and a close (X) option — and nothing more!

Fortunately, improvements are on the horizon. Google Chrome is making strides to enhance its PiP window by integrating much-anticipated controls. Although still experimental and not fully rolled out to the stable version, these features can easily be activated through chrome flags. Here’s a step-by-step guide to enabling them.

Activating PiP Controls in Google Chrome

As the updated PiP controls are still in development, their rollout varies according to the version of Google Chrome you’re using.

The stable version of Chrome provides a play/pause function along with a new minimize option. The Canary version, however, includes these features plus a progress bar. Here’s how to enable these enhancements:

Activate PiP Controls in Google Chrome (Stable)

Step 1: Open Google Chrome. In a new tab, navigate to chrome://flags.

Step 2: Locate the flag Video picture-in-picture controls update 2024.

Step 3: Select Enabled from the drop-down menu next to it.

Step 4: Restart Google Chrome.

Step 5: Play any video. Click on the media control icon located at the top right of Chrome to open the PiP window.

Step 6: You will now see the enhanced controls in the PiP window, including the play/pause option, minimize button, and a ‘Back to tab’ button now situated in the upper right corner.

Activate PiP Controls and Progress Bar in Google Chrome (Canary)

Step 1: Open Google Chrome. In a new tab, navigate to chrome://flags.

Step 2: Find the flag Video picture-in-picture controls update 2024.

Step 3: Choose Enabled from the menu next to it.

Step 4: Restart Google Chrome.

Step 5: Play any video. Access the media control icon in the top right corner of Chrome and open the PiP window.

Step 6: You will now have access to updated controls in the PiP interface, which include the play/pause button, the minimize option, the relocated ‘Back to tab’ button, and a progress bar that allows for forward/backward navigation and track switching if multiple videos are queued.

Despite the gradual enhancements to Chrome’s PiP window controls, it is still significantly lagging behind competitors like Firefox and Opera.

A Comparison of Google Chrome’s PiP with Other Browsers

When it comes to PiP window media controls, both Opera and Firefox offer comprehensive features that facilitate seamless playback management from the compact video player.

In Firefox’s PiP window, you’ll enjoy not only a progress bar and a play/pause button but also options to rewind/fast forward by 5 seconds, a mute button, a full-screen function, and a standard back-to-tab option.

Conversely, Opera boasts an ‘Automatic pop-out video’ feature that opens videos in PiP mode automatically upon switching to another tab. It also includes a progress bar, volume controls, play/pause options, and a next track button.

While each of these browsers has implemented certain controls better than others, overall, they far outshine the capabilities of Google Chrome’s PiP window.

With the new experimental flags, Chrome is gradually attempting to catch up. We can only hope that it will soon introduce even basic media controls within its PiP window. Stay tuned as we provide updates on further developments!

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