How to use sierra’s picture in picture mode with netflix youtube and other unsupported sites

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Enable Picture-In-Picture (PiP) For Netflix In macOS Sierra, Here’s How

Here’s how to enable Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode for Netflix and other unsupported video services in macOS Sierra.

Now that everyone has had a day or so to install macOS Sierra, users are starting to get to grips with the new features that it brings to the table. One of those new features is Picture-in-Picture mode which takes video content in iTunes and the supported video services in Safari and pops it out into a floating Window which can sit atop any app the user may have open.

It’s a super useful addition for anyone that needs to follow video instructions when learning an app, for example, and mimics the same feature which came to iOS 9 last year for the iPad. Unfortunately however, not all web-based video services offer this PiP mode right on the face of things, and Netflix among others is the biggest platforms included in that list.

Luckily, this being the Internet, there is always someone with an answer to these kinds of thing, a free Safari extension has been made available which brings Sierra’s PiP functionality to Netflix and some other unsupported services, saving the day for all of us that use those services. That, surely, is most of us!

Created by Developer Arno Appenzeller, PiPifier can be downloaded for free from GitHub and used at will, and while some hoops do need to be jumped through to get the thing working, it’s a grand start indeed. Here’s what needs to be done.

Step 1: First off, PiPifier needs to be downloaded from GitHub.

Step 2: Once downloaded and installed, open Safari, then click on Preferences and finally Extensions.

Step 3: Enable PiPifier by ticking the checkbox.

Step 4: A toolbar icon for activating PIP will now be visible within Safari. If it doesn’t, you might need to restart Safari in order for the extension to be fully loaded.

That’s all there is to it. The developer does note that HTML5 videos do need to be interacted with in order for the extension to pick them up, so auto-playing videos for example will need to be paused and then played again before PiPifier can get to work. Beyond that, PiP should work just the same as it does for other sources of video. And all for free!

For YouTube and other supported video services, we have already covered a separate post. For more on that, check out our post here: Picture-In-Picture (PiP) In macOS Sierra For YouTube And Other Videos, Here’s How To Enable It.

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For Sierra users and above

‘Picture in picture’ mode has long been available for a number of devices except for the Apple Mac. If you don’t already know what it is, it is a mode that allows you to play a video (or any other content for that matter) in a window that floats over your existing app windows. You can watch your favorite videos while you work with other apps on your machine.

When Apple announced macOS Sierra, things changed. They brought in the ‘picture in picture’ mode with this version of macOS. So if you happen to be running at least macOS Sierra, you can use PiP mode and watch your favorite cartoons, TED talks, or any other video while you work.

Unlike many other features, you cannot turn this mode on from System Preferences or any other panel on your Mac. Instead, you’ll have to follow a specific procedure to use the mode with your favorite service on your machine. Fortunately, it is fairly easy.

Use ‘Picture in Picture’ Mode for YouTube Videos

If there’s one thing that I’d like to enable the mode on first, it is YouTube. With millions of videos available on the platform, it has pretty much any video you’d like to watch in a floating browser on your Mac. Turning the PiP mode on this platform is only a matter of a few clicks.

To get started, head over to YouTube and play the video you would like to use the PiP mode with. When the video page opens and the video starts to play, right-click on the video but don’t select anything from the menu that pops-up on your screen.

Right-click once again in any blank area on the video and you’ll see a new menu on your screen. Select Picture in Picture from this menu. The video will detach from your screen and it will appear as a floating window.

You may drag the video and place it on any part of your screen so it fits well with other apps you are working on. You can even resize the window by hovering your cursor over the corners of the window and dragging the corners outwards.

To disable the mode, simply click on the icon appearing at the bottom-right corner of the video window. You’ll be back to the YouTube website.

Use ‘Picture in Picture’ Mode for Vimeo Videos

Unlike YouTube, Vimeo doesn’t offer the option to enable PiP mode by right-clicking on a video. However, the option is available if you use the Safari browser to access the site.

If you are willing to change your browser from Chrome or any other browser to Safari, you get the option to use the PiP mode for Vimeo videos. The following is how it works in Safari on a Mac.

Launch Safari on your Mac and head over to the Vimeo website. Search for and play a video.

As soon as the video begins to play, you’ll find an icon for PiP mode at the bottom-right corner of the video. Click on it and it will turn the video into a floating window for you.

When you’ve finished watching the video, click on the icon in the video window and it will close the floating browser, and take you back to the Vimeo website.

Watch Netflix in ‘Picture in Picture’ Mode on Mac

If you haven’t been able to finish your favorite series on Netflix because you were overloaded with work, you can now do both watch the series in a floating window and continue with work.

To get started, you need to install a Safari extension from the App Store. Netflix, unfortunately, doesn’t happen to be one of the sites natively supporting macOS’ PiP mode, so you’ll need to use a third-party extension.

Head over to the Mac App Store and download and install the PiPifier extension on your Mac. Launch the app once it’s installed, although there really isn’t anything you need to configure in the app. Move onto the next step to learn how to use the app with Safari.

Launch Safari on your Mac, click on the Safari menu at the top, select Preferences, and then head to the Extensions tab.

Check the checkbox next to PiPifier Button.

Head over to Netflix and log into your account if you aren’t already. Play the video of your choice, pause the video, and then play it again. You must interact with the video at least once for the PiPifier extension to work.

Then click on the extension icon located at the top and your video will come out of your current Safari window.

Watch iTunes Videos In a Floating Window

iTunes is built by Apple so it is obvious it is going to natively support macOS’ picture in picture mode. Enabling the mode in the app takes only one click and here’s how to do it.

Launch iTunes and select and play any of your videos. When the video starts to play, you’ll notice a small icon with an arrow in it at the bottom-right corner of the video.

Click on it and you’ll have your video playing on top of your app windows.

Play Local Videos & Videos From Other Sites In PiP Mode

If you’ve got your videos locally stored on your Mac and they aren’t yet added to iTunes, you can still play them in a floating window on your machine.

To do the task, you can use an app called Helium that allows you to play local files as well as websites in floating windows on your Mac.

Get the app installed from the Mac App Store on your machine. Launch the app, click on Location at the top, and choose one of the two available options:

• Open Web URL – it’ll let you open a website in a floating window
• Open File – it’ll let you open a local file stored on your Mac

Depending on what option you’ve chosen, the app will show your content in a window that floats across your screen. And just like any other windows, you can drag it to any location you want and you can even resize it if you want it bigger or smaller than its original size.

Conclusion

If you’re a multi-tasker and you don’t want to miss out on your entertainment while you work, you can enable picture in picture mode which will continue to feed you with your favorite content overlapping your work windows.

Mahesh has been obsessed with technology since he got his first gadget a decade or so ago. Over the last few years, he’s written a number of tech articles on various online publications including but not limited to MakeTechEasier and Android AppStorm. Read Mahesh’s Full Bio

Picture in Picture, also known as PIP or Pop-out Video, is a web browser feature that lets you “pop out” videos in a floating window. Here’s how to use it.

Published on August 7, 2020 – By Team Vivaldi – 5404 views

Picture in Picture mode comes in handy when you want to multitask in your web browser. Learn how to use it efficiently and you are already improving your workflow!

With Picture in Picture mode, you can pop out HTML5 videos in a floating window above your other windows and tabs.

While the video plays, you can continue working, studying, and generally browsing. You can resize and move the always-on-top PIP window wherever you like on your screen.

How do I use Picture in Picture or PIP?

If you are sold on trying Picture in Picture mode, you are probably thinking to yourself “But how do I use PIP”?

• Picture in Picture mode comes in very useful when you want to do things simultaneously. For example, you can pop out a cool YouTube video or follow a live game while engaging on social media or getting some work done.
• You can use PIP for work and study too. You could, for instance, watch a training video while keeping an eye on Slack, or you could have a study video playing while taking notes on the side.

Today, most web browsers offer some sort of implementation based on a standard Picture in Picture Web API.

However, to use Picture in Picture mode out-of-the-box in web browsers such as Chrome you need the specific website to have implemented Picture in Picture support first. Some websites such as Twitch have done this but many others, such as Vimeo and Netflix, have not. Even YouTube doesn’t have this by default.

This is where Vivaldi browser stands out. It has a dedicated Pop-out Video button that makes it possible to use Picture in Picture even if a website has not implemented support for it. Picture in Picture would still work. We show you how below.

How do I launch Picture in Picture?

Launching PIP is super easy.

Vivaldi browser’s implementation has come a long way since Pop-out Video was first introduced two years ago. Initially hidden behind menus and extra clicks, it now offers one of the most fluent and complete web browser implementations.

This button is enabled by default. If you don’t use Picture in Picture, go to Settings > Webpages and disable “Picture in Picture Button on Videos”.

Another way to launch Picture in Picture mode is to right-click on the video and select Picture in Picture from the context menu. For certain sites, such as YouTube, this is not yet possible via their custom context menu. In that case, double right-click to reveal the context menu with the Picture in Picture option.

The floating window remains active even if you change the active tab.

How do I make Picture in Picture bigger?

When you use Picture in Picture, you may want to make the PIP window bigger or smaller by resizing it. To resize, first open the video in Picture in Picture mode, then drag from the top or sides.

At the moment, you can drag the window to cover roughly one-quarter of the screen.

The aspect ratio of the window doesn’t change.

In addition to resizing the window, you can position it anywhere you like on the screen.

How do I control the video in Picture in Picture mode?

Once you’ve resized and positioned the video to your liking, you’ll be looking for ways to control the video in Picture in Picture mode. Our Pop-out Video implementation has some of the most robust video controls out there.

Watching videos is as easy and intuitive as it can be. Once the video is open in a pop-out, with a single click you can:

• Skip ahead or go back in the video by clicking on the progress bar or using the left and right arrow keys while the video is in focus.
• Pause the video.
• Mute/unmute.
• Return to the main window.
• Close the pop-out.

If you’re watching a video that’s part of a playlist you’ll also see forward and back buttons, letting you skip tracks or go back to something that caught your fancy.

Can I pop out YouTube videos?

When you use Picture in Picture mode, you can pop out YouTube videos easily with Vivaldi browser’s implementation.

To launch a YouTube video in Picture in Picture mode, hover the mouse cursor over the video you’d like to watch and click on the Pop-out Video button.

If you prefer to launch PIP via YouTube’s context menu, make sure you double right-click to reveal the context menu first.

How do I pop out Netflix?

To bring up the pop out window in Netflix, hover the mouse cursor over the video and simply click the Pop-out Video button that will appear at the top. Resize and position the Picture in Picture player to your liking but note that subtitles don’t yet work with the feature.

Picture in Picture trivia

Picture in Picture was first used on TV before the web even existed. It was first seen during the opening ceremony of the 1976 Olympics when a close-up of the Olympic flame was shown as an overlay.

40 years later – in 2016 – Picture in Picture debuted on the web when Safari browser released a similar functionality in macOS Sierra.

Ready to try out Pop-out Video? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Dear ladies and gentleman,

After the last update of High Sierra, I have a major issue with my 2017 MacBook Pro. As soon as I start a video in safari, or one of my purchased movies in iTunes, the system becomes choppy.

The iTunes movies don’t play at all and in videos in Safari, becomes choppy. The mouse and my keystrokes and the video playing halt for a moment before continuing briefly, before doing it again, and so on.

If I want to play Netflix in Safari I get error code: S7363-1260-FFFFD089

If I play Netflix in Google chrome, it works however.

These are the things I have done so far, but to no avail:

-Chatted with Apple support and followed their instructions, but they could not solve the problem unfortunately

-Clean install of MacOS 10.13.5

-Added another user, but the issue remains

-Started up in safe mode and checked activity monitor, but there was nothing special to see

-Emptied the cache in safari (developer tools)

-Change the user agent in developer tools in safari

I probably did a few more things to try to solve the problem, but I can’t remember them at this moment.

Does anyone have the same issues? Was somebody able to solve it?

Thanks so much for your help!

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, 2 TBT3), macOS High Sierra (10.13.5)

Posted on Jun 12, 2018 11:48 AM

Helpful answers

• Helpful answers
• All replies

**HDCP Errors iTunes\Safari fix**

*You had to reset the PRAM on your Mac for whatever reason

*iTunes movies won’t play. You either get a black playback window or an error related to HDCP.

*Hulu and Netflix movies won’t play within the Safari browser.

*YouTube is unaffected by this.

*Hulu and Netflix still play within Chrome web browser.

*Windows 10 (VM nor Bootcamp) are unaffected by this bug

*Boot into Recovery Mode on your Mac (command+R)

*Open terminal and type in the command EXACTLY as written:

and then press RETURN

It will go back to the prompt. Type reboot and RETURN.

Use this information at your own risk. If this sort of thing makes you uncomfortable, perhaps you should contact Apple support directly and have them walk you through this.

If you have to reset your PRAM again for any reason, this will have to be done again in order to restore functionality. Apple is aware of this and will likely provide some sort of update to perminantly fix this.

This is truly a workaround, not a fix. But it should provide you a fully functional Mac in the mean time

If this does not work for you. Please try this again and triple check what you have typed. This command is case sensitive and it will NOT throw up an error or success message to let you know the result.

Good luck and good day.

Aug 23, 2018 5:50 PM

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I got exactly the issue described. All the resetting, clean install won’t help. Apple support kind of clueless. With Firefox the same issue. Chrome works but I believe the quality is lower. On top most of the sites I get choppy video playback with Safari.

Jun 16, 2018 3:09 PM

Please run Etrecheck and post its report here.

It is possible there is an issue with a Safari extension or some other software installed. Do you have any antivirus installed?

Jun 16, 2018 3:22 PM

I have the same issue.

Also during some live streams:

The media playback was aborted due to a corruption problem or because the media used features your browser did not support.

Chrome and firefox ok.

I tested Sierra, High Sierra ***

Same problem. Also choppy video Itunes.

Finally concluded that security update 2018-003 causes this, updating new video drivers.

Video driver settings are flashed in a chip. So rollback, clean install does not resolve.

Nothing to do with EFI file settings.

All working now.

Succes.
[Edited by Host]

Sep 22, 2018 1:09 PM

Got the computer replaced and did all updates till 10.13.4. I you don’t mind if you are certain Apple has resolved this mess please post it. I would love to update.

Jun 23, 2018 8:56 AM

Hi, I just started having the same issue and getting the same error message on Netflix. I am on a 2016 iMac running 11.1.1 on Safari. Like you, I followed all the trouble shooting steps recommended by Netflix to no avail. Then I called Netflix and talked with tech support: I was told that they are aware of this issue and that they are currently working on a fix. Don’t have an estimate of how long that will take. The problem is only confined to mac systems and not ipads/TVs.

Jun 29, 2018 10:38 PM

I read a while ago that the problem can’t be solved at operating system level because it resides in the EFI files. The Genius guys or phone support can’t do it either. On an updated computer you can run Chrome or Firefox and it works well. I noted a slightly better quality on Firefox. I am waiting to find out if Apple has resolved the issue before updating as I was lucky enough to get the MacBook Pro replaced and did the updates up tp 10.13.4. Works perfectly. Apple has no feedback from the consumer issues because their service does not communicate with the engineering so it might take a while until resolved. Please not the issue in my case includes choppy video on many sites, amazon prime and Netflix.

Jun 30, 2018 12:41 AM

Got this problems too on my iMac 5K Late 2015, MacBook Pro Mid 2015, MacBook 2016. I am watching a lot of videos and took notice as soon as I upgraded to 10.13.5. This is obviously related to the new release.

By the way, this also affects the camera display of FaceTime. Some video problems in general maybe?

Jun 30, 2018 9:44 PM

I have exactly the same problem with Safari 11.1.1 on High Sierra 10.13.5. Youtube is working just fine. I can’t check on Netflix because I’m not a subscriber. But all the other live stream sites. Especially local TV websites here in Germany.

And I just found out that if Javascript is running on the website which playing or streaming thing, it starts like ****. For example, on google.com website, I translated a word, and hit pronounce. It happens. Today I visited reddit.com, it started again. I think because of auto-playing gifs, video or whatever connected with Javascript, . Because when I disable Javascript on developer menu, everything is smooth. But we know that we can’t live without Javascript on the web.

I’m so looking forward having a newer version of Graphic firmware stated above. MacBook Pro Touch Bar 2016, High Sierra is just fresh installed because of this madness.

For some, one of the coolest new features in iOS 14 is the Picture in Picture mode, which had previously only been available on the iPad. With it, you can continue watching a video from an app in an interactive floating overlay window on the home screen or within other apps. But for others, it can be annoying when it appears unexpectedly all of the time, and there’s a way to stop it.

Let’s say you’re watching a video using full-screen mode in an app that supports Picture in Picture. If you don’t want to watch it anymore — whether that’s because you want to check your email, chat with someone, browse your home screen, or whatever — your gut reaction may be to close the app while the video is still playing. Whenever you do that, PiP will kick in automatically.

That will happen in apps like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO, Netflix, Hulu, and FaceTime, as well as in web browsers like Safari, Chrome, and Edge. PiP may be a godsend to some when it comes to multitasking, but to others, perhaps even you, it can be a distraction when PiP is triggered without you wanting it to be.

Instead of trying to change your habits (stopping the video before exiting the app will prevent PiP mode from starting), you can disable PiP from activating whenever you close an app with a playing video. Then, whenever you want to use Picture in Picture, you must enable it manually on your iPhone.

How Picture in Picture Works

To reiterate, Picture in Picture works automatically in iOS 14.0 and later on any iPhone that supports the operating system. To start it up, play a video in any compatible media player. Then, you can either tap the PiP button in the player’s controls (if available) or close the app (swipe up on Face ID models or use the Home button) while the content is still playing.

A floating overlay window will continue playing the video, which you can then move around the screen. You can also resize it by pinching in or out on the window or double-tapping it. On the PiP overlay, you’ll find buttons to pause the video, return to full screen, and close the window. To hide it but still here it, just swipe the window to the left or right off the screen.

Disable Picture in Picture from Working Automatically

Open the Settings app, tap “General,” then choose “Picture in Picture.” By default, “Start PiP Automatically” is enabled, so toggle the switch off to prevent it from happening all of the time. That’s all there is to it.

How PiP Works When Auto-Play Is Disabled

With “Start PiP Automatically” disabled, try it out. When you attempt to leave a supported app while you’re playing a video, the video will stop, and no floating overlay will appear — just like in previous versions of iOS.

Manually Enable Picture in Picture for Videos

Picture in Picture is not disabled entirely, just from starting automatically. Now, whenever you do want to watch a video in PiP mode, you need to trigger it manually. When you’re playing a video, simply tap on the PiP button, which looks like a minimize icon. That will enable PiP and allow you to exit the app while watching the video in the floating overlay.

The PiP button in a player may look different depending on the app’s developer. For instance, Apple TV, HBO Max, and Vudu all have different PiP icons.

However, some third-party apps that support PiP mode in iOS 14 omit the PiP button from their players. For instance, Netflix hides the control in its player. So you may need to toggle “Start PiP Automatically” temporarily in those instances. If it still doesn’t work in the app after that, the app either never supported PiP mode, or it removed support for it.

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Written by Friendly App Studio

• Category: Entertainment
• Release date: 2020-12-31
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1. Friendly Streaming includes a powerful native player to play local videos in Picture-in-Picture mode and make video adjustments.

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3. It is not associated or affiliated with Netflix, Inc, YouTube, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, Prime Video or any other streaming service you browse using this app.

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Features and Description

Key Features

Latest Version: 5.8

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What does Friendly Streaming Browser do? Friendly Streaming is an elegant and minimalistic multitasking browser. Our powerful Picture-in-Picture, floating window mode, and transparency settings, make it a multitasker’s dream browser. ▶ PlAY VIDEOS WHILE YOU WORK View your work, alongside your media content from places like YouTube, Netflix, Vimeo, Hulu and more. Our Universal Picture-in-Picture works with most sites (unlike Safari, Chrome or Firefox). Suddenly it’s also possible to make new creations in Photoshop while following along to an online tutorial. It’s possible to scroll through social media while watching a video on the side. Maybe even watch Netflix all day long, while your boss thinks you are working. ▶ MONITOR WEBSITES WHILE YOU WORK Friendly Streaming works just like any other normal browser, except that it’s floating on top of all other windows, and can be adjusted to be transparent. You’ll keep finding new uses for it. Monitoring stock quotes, keeping up with your Twitter feed or work slack channels. The possibilities are endless. ▶ SIMPLE WINDOW AND VIDEO ADJUST With Friendly Streaming, you can adjust the brightness, saturation, contrast, and transparency on any web page or video stream, in a few easy steps. ▶ NATIVE VIDEO PLAYER Friendly Streaming includes a powerful native player to play local videos in Picture-in-Picture mode and make video adjustments. Supported formats include: MPEG, AVI, ASF, WMV, WMA, MP4, MOV, 3GP, OGG, Real, WAV, FLV. This allow anyone who has videos on a shared drive to enjoy all our browser multitasking features. ————————————————– Friendly Streaming is a third-party video browser. It is not associated or affiliated with Netflix, Inc, YouTube, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, Prime Video or any other streaming service you browse using this app. ————————————————–

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• Forums
• Macs
• macOS
• macOS Big Sur (11)

Hammer God

macrumors newbie

• Nov 13, 2020

I’m having a video stutter issue in Big Sur on my early 2015 Macbook Pro. Happens in Safari mostly, but also in Chrome. Basically, the audio plays, but the picture stutters.

In Safari, it happens with videos embedded in Twitter. Also in videos at YouTube.com. Also in movies on Netflix.

In Chrome, I am able to watch Netflix. YouTube videos also seem to play okay. But videos embedded in Twitter don’t play.

For the life of me, I can’t figure out the pattern here.

Tried Apple chat support, but they didn’t have an obvious solution, and I didn’t have the time to stay online with them to try everything they wanted. May have to circle back to that when I have hours to devote to this.

Anyway see this issue?

dartheide

macrumors newbie

• Nov 14, 2020

Aj6658

macrumors newbie

• Nov 15, 2020

Capeto

macrumors 6502

• Nov 15, 2020

Having the same issue on my Early 2015 MBP 13″. Video on YouTube only moves one frame every few seconds, but audio is fine. Makes YouTube pretty much unusable.

1. On Safari, go to Preferences > Advanced, and check the box at the very bottom, “Show Develop menu in menu bar”
2. Now on the Menu Bar, go to Develop > Experimental Features and disable “VP9 decoder”
3. Restart Safari
4. Go to Develop > Experimental Features and re-enable “VP9 decoder”; also enable “VP9 SW decoder on battery”
5. Restart Safari
6. YouTube should work now! If you want to hide Develop in the menu bar, go back to Preferences > Advanced and uncheck the box we checked in step 1

Wando64

macrumors 65816

• Nov 18, 2020

Having the same issue on my Early 2015 MBP 13″. Video on YouTube only moves one frame every few seconds, but audio is fine. Makes YouTube pretty much unusable.

1. On Safari, go to Preferences > Advanced, and check the box at the very bottom, “Show Develop menu in menu bar”
2. Now on the Menu Bar, go to Develop > Experimental Features and disable “VP9 decoder”
3. Restart Safari
4. Go to Develop > Experimental Features and re-enable “VP9 decoder”; also enable “VP9 SW decoder on battery”
5. Restart Safari
6. YouTube should work now! If you want to hide Develop in the menu bar, go back to Preferences > Advanced and uncheck the box we checked in step 1

porsena

macrumors newbie

• Nov 18, 2020

dejayou

macrumors newbie

• Nov 18, 2020

Wando64

macrumors 65816

• Nov 18, 2020

Serge.

macrumors newbie

• Nov 20, 2020

kneedeepinlife

macrumors newbie

• Nov 20, 2020

I signed up just to say that I experienced this problem, too, but I was able to solve it by clearing PRAM/NVRAM.

Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac

My system: MacBook Pro 13″ Early 2015; Core i5 2.7 GHz, MacOS Big Sur 11.0.1

Problem: Stuttering gif and video playback on all websites. Issue present in Chrome (87.0.4280.67), Safari (14.0.1), Firefox (83.0 (64-bit))

Solution (for me at least): Clear PRAM/NVRAM

vasilisdmr

macrumors newbie

• Nov 21, 2020

The situation, which I faced was that the audio kept on playing, but the video was frozen!
In the same time the whole system seemed to be frozen!

As Wando64 said in his comment, I tried disabling the ‘VP9 Decoder’ and everything seems to return to normality.

I am pasting the following in which there is pretty much the same problem posted in apple’s developer section.
unable to play YouTube videos

Capeto

macrumors 6502

• Dec 1, 2020

elementalwingma

macrumors newbie

• Dec 2, 2020

zevrix

macrumors newbie

• Dec 3, 2020

It looks like something is going on with videos on Big Sur. But I don’t think it’s related to Safari – as I don’t use Safari at all (Edge/Chrome).

Here’s what I experience on iMac 2017, 27″, 40 GB RAM:

There are no issues if I just play YouTube videos

BUT things go wrong once I attempt to play a video uploaded from my phone (Samsung A50 but the make sure doesn’t make any difference). The problem starts once I attempt to play the video in any form: in any browser, QuickTime or VLC:

-The video stutters while audio plays well

-YouTube videos also start stuttering

-The entire system performance goes to hell (sluggish menus, slow actions, slow scrolling etc.) Had to restart several times to restore performance while testing the videos.

-There was no issues on Catalina. There are no issues with the same videos on MacBook Pro with High Sierra and Catalina.

On Big Sur, the same problem starts every time I attempt to play any of the videos from my phone.

Picture-in-picture mode on Chromebooks is almost identical to the one found on Android phones. Once activated, it transforms your video into a small window so you can do other things while watching. But the Chrome OS version is actually a bit better thanks to the addition of an Android 11 feature.

Devices running the latest version of Chrome OS can adjust the size of the floating video player. You can increase the size to nearly double its original proportions. No longer do you need to struggle to see your video on a 10 or 12-inch display. While this feature has been around since Chrome OS 69, these instructions are based on Chrome OS 78 or newer with the stable version of PiP mode.

Step 1: Enable Picture-in-Picture Mode

To enable PiP mode in the first place, start playing a video in any supported app, then minimize the video player window while it’s playing. This can be done by pressing Alt and the minus symbol if you’re in Desktop Mode, or by performing a long-swipe from the bottom of your screen if you’re in tablet mode.

Step 2: Adjust the Size

With PiP activated, tap the window to reveal a series of icons. In one of the corners (usually the top-left edge), you will a two diagonal white lines. Drag this corner outward to adjust the size of the PiP mode.

It will get as big as twice the original dimensions, but you can also stop at any point along the way when you’re happy with the size.

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New to Fios?

Get more out of your Fios services (Internet, TV, and Apps). For additional information visit Welcome to Fios.

Getting help is easy on Fios TV. Using your Fios remote, turn to Channel 131 for:

• Interactive learning
• How to videos
• Self-help tools
• Check your bill balance, and more

Where can I get additional help with my Fios TV?

Getting started with Fios TV is easy, once you complete the installation or activation process:

• Using your Fios remote turn your TV to Channel 131, Fios Learning On Demand where support is available 24 hours, 7 days a week

You can learn about common Fios TV settings to use with different services and options available. Using your Fios remote, press:

• Menu > Customer Support > Getting Started, select from the following options:
  • Introduction videos
  • Get to Know Fios
  • My Dashboard
  • Getting Started
  • Special Offers

You can also find solutions online by visiting the Support homepage or in the My Fios app.

Don’t have the My Fios app?

What’s the difference between the Verizon apps?

The Fios TV Mobile app takes care of all your entertainment needs, letting you watch Fios TV using a wireless internet connection.

The My Fios app lets you easily manage all your Verizon account information.

Each app allows you to access the other without exiting:

• In the Fios TV Mobile app go to Settings > Preferences > Share Log-in Info With My Fios, turn feature On
• In the My Fios app select the navigation menu in the upper right corner, select Fios TV Mobile app

Don’t have the Fios TV app or the My Fios app?

How can I change my Fios TV plan/package?

Verizon makes it easy to change your plan/package. You can make any changes to your Fios TV and DVR services by:

• Using your Fios TV remote, press Menu > Customer Support > Getting Started > Special Offers
• Signing into My Verizon
• Using the My Fios app
• Going online to Fios Plans and Channels

Don’t have the My Fios app?

How can I prevent access/purchases of content or widgets/apps?

You can use Parental Controls and/or Purchase Controls to block access to content, block purchases/transactions on your Set-top box, or to block widgets/apps.

Parental Controls feature allows you to:

• Use ratings to block what content can be viewed
• Use age preferences to block content for a particular age group
• Control the display of programming and information
• Block specific channels
• Block access or creation of new subscriptions for specific widgets/apps

You can get more details on the Parental and Purchase Controls support page.

How can I see available channels in my area?

You can view and compare available channel plans in your area and other areas online.

How can I get a copy of the self-installation instructions?

If you’ve misplaced your user guide, you can download the appropriate guide below:

If you need to install and/or activate your service, sign into My Verizon or the My Fios app to get your Fios up and running with easy step-by-step instructions. The self-install tool can be found on the dashboard once you sign in.

Don’t have an account?

Don’t have the My Fios app?

How do I change the video format settings?

To change the Fios TV video format settings on your Fios Set-top Box, using your Fios remote press:

• Menu > Settings > Audio & Video > Video Format > Select the appropriate format that you want to use

Note: Currently, the highest display resolution for broadcast TV is 1080i (interlaced) and 1080p (progressive). You can choose between 16:9 (Cinema) or 4:3 (standard) mode.

Understanding Display Resolutions:

• Picture Quality indicates how many horizontal scan lines can be painted onto the TV screen. The higher the number the better picture quality you can expect from your video source, for example:
  • 1080
  • 720
• Picture Scan
  • Progressive scan (p) – sends the odd and even video frames together to the TV screen
  • Interlaced scan (i) – sends the even rows then the odd rows to the TV screen
• Generally, a 1080p video source has a smoother picture than 1080i video source
  • HDTV is broadcast in either 1080i or 720p
  • Consumer products available for 1080p viewing are for things like video game consoles, HD DVD, or Blu-Ray disks

Why am I not seeing any video on my TV?

There are several reasons why you may not be receiving Fios video reception, such as:

• electrical issues
• incorrect channel setting, channel 3 or 4
• HDMI connection, verify cables are properly connected to the desired input/source and the correct input/source is selected on your TV
• Set-top Box update needed, generally you get a notice on your TV screen when an update takes place

You can also fix issues by using our Guided Solution Tool to help with On Demand issues.

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MacOS High Sierra was never meant to be truly transformative. As we covered in our preview of Apple’s new desktop OS, it’s mostly focused on refining its predecessor, last year’s Sierra. At the same time, it also lays the groundwork for bigger changes down the line. Since there’s not much you’ll actually notice, and barely anything has changed since we published our extensive preview, we won’t be doing a full review of the new OS. But with High Sierra officially launching today, it’s worth highlighting the handful of notable features.

A better Safari

Apple claims that Safari 11 in High Sierra is the world’s fastest web browser. My testing with the JetStream benchmark confirmed that it was faster than both Chrome and Firefox on my MacBook Air. Safari clocked in with a score of 176.8, while the other two browsers came in around 129 (and yes, higher is better). Even so, I still found myself relying on the other browsers most of the time. Some of Google’s services, like Hangouts, work only on Chrome. And Firefox is typically the browser I use for dealing with anything related to work (it’s helpful having two browsers open at once for managing multiple Google accounts). While Safari tended to load some sites faster, that wasn’t enough to make me switch over.

As for other tweaks, Safari 11 mutes autoplaying web videos by default, which should help bring some peace as more sites push unwanted video on their readers. You can also enable the cleaner “Reader” mode automatically for specific sites, or have it automatically turn on for every website that supports the feature. That’s something you can do only with Chrome through settings hacks or by installing third-party extensions. Apple also claims Safari will let you browse the web for two hours longer than the other two browsers, as well as watch Netflix for four hours longer.

Photos upgrades

As we covered in our preview piece, the Photos app got a slew of tweaks. But after testing the OS for the past few months, I ended up appreciating the new Live Photos capabilities the most. Just like in iOS 11, you can now turn Live Photos into short animated clips that resemble GIFs. You can choose from Loop, which just repeats the clip; Bounce, which moves it back and forth in time; and Long Exposure, a unique effect that mimics the dreamy photos you can get by manipulating exposure settings on bigger cameras. They’re not groundbreaking effects, but they finally make Live Photos seem useful rather than a waste of space.

All of other Photos upgrades from iOS 11 also show up in High Sierra. That includes smarter people-recognition (which can sync across all of your iCloud-connected devices), more automatic Memories options and a wider assortment of photo filters. Another helpful upgrade: Third-party companies can now create extensions for Photos, which allows you to do things like prepare photo books without leaving the app.

VR support

Thanks to Metal 2, Apple’s updated graphics API, macOS can finally handle virtual reality. Right now, it’s limited to the HTC Vive using SteamVR — sorry, Oculus Rift fans. And, just like with typical games, not every title supports Macs yet. Sure, it’s very much early days for VR on Macs, but at least it’s possible now with High Sierra.

We didn’t have any beefy Macs to test out the OS’s VR capabilities, unfortunately. As we’ve noted before, figuring out which Macs can actually support VR is surprisingly confusing. But at least High Sierra also brings support for external GPU docks, which means you can conceivably upgrade any Thunderbolt-equipped Mac with faster graphics capabilities.

Metal 2 should also make High Sierra more efficient at rendering windows and typical UI elements, especially if you have a decent dedicated GPU. I didn’t notice much of a difference on my 2014 MacBook Air as I tested the new OS over the past few months.

Wrapping up

A few other points worth noting:

• Apple made a big deal about its upgraded Apple File System when it first announced High Sierra, but I didn’t notice much of a difference as I was testing the OS. Surprisingly, the company also dropped support for APFS on hybrid Fusion drives — at this point it only works on SSDs.
• Siri brings over its improved voice and DJ abilities that we first saw in iOS 11.
• You can now check on your airline flight status right from the Spotlight search bar.

We always knew High Sierra was going to be an iterative update for Apple, but I’m surprised by how few visible changes there are. It’s tough to tell you’ve even upgraded from Sierra unless you peek at your system’s settings. Together with a similarly humdrum iOS 11 update (unless you’re on an iPad), it seems like Apple was more focused on its new hardware this year than its software.