Recording an iPhone or Android Screen While Picture-in-Picture Mode Is Active

Recording a mobile screen with picture-in-picture mode active

Picture-in-picture mode on both iOS and Android creates a genuinely specific screen recording problem — the PiP window may record inconsistently, appear at a different position than it was visually, or in some cases not capture at all depending on the content inside it.

PiP windows containing DRM-protected content won’t record

If the content playing in a PiP window is from a DRM-protected source — a streaming service, certain video apps — the same recording restriction covered in our DRM black screen guide applies here, meaning the PiP window may record as a black rectangle even while the main screen content records normally around it.

On iOS specifically: the built-in screen recorder handles PiP inconsistently

The iOS built-in screen recorder (via Control Center) and most third-party iPhone screen recorders handle PiP windows in ways that vary by iOS version and the specific app providing the PiP content — a PiP window from a FaceTime call may record fine, while one from a streaming app may black out or disappear from the recording entirely.

“A PiP window that records perfectly for one type of app content may black out completely for another — the difference usually comes down to whether the content inside the PiP window has DRM protection, not a problem with your recorder itself.”

On Android: results vary significantly by manufacturer

Android’s PiP recording behavior is affected by both the Android version and the device manufacturer’s own system modifications — a Samsung device running the same Android version as a Pixel may record PiP windows differently. Testing your specific device’s actual behavior before relying on it for important content is a more reliable approach than assuming consistent behavior across all Android devices.

As an alternative: record the screen before entering PiP mode

For content you specifically need to capture, starting the screen recording before switching any app into PiP mode and capturing the content at full screen, then switching to PiP mode only after the important content is captured, avoids the PiP recording limitation for that content entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the picture-in-picture window show as black in my screen recording?
Most likely the content inside the PiP window is DRM-protected — this causes the same black-rectangle recording behavior described in detail in our guide on DRM and screen recording, applied specifically to PiP windows.

Does iOS or Android record PiP windows reliably?
Inconsistently — behavior varies by iOS version, Android version, device manufacturer, and the specific app providing PiP content. Testing your specific device beforehand is more reliable than assuming consistent support.