Create Picture-in-Picture Video on Any Device

Updated 10 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes. You can create a picture-in-picture (PiP) video by placing one video as a smaller overlay on top of another, then resizing and positioning the overlay in a video editor. The exact steps depend on your device and editing app, but the basic process is the same on phones and computers.

What Picture-in-Picture Means in Video Editing

Picture-in-picture is a video composition in which two images appear at once: a main video fills most or all of the frame, while a second, smaller video sits over it. Common examples include a presenter speaking over a screen recording, a reaction video beside the clip being discussed, or a map inset over travel footage.

In editing, PiP is not the same as a playback window that floats above other apps. Playback PiP is a device or app feature for watching a video while doing something else. Creating a PiP video means editing and exporting a new video file with both images visible together.

How to Create a Picture-in-Picture Video

Most editors use a timeline with separate video tracks. The main footage goes on a lower track; the clip intended as the inset goes on a track above it. The editor composites the upper clip over the lower one, letting you change its size and location.

Start a project. Open a video editor and create a project with the aspect ratio and resolution you want, such as vertical video for a phone or widescreen video for a standard landscape project.
Add the main video. Import your background footage and place it on the primary or lower video track.
Add the inset clip. Import the second video and place it on a track above the main footage. Align its start and end with the portion of the main video where it should appear.
Resize and position it. Select the upper clip and use the preview’s transform handles or the editor’s size and position controls. Drag it to a corner or another clear area. Keep important faces, captions, and interface controls visible.
Adjust sound and timing. Set the volume of each clip deliberately. Trim or move the inset if it should appear only during part of the main video.
Preview and export. Watch the sequence at full size, check the edges and audio, then export in a format and resolution suitable for where you plan to share it.

Some mobile editors provide a button labeled “Overlay,” “Layer,” or “Picture in Picture.” The name varies, but it generally adds the selected clip above the main footage. If you do not see a dedicated PiP option, look for a multi-track timeline or an overlay tool.

Choose the Layout, Size, and Timing

A useful inset is large enough to understand but small enough not to compete with the main image. There is no universal percentage: a face may need more space than a small map or a simple reaction shot. Preview the composition on a phone-sized screen if viewers are likely to watch on phones.

Position: Choose a corner that does not cover essential action, labels, subtitles, or app controls. Check the entire clip, since important content may move into the area later.
Shape: A rectangular inset is common. Cropping can make a portrait clip fit a landscape frame, but it may cut off faces or objects. Preserve the original proportions unless you intentionally want a crop.
Duration: Keep the overlay visible for as long as it contributes useful information. A short, timed inset can be clearer than leaving it onscreen throughout.
Separation: A thin border or subtle shadow can distinguish the inset from busy footage, if the editor offers those controls. Avoid effects that make the small image difficult to see.

For example, a tutorial can show a full-screen software demonstration with a small presenter window. The presenter window should not cover the buttons being explained, and its audio should remain understandable without overpowering any narration from the screen recording.

Audio, Aspect Ratio, and Export

Video tracks are layered visually, but their audio may play together unless you mute, lower, or separate it. If both clips contain speech, overlapping voices can make the result hard to follow. Decide which voice is primary, reduce or mute the other track where appropriate, and listen to the exported file rather than relying only on the preview.

Project dimensions matter. A landscape project may place a vertical inset over a wide background, while a vertical project can make two simultaneous views feel cramped. Set the project format before careful positioning when possible; changing the aspect ratio later can move or crop elements. Export resolution controls the dimensions of the finished file, while frame rate should generally suit the source footage and intended project. An export cannot restore detail that was absent from the original video.

Common Problems and Fixes

The inset covers the wrong material: Move it, resize it, or keyframe its position if the editor supports motion over time. Scrub through the entire section to check for changing content underneath.
The overlay fills the screen: Confirm that the clip is on a track above the background, then use the transform or scale control to reduce its size. A “fit” control may preserve the whole image; a “fill” control may crop it.
Black bars or unexpected cropping appear: Compare the source clip’s shape with the project’s aspect ratio. Choose fit, crop, or a background treatment intentionally rather than stretching the image.
The audio sounds doubled: Check whether both clips’ sound is enabled. Lower or mute the track that should not be heard, and preview the transition between clips.
The exported video looks different: Check the export dimensions, aspect ratio, and selected quality. Also confirm that the inset was not partly outside the project frame.

Creating PiP Versus Watching PiP

These terms are easy to confuse. A phone or computer may offer a floating playback window that lets a person watch while using another app; that changes how video is viewed, not the video file itself. To make a shareable video with a permanent inset, use a video editor and export the completed composition. Availability of playback PiP depends on the device, app, and content, so it is not a substitute for editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a picture-in-picture video on my phone?
Yes. Use a mobile editor with an overlay or multi-track feature, add the main clip first, place the second clip above it, then resize, position, and export.

How do I put two videos side by side instead?
Use a split-screen layout or place the clips on separate areas of the canvas. PiP usually means one smaller image overlaps a larger one; side-by-side video gives each clip its own region.

Can I make the inset appear only for part of the video?
Yes. Trim the overlay clip’s start and end on the timeline. Editors with keyframes may also let you animate its size, location, or visibility.

Why is my picture-in-picture video blurry?
The inset may be enlarged beyond the detail available in its source footage, or the project or export resolution may be low. Use a higher-resolution source when available and avoid unnecessary enlargement.

Do I need a special camera for picture-in-picture?
No. PiP is typically created in editing software from two video clips. The camera records the footage; the editor combines the images.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.