I've had this problem for a while, and despite extensive googling, I haven't been able to get it resolved.
My problem specifically comes whenever I try to PiP a video from a browser app. I can watch a video in the apps just fine, but when I switch to PiP I'd say there's an 80% chance the video freezes/gets stuck/goes black, and the only way to fix it is to reload the webpage/video.
I've tried Firefox, Brave, and Chrome, and all of them have this issue. I *don't* have issues streaming PiP with YouTube, Netflix, or other official streaming services, just when I try to do so through a browser.
I've tried reinstalling apps.
I've tried clearing various caches.
I've tried excluding Firefox from the background memory use limit.
I've tried restarting, and it has never solved the issue.
This has bugged me for a while. I just want to put some show on in the background while I check discord or email. I don't want it to be a struggle to get working every single time.
It sounds like you've tried several good troubleshooting steps already. Given that PiP issues are specific to browser-based videos, the problem could stem from a compatibility issue with the browsers' handling of PiP on your Galaxy A42. Here are a few more suggestions that might help:
1. Enable "Desktop Site" Mode: Some video players embedded in websites work better in desktop mode. Try switching the browser to "Desktop Site" mode for the video you're watching and then enter PiP. This can sometimes improve stability.
2. Use "Full-Screen" Mode in the Browser Before Switching to PiP: Some users find that manually entering full-screen mode before switching to PiP helps avoid freezing or black screens.
3. Change PiP Settings on Your Galaxy A42: Go to Settings > Apps and choose your browser. Tap Picture-in-Picture and make sure the PiP feature is enabled. While you're there, disable any battery optimization for the browser app to prevent it from being restricted when in the background.
4. Try a Different Video Codec Setting in the Browser: Certain browsers, like Firefox, have experimental settings that can change the video decoding method. To access Firefox's advanced settings, type about:config in the URL bar, then search for video settings related to codec or hardware acceleration and experiment with toggling those.
5. Update System Software: Ensure your Galaxy A42 is running the latest software. Go to Settings > Software update > Download and install to check for updates. Sometimes, PiP functionality improves with OS patches.
6. Clear Browser Data: Although you've tried clearing caches, clearing the entire browser data (history, cookies, and saved site data) for each browser might help in case there’s a specific site or script causing issues.
If none of these help, this could be a compatibility issue specific to the Galaxy A42, which Samsung could address in a future software update. Alternatively, you could try using a PiP-enabled video player app to open video links directly from the browser instead of playing them in-browser.
1. I've tried in the past, hasn't seemed to make any difference. Tested again and got the same results.
2. I've always had to do that to get PiP anyway. Fullscreen a video and then switch apps/press the home button. There's not a button for it.
3. Already tried that. Double checked and no change.
4. Spent a good amount of time fiddling with various combinations of on and off settings. None made a difference.
5. My phone is up-to-date.
6. I've done so, no change.
I did search around for a PiP video app I was able to get working, and it doesn't seem to have the same issues at all. It's not a solution, it's a workaround, but I thank you regardless for the suggestion.
