The Google Messages development team has been very active for some time now. The app has been receiving a plethora of new features to enrich the messaging experience. Apparently, Google wants to properly prepare its service for Android-iOS cross RCS support. Now, recent findings suggest that the company could bring back a feature that Google Messages had lost: the PiP YouTube miniplayer.
Until last year, Google Messages users could watch a YouTube video received from a chat in a Picture in Picture (PiP) miniplayer, without having to open the main YouTube app. It worked like a link preview in the app, but for videos. However, for unknown reasons, Google removed the option. This generated many complaints at the time, although the Mountain View giant didn’t back down.
Google may bring back the YouTube miniplayer to its Google Messages app
Now, also for unknown reasons, Google Messages could be about to bring back its PiP YouTube miniplayer. Android Authority’s AssembleDebug spotted some strings that directly reference the feature’s return in an upcoming update. The strings—which specifically mentioned “YouTube”—were available in the latest Google Messages beta build (v20250319).
It’s noteworthy that the feature appears to be in the early stages of development. AssembleDebug managed to enable it via an activity toggle for Google Messages, but videos wouldn’t play. There appears to be some pending work, but a basic UI is already in place.
It’s unknown when Google might enable the YouTube miniplayer again in Google Messages—if it ever does. That said, the company is busy working on other features for the app. A recent leak revealed that Google Messages could receive a “remote delete” option soon. However, as with the alleged YouTube miniplayer, there’s no rollout date yet.
Let’s hope Google doesn’t take too long to ship these features. Both are quite useful and will quickly become among the most used.
