You want to watch a YouTube video while you work, but every time you click on another window, the video disappears behind it. Sound familiar? There is no built-in Windows feature that pins a YouTube video on top of everything else.
This guide walks through every method available in 2026 — from free workarounds to the cleanest solution — so you can keep YouTube floating above your desktop permanently.
01 Why YouTube disappears when you click away
Windows uses a standard window stacking model. Whichever window you click on comes to the front, and everything else falls behind it. YouTube running inside Chrome is just another window — it follows the same rules.
This means there is no way to keep a YouTube tab visible while working in Word, VS Code, Photoshop, or any other app without using a tool that forces a window to stay on top.
02 Method 1: Chrome's built-in Picture-in-Picture
Chrome has a basic PiP feature. Right-click on a YouTube video twice (the first right-click shows YouTube's own menu, the second shows Chrome's) and select "Picture in Picture".
A small floating window appears. It works, but comes with serious limitations:
For casual use it is acceptable. For daily multitasking it becomes frustrating fast. We cover all 15 of these issues in detail in our Chrome PiP problems guide.
03 Method 2: Windows Snap / split screen
Windows lets you snap two windows side by side using Win + Left/Right arrow. You could put Chrome with YouTube on one half and your work on the other.
The downside: you lose half your screen to a full browser window just to watch a video. On a laptop, that is a huge amount of space wasted. And if you need to switch apps, the snap layout breaks.
04 Method 3: PiP Pro — the clean solution
PiP Pro is a lightweight desktop app that creates a floating YouTube window that genuinely stays on top of everything — not just Chrome, but fullscreen games, design tools, IDEs, everything.
Here is how to set it up:
Step 2: Open any YouTube video and click the PiP icon that appears on hover.
Step 3: Your video pops into a floating window. Resize it, drag it anywhere, or activate Ghost Mode to click through it while you work.
Additional features include built-in search (find videos without leaving the player), smart playlists, adjustable opacity, and subtitle support — everything Chrome's PiP is missing.
05 How the methods compare
| Feature | Chrome PiP | Snap Layout | PiP Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stays on top of all apps | Chrome only | No | Yes — system-wide |
| Window size | ~25% max | 50% of screen | Any size |
| Free positioning | Snaps to corners | Fixed halves | Drag anywhere |
| Click-through | No | No | Ghost Mode |
| Subtitles | No | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | Play/pause only | Full | Full + extras |
| Price | Free | Free | $5/mo after 5-day trial |
Ready to pin YouTube on top?
PiP Pro keeps your video floating above everything. Set up in 2 minutes, free for 5 days.
Try PiP Pro Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Does this work with YouTube Music?
Yes. PiP Pro works with any video or audio content playing in Chrome, including YouTube Music.
Will the video stay on top during fullscreen games?
With Chrome's built-in PiP, no — it hides behind fullscreen apps. PiP Pro uses a system-level always-on-top window that stays visible even during fullscreen games.
Do I need YouTube Premium?
No. PiP Pro works with free YouTube accounts. No Premium subscription required.
Does this work on Windows 10?
Yes. PiP Pro supports Windows 10 (version 1903 and later) and Windows 11.