YouTube is one of the most powerful tools for learning — programming tutorials, design walkthroughs, lectures, and step-by-step guides. But on macOS, the moment you switch apps, the YouTube window disappears behind everything else.

macOS includes Picture-in-Picture (PiP), but PiP only works for the video player, not for the full YouTube window — and certainly not for notes, documentation, code, or other apps you need side-by-side.

So here’s the simple solution:

👉 Use Floaty to turn any window into a full Picture-in-Picture–style floating window. Including the entire YouTube page.

YouTube floating on macOS with Notes on top using Floaty

This instantly communicates:

  • YouTube is running
  • Notes is floating like PiP
  • But Notes is not a video → demonstrating why Floaty is better than PiP

Perfect visual story.

⭐ 1. Open YouTube in your browser

Chrome, Safari, Arc — any browser works. Open the video you want to follow while studying, coding, or designing.

⭐ 2. Turn the Notes window (or any app) into a PiP-style floating window

Open Floaty → choose the window you want to float → click Apply Pinning.

This creates a Picture-in-Picture–style overlay, but for any window, not just videos.

Use it to float:

  • Notes
  • Documentation
  • VS Code
  • Figma
  • ChatGPT
  • PDFs
  • Or even the full YouTube page itself

YouTube floating on macOS with Notes on top using Floaty

⭐ 3. Use Floaty to make “full-window PiP” for YouTube

The best part is that Floaty works on the entire browser window, not just the video.

This means you keep:

  • the timeline
  • comments
  • transcripts
  • description links
  • playlists
  • chapter markers
  • subtitles
  • and all the UI you need to follow tutorials

This is something system PiP simply cannot do.

🎯 Why Floaty Is Better Than macOS Picture-in-Picture for YouTube

Here is the message you want to convey:

✔ Floaty = PiP for the full window
PiP = only the video player. Floaty = the entire browser + full UI.

✔ Floaty works for ANY window
PiP works only for video apps.

✔ Works with notes, docs, code, design tools
That means you can float your tools, not just the video.

✔ Resizable, movable, and keeps your workflow intact
Full flexibility compared to locked PiP sizes.

✔ Perfect for tutorials
Coding, design, lectures, walkthroughs — anything.

🧠 Real use cases where Floaty beats PiP instantly

  • Coding with YouTube tutorials — Keep the full YouTube UI visible while floating Notes or VS Code.
  • Following design walkthroughs — Pause, jump, rewind using the full timeline.
  • Taking notes — Float Notes on top of YouTube; ideal for students.
  • Learning languages — Subtitles + transcript + video remain visible.
  • Following multi-step instructions — Chapter markers stay accessible; PiP hides them.

🎨 Optional: Floaty Pro features that extend PiP

  • Transparency — Make your floating window see-through.
  • Click-through — Interact with apps behind your floating window.
  • Multi-window PiP — Float multiple items at once (YouTube, Notes, Docs, Code).

🎉 Final Thoughts

Picture-in-Picture on macOS is useful — but limited. Floaty lets you create a true PiP-style workflow with any window:

  • full YouTube window
  • notes
  • documentation
  • code editors
  • design tools
  • PDFs
  • and more

If you want to keep other apps on top as well, check out our full guide on keeping any macOS window always on top: How to Keep Any Window Always on Top on macOS.

⭐ Try Floaty Yourself

Try full-window Picture-in-Picture for YouTube and any macOS app.

Floaty Free lets you float one window — perfect for YouTube workflows.

👉 Download Floaty — Free

👉 Upgrade to Floaty Pro — transparency, click-through, and multi-window PiP.