Are you annoyed by the inability to see your in-game friends during competitive matches? Do you wish you could watch a YouTube walkthrough while playing the same game? Read on to discover how you can have multiple screens open on your PlayStation 5 console.
Exploring the Picture-in-Picture Feature
To access the Picture-in-Picture mode on your PS5, follow these simple steps:
- On the PS5 Home screen, navigate to ‘Explore’.
- Scroll down to ‘Popular Videos of Games You Follow’.
- Select a suggested YouTube video.
- Underneath the video, choose ‘Screen Layout’.
- Now, click on ‘Picture-in-Picture’.
- Move the video to your desired location on the screen and press [X].
- Congratulations! You can now game while keeping a YouTube video open in Picture-in-Picture mode.
Please note that dedicated/built-in applications like YouTube and Netflix cannot currently run in Picture-in-Picture mode. We hope this issue will be addressed in a future patch.
Here’s a helpful video by Tokeyo Nico that provides a more detailed guide on utilizing the Picture-in-Picture mode:
If you want to enhance your PS5 experience, check out the best PS5 accessories on Amazon. Treat yourself or a friend to these top-quality products.
By being able to play games and watch media applications simultaneously, you can save valuable time before facing the real world. Some social media influencers have even made millions by dedicating their time to playing video games, achieving financial freedom.
But what if you want to improve your skills in a particular game? Can you watch multiple YouTube walkthroughs at the same time? Here’s how:
How to Watch YouTube While Playing PS5
To enjoy YouTube videos while playing PS5, follow these steps:
- On the PS5 Home screen, press the PS Logo button on the controller.
- Scroll through the bottom menu and select ‘Game Base’.
- Choose an online friend from the Game Base list and go to ‘Messages’.
- Select ‘Send a Quick Message’ and enter the YouTube URL (http://www.youtube.com). Press ‘Send’.
- Click on the YouTube URL that you shared with your friend (you can do this multiple times in the future). Once the YouTube website is opened, press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
- Select ‘Pin to Side’, and now you have two separate screens to watch YouTube while playing games.
- [EXTRA] If you want to use Picture-in-Picture mode, press the PS Logo button on the controller while the two screens are present.
- Among the Activity Cards, find the YouTube video and press ‘Options’.
- Choose ‘Switch to Picture-in-Picture’ and decide where to position the YouTube video on the PS5 screen while gaming.
Please be aware that SONY has not fully implemented multiple-screen capabilities for most of its installed software and applications. Additionally, the PS5 currently lacks an integrated web browser.
Still, gamers worldwide are discovering ways to leverage the existing features available. Take a look at Simply Mickey’s YouTube video above to learn more.
Now, let’s explore the improved Share Play support for the PS5:
What is PS5 Share Play?
Share Play, a recurring feature from the PlayStation 4, allows PS5 users to:
- Share livestream gaming sessions with friends.
- Let friends take control of their in-game character.
- Invite friends to join the fun, even if they don’t own the game.
Initially introduced on the PlayStation 4, Share Play revolutionized connected gameplay and promoted games through a ‘live-demo’ concept.
On the PS5, Share Play has been enhanced to offer even more possibilities. Here’s what you can do:
1. How to Livestream Games Using Picture-in-Picture on PS5
If you want to live stream games while using Picture-in-Picture mode, follow these steps:
- Press the logo button on the PS5 controller.
- Select ‘Game Base’ and ‘Create Party’ (press [Square]) with another online friend.
- After creating a party, open ‘Game Base’ again and select the new party under ‘Recent Parties’.
- Choose the party and select ‘Voice Chat’, then ‘Join’ to turn it on.
- With Voice Chat turned on, press ‘View Voice Chat’, which now appears in its place. Choose a party member from the drop-down menu.
- After selecting a party member, press the ‘Share Screen’ option (two-monitor logo) under their name.
- Your friend will receive a notification to allow screen-sharing. Instruct them to turn it on via the in-game card (press the controller PS logo).
2. How to Let a Friend Control the Game Using PS5 Share Play
To allow a friend to control the game through Share Play, follow these steps:
- With Share Screen enabled, open the Voice Chat Party lobby again.
- You will now find a ‘Share Screen | Share Play’ menu. Select it and choose ‘Start Share Play’.
- Pick your party member and select ‘Visitor Plays as You’. This is an excellent way for your friends to test out a game for free, especially single-player games.
3. How to Invite a Friend to Play a Game They Don’t Own through PS5 Share Play
To invite a friend to play a game they don’t own using Share Play, follow these steps:
- Open the Voice Chat Party via Game Base (with Share Screen already enabled).
- Select ‘Share Screen | Share Play’ and choose ‘Start Share Play’.
- Pick your party member and select ‘Play with the Visitor’. Your friend will now be invited to play the game with you, even if they don’t own it.
For the fastest internet connection on your PS5, check out my article on how to set it up properly.
With the improved Share Play feature, game developers can now leverage social media platforms like Twitch and YouTube to promote their games.
Speaking of Twitch…
Can I Watch Twitch While Playing a Game on PS5?
Absolutely! You can watch Twitch while playing another video game on your PlayStation 5. Simply follow these steps:
- Choose ‘Explore’ on the PS5 Home screen.
- Select any Twitch video from ‘Live Broadcasts of Games You Follow’.
Please remember that officially, pre-installed media applications such as Twitch, YouTube, and Netflix cannot be run in Picture-in-Picture mode at the moment.
However, we’ve found a few workarounds, one of which was explained earlier. If you’d like to explore an alternative method, check out VVaby’s video above. It demonstrates how you can change Twitch streams according to your preferences (not through the PS5’s ‘Explore’ option).
Love the PS5 but find its massive design too bulky for your setup? Learn how to wall mount your PS5 in my article.
Transform your PS5 experience with the best PS5 accessories available on Amazon.
