YouTube's mini player shrinks the video into a floating window you can move around your screen while you keep working

The mini player on YouTube lets you watch a video in a small, movable box while you browse other tabs, read, or work on documents. The video keeps playing in the corner while everything else stays visible. You can resize it, drag it anywhere on your screen, and close it without stopping playback.

There are three ways to open mini player on a computer: right-click the video, use a keyboard shortcut, or click the mini player icon in the video controls. Each method works the same way and takes less than a second.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any YouTube video and select "Mini player" from the menu to open it when ready.
  • Press the keyboard shortcut M while watching a video to toggle mini player on and off.
  • Click the mini player icon (a small rectangle) in the bottom-right corner of the video player controls.
  • Once open, you can drag the mini player window to any corner of your screen and resize it by dragging the edges.
  • Mini player works on YouTube.com and in the YouTube app on Windows and Mac, but not in all browsers.

Right-Click Method: The Fastest Route

Right-clicking the video opens a context menu with mini player as the first option. Move your cursor over the video itself (not the title or comments below), right-click, and select "Mini player" from the menu that appears. The video shrinks into a floating box in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

This method works on any browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — as long as you are on YouTube.com. The menu appears when ready, and the mini player opens when ready.

Keyboard Shortcut: Press M

While a video is playing, press the M key on your keyboard to toggle mini player on and off. Press M again to return to full-screen or normal view. This is the fastest method if your hands are already on the keyboard.

The M shortcut works only when the video player has focus — meaning you have clicked on the video or the player controls recently. If you have clicked into the comments section or another part of the page, click the video once first, then press M.

Mini Player Icon in the Video Controls

Look at the bottom-right corner of the video player, where you see the volume control and fullscreen button. Just to the left of the fullscreen icon (the four arrows pointing outward) is a small rectangle icon — that is the mini player button. Click it once to open mini player.

The icon appears only when you hover your cursor over the video player controls. If you do not see it, move your mouse over the video to make the controls appear, then look for the rectangle icon in the bottom-right area.

Moving and Resizing the Mini Player Window

Once mini player is open, you can drag it anywhere on your screen by clicking and holding the top bar of the window, then moving your mouse. Release to drop it in place. The window stays where you put it, even if you switch tabs or minimize other windows.

To resize the mini player, position your cursor at any edge or corner of the window until the cursor changes to a resize arrow, then drag outward to make it larger or inward to make it smaller. You can make it as small as a postage stamp or as large as half your screen.

Closing Mini Player and Returning to Normal View

Click the X button in the top-right corner of the mini player window to close it. The video stops playing when you close it. To resume watching, go back to the YouTube tab and click play, or press M again if you used the keyboard shortcut to open it.

If you want to return to normal view without closing the video, press M again or click the mini player icon in the video controls. The video returns to its regular size on the YouTube page.

When Mini Player Does Not Work

Mini player may not appear if you are using an older browser version or if JavaScript is disabled in your browser settings. Update your browser to the latest version and check that JavaScript is turned on. If you are using a browser extension that blocks ads or modifies YouTube, try disabling it temporarily to see if mini player appears.

Some YouTube videos are restricted by the uploader and do not allow mini player. If the right-click menu does not show the mini player option, or if the M key does not work, the video owner has disabled it. You can still watch the video in normal or fullscreen mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use mini player on my phone or tablet?

Mini player works differently on mobile devices. On the YouTube app for iPhone and Android, swipe down on a video to open a smaller player, but it does not float over other apps the way it does on a computer. On a tablet, the process is similar to a phone.

Does mini player work in all web browsers?

Mini player works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on YouTube.com. Some older browser versions or browsers with heavy ad-blocking extensions may have trouble. Update your browser and disable extensions if mini player does not appear.

Can I watch mini player while using other programs?

Yes. Mini player floats on top of your browser window, so you can see it while you work in Word, email, or any other program. However, it stays within the browser window itself — it does not float over other programs on your desktop.

What happens to mini player if I close the YouTube tab?

Mini player closes when you close the YouTube tab. The video stops playing. If you want to keep watching, keep the YouTube tab open, even if you are working in another program.

Can I resize mini player to be very small?

Yes. You can drag the edges to make mini player as small as you want. There is no minimum size limit, though if you make it too small, the video becomes hard to see and the controls disappear.