diff --git a/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index cde7c0b0..fea5dd4c 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     <meta-data android:name="expo.modules.updates.EXPO_UPDATES_CHECK_ON_LAUNCH" android:value="ERROR_RECOVERY_ONLY"/>
     <meta-data android:name="expo.modules.updates.EXPO_UPDATES_LAUNCH_WAIT_MS" android:value="5000"/>
     <meta-data android:name="expo.modules.updates.EXPO_UPDATE_URL" android:value="https://ota.nuvioapp.space/api/manifest"/>
-    <activity android:name=".MainActivity" android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenSize|screenLayout|uiMode|locale|layoutDirection" android:launchMode="singleTask" android:windowSoftInputMode="adjustResize" android:theme="@style/Theme.App.SplashScreen" android:exported="true" android:screenOrientation="unspecified">
+    <activity android:name=".MainActivity" android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenSize|smallestScreenSize|screenLayout|uiMode|locale|layoutDirection" android:launchMode="singleTask" android:windowSoftInputMode="adjustResize" android:theme="@style/Theme.App.SplashScreen" android:exported="true" android:screenOrientation="unspecified" android:supportsPictureInPicture="true" android:resizeableActivity="true">
       <intent-filter>
         <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
         <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>
diff --git a/patches/react-native-video+6.19.0.patch b/patches/react-native-video+6.19.0.patch
index 7b94a7ac..1b5e0e2f 100644
--- a/patches/react-native-video+6.19.0.patch
+++ b/patches/react-native-video+6.19.0.patch
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ index e16ac96..54221ef 100644
 +                && activity.isInPictureInPictureMode();
 +        boolean isInMultiWindowMode = Util.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N && activity != null
 +                && activity.isInMultiWindowMode();
-         if (playInBackground || isInPictureInPicture || isInMultiWindowMode) {
+        if (playInBackground || isInPictureInPicture || isInMultiWindowMode || enterPictureInPictureOnLeave) {
              return;
          }
 @@ -403,7 +407,7 @@ public class ReactExoplayerView extends FrameLayout implements
diff --git a/src/components/player/AndroidVideoPlayer.tsx b/src/components/player/AndroidVideoPlayer.tsx
index 1591f2f4..ed89b1f9 100644
--- a/src/components/player/AndroidVideoPlayer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/player/AndroidVideoPlayer.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import React, { useRef, useEffect, useMemo, useCallback, useState } from 'react';
-import { View, StyleSheet, Platform, Animated, ToastAndroid, ActivityIndicator } from 'react-native';
+import { View, StyleSheet, Platform, Animated, ToastAndroid, ActivityIndicator, AppState } from 'react-native';
 import { toast } from '@backpackapp-io/react-native-toast';
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from 'react-native-safe-area-context';
 import { useNavigation, useRoute, RouteProp } from '@react-navigation/native';
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
   // State to force unmount VideoSurface during stream transitions
   const [isTransitioningStream, setIsTransitioningStream] = useState(false);
 
+  const supportsPictureInPicture = Platform.OS === 'android' && Number(Platform.Version) >= 26;
+  const [isInPictureInPicture, setIsInPictureInPicture] = useState(false);
+  const [isPiPTransitionPending, setIsPiPTransitionPending] = useState(false);
+  const pipSupportLoggedRef = useRef<boolean | null>(null);
+  const pipAutoEntryStateRef = useRef<string>('');
+
   // Dual video engine state: ExoPlayer primary, MPV fallback
   // If videoPlayerEngine is 'mpv', always use MPV; otherwise use auto behavior
   const shouldUseMpvOnly = settings.videoPlayerEngine === 'mpv';
@@ -120,6 +126,16 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
     }
   }, [settings.videoPlayerEngine]);
 
+  const autoEnterPipReason = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!supportsPictureInPicture) return 'unsupported_platform_or_api';
+    if (!useExoPlayer) return 'engine_mpv';
+    if (playerState.paused) return 'paused';
+    return 'enabled';
+  }, [supportsPictureInPicture, useExoPlayer, playerState.paused]);
+
+  const shouldAutoEnterPip = autoEnterPipReason === 'enabled';
+  const canShowPipButton = supportsPictureInPicture && useExoPlayer;
+
   // Subtitle addon state
   const [availableSubtitles, setAvailableSubtitles] = useState<WyzieSubtitle[]>([]);
   const [isLoadingSubtitleList, setIsLoadingSubtitleList] = useState(false);
@@ -210,7 +226,8 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
     playerState.paused,
     traktAutosync,
     controlsHook.seekToTime,
-    currentStreamProvider
+    currentStreamProvider,
+    isInPictureInPicture || isPiPTransitionPending
   );
 
   const gestureControls = usePlayerGestureControls({
@@ -521,6 +538,77 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
     else navigation.reset({ index: 0, routes: [{ name: 'Home' }] } as any);
   }, [navigation]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (pipSupportLoggedRef.current === supportsPictureInPicture) return;
+    pipSupportLoggedRef.current = supportsPictureInPicture;
+    logger.info(`[PiP] Support ${supportsPictureInPicture ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'} (api=${String(Platform.Version)})`);
+  }, [supportsPictureInPicture]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (pipAutoEntryStateRef.current === autoEnterPipReason) return;
+    pipAutoEntryStateRef.current = autoEnterPipReason;
+    if (autoEnterPipReason === 'enabled') {
+      logger.info('[PiP] Auto-entry enabled');
+    } else {
+      logger.info(`[PiP] Auto-entry disabled (${autoEnterPipReason})`);
+    }
+  }, [autoEnterPipReason]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const subscription = AppState.addEventListener('change', (nextAppState) => {
+      if (nextAppState.match(/inactive|background/) && shouldAutoEnterPip) {
+        logger.info('[PiP] Background transition detected; waiting for PiP status callback');
+        setIsPiPTransitionPending(true);
+      }
+      if (nextAppState === 'active') {
+        setIsPiPTransitionPending(false);
+      }
+    });
+
+    return () => {
+      subscription.remove();
+    };
+  }, [shouldAutoEnterPip]);
+
+  const handlePictureInPictureStatusChanged = useCallback((isInPip: boolean) => {
+    setIsInPictureInPicture((previous) => {
+      if (previous !== isInPip) {
+        logger.info(`[PiP] Status changed: ${isInPip ? 'entered' : 'exited'}`);
+      }
+      return isInPip;
+    });
+    if (isInPip) {
+      setIsPiPTransitionPending(false);
+      playerState.setShowControls(false);
+    } else {
+      setIsPiPTransitionPending(false);
+    }
+  }, [playerState.setShowControls]);
+
+  const handleEnterPictureInPicture = useCallback(() => {
+    if (!supportsPictureInPicture) {
+      logger.info('[PiP] Manual entry skipped: unsupported platform/API');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (!useExoPlayer) {
+      logger.info('[PiP] Manual entry blocked: MPV backend active');
+      ToastAndroid.show('PiP currently works with ExoPlayer only', ToastAndroid.SHORT);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const playerRef = exoPlayerRef.current as any;
+    const enterPiPMethod = playerRef?.enterPictureInPicture ?? playerRef?.enterPictureInPictureMode;
+    if (typeof enterPiPMethod !== 'function') {
+      logger.warn('[PiP] Manual entry unavailable: Exo ref has no PiP method');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    logger.info('[PiP] Manual entry requested');
+    setIsPiPTransitionPending(true);
+    enterPiPMethod.call(playerRef);
+  }, [supportsPictureInPicture, useExoPlayer]);
+
   // Handle codec errors from ExoPlayer - silently switch to MPV
   const handleCodecError = useCallback(() => {
     if (!hasExoPlayerFailed.current) {
@@ -841,6 +929,8 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
             // Dual video engine props
             useExoPlayer={useExoPlayer}
             onCodecError={handleCodecError}
+            enterPictureInPictureOnLeave={shouldAutoEnterPip}
+            onPictureInPictureStatusChanged={handlePictureInPictureStatusChanged}
             selectedAudioTrack={tracksHook.selectedAudioTrack as any || undefined}
             selectedTextTrack={memoizedSelectedTextTrack as any}
             // Subtitle Styling - pass to MPV for built-in subtitle customization
@@ -957,6 +1047,8 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
           playerBackend={useExoPlayer ? 'ExoPlayer' : 'MPV'}
           onSwitchToMPV={handleManualSwitchToMPV}
           useExoPlayer={useExoPlayer}
+          canEnterPictureInPicture={canShowPipButton}
+          onEnterPictureInPicture={handleEnterPictureInPicture}
           isBuffering={playerState.isBuffering}
           imdbId={imdbId}
         />
diff --git a/src/components/player/android/components/VideoSurface.tsx b/src/components/player/android/components/VideoSurface.tsx
index ed89ba36..d728baa4 100644
--- a/src/components/player/android/components/VideoSurface.tsx
+++ b/src/components/player/android/components/VideoSurface.tsx
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ interface VideoSurfaceProps {
     useExoPlayer?: boolean;
     onCodecError?: () => void;
     onEngineChange?: (engine: 'exoplayer' | 'mpv') => void;
+    enterPictureInPictureOnLeave?: boolean;
+    onPictureInPictureStatusChanged?: (isInPip: boolean) => void;
 
     // Subtitle Styling
     subtitleSize?: number;
@@ -244,6 +246,8 @@ export const VideoSurface: React.FC<VideoSurfaceProps> = ({
     useExoPlayer = true,
     onCodecError,
     onEngineChange,
+    enterPictureInPictureOnLeave = false,
+    onPictureInPictureStatusChanged,
     // Subtitle Styling
     subtitleSize,
     subtitleColor,
@@ -318,6 +322,14 @@ export const VideoSurface: React.FC<VideoSurfaceProps> = ({
         console.log('[VideoSurface] Headers:', exoRequestHeaders);
     }, [streamUrl, useExoPlayer, exoRequestHeaders]);
 
+    const lastPipAutoEnterStateRef = useRef<boolean | null>(null);
+    useEffect(() => {
+        if (!useExoPlayer) return;
+        if (lastPipAutoEnterStateRef.current === enterPictureInPictureOnLeave) return;
+        lastPipAutoEnterStateRef.current = enterPictureInPictureOnLeave;
+        logger.info(`[PiP] VideoSurface auto-enter-on-leave ${enterPictureInPictureOnLeave ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}`);
+    }, [useExoPlayer, enterPictureInPictureOnLeave]);
+
     useEffect(() => {
         if (mpvPlayerRef?.current && !useExoPlayer) {
             mpvPlayerRef.current.setResizeMode(getMpvResizeMode());
@@ -429,6 +441,20 @@ export const VideoSurface: React.FC<VideoSurfaceProps> = ({
         onSeek({ currentTime: data.currentTime });
     };
 
+    const handleExoPictureInPictureStatusChanged = (event: any) => {
+        const isInPictureInPicture = typeof event === 'boolean'
+            ? event
+            : Boolean(
+                event?.isInPictureInPicture
+                ?? event?.isActive
+                ?? event?.nativeEvent?.isInPictureInPicture
+                ?? event?.nativeEvent?.isActive
+                ?? event?.value
+            );
+        logger.info(`[PiP] VideoSurface status event: ${isInPictureInPicture ? 'entered' : 'exited'}`);
+        onPictureInPictureStatusChanged?.(isInPictureInPicture);
+    };
+
     const getExoResizeMode = (): ResizeMode => {
         switch (resizeMode) {
             case 'cover':
@@ -502,6 +528,10 @@ export const VideoSurface: React.FC<VideoSurfaceProps> = ({
                     playInBackground={false}
                     playWhenInactive={false}
                     ignoreSilentSwitch="ignore"
+                    // @ts-ignore - Prop supported by patched react-native-video
+                    enterPictureInPictureOnLeave={enterPictureInPictureOnLeave}
+                    // @ts-ignore - Prop supported by patched react-native-video
+                    onPictureInPictureStatusChanged={handleExoPictureInPictureStatusChanged}
                     automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling={true}
                     useTextureView={true}
                     subtitleStyle={{
diff --git a/src/components/player/controls/PlayerControls.tsx b/src/components/player/controls/PlayerControls.tsx
index bf0e5c95..85e5a6b4 100644
--- a/src/components/player/controls/PlayerControls.tsx
+++ b/src/components/player/controls/PlayerControls.tsx
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ interface PlayerControlsProps {
   // MPV Switch (Android only)
   onSwitchToMPV?: () => void;
   useExoPlayer?: boolean;
+  canEnterPictureInPicture?: boolean;
+  onEnterPictureInPicture?: () => void;
   isBuffering?: boolean;
   imdbId?: string;
 }
@@ -114,6 +116,8 @@ export const PlayerControls: React.FC<PlayerControlsProps> = ({
   onAirPlayPress,
   onSwitchToMPV,
   useExoPlayer,
+  canEnterPictureInPicture,
+  onEnterPictureInPicture,
   isBuffering = false,
   imdbId,
 }) => {
@@ -399,6 +403,18 @@ export const PlayerControls: React.FC<PlayerControlsProps> = ({
                   />
                 </TouchableOpacity>
               )}
+              {Platform.OS === 'android' && canEnterPictureInPicture && onEnterPictureInPicture && (
+                <TouchableOpacity
+                  style={{ padding: 8 }}
+                  onPress={onEnterPictureInPicture}
+                >
+                  <Feather
+                    name="minimize-2"
+                    size={closeIconSize}
+                    color="white"
+                  />
+                </TouchableOpacity>
+              )}
               <TouchableOpacity style={styles.closeButton} onPress={handleClose}>
                 <Ionicons name="close" size={closeIconSize} color="white" />
               </TouchableOpacity>
diff --git a/src/components/player/hooks/useWatchProgress.ts b/src/components/player/hooks/useWatchProgress.ts
index 8440e38e..bafafa64 100644
--- a/src/components/player/hooks/useWatchProgress.ts
+++ b/src/components/player/hooks/useWatchProgress.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ export const useWatchProgress = (
     paused: boolean,
     traktAutosync: any,
     seekToTime: (time: number) => void,
-    addonId?: string
+    addonId?: string,
+    isInPictureInPicture: boolean = false
 ) => {
     const [resumePosition, setResumePosition] = useState<number | null>(null);
     const [savedDuration, setSavedDuration] = useState<number | null>(null);
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ export const useWatchProgress = (
     // Values refs for unmount cleanup
     const currentTimeRef = useRef(currentTime);
     const durationRef = useRef(duration);
+    const isInPictureInPictureRef = useRef(isInPictureInPicture);
 
     useEffect(() => {
         currentTimeRef.current = currentTime;
@@ -35,6 +37,10 @@ export const useWatchProgress = (
         durationRef.current = duration;
     }, [duration]);
 
+    useEffect(() => {
+        isInPictureInPictureRef.current = isInPictureInPicture;
+    }, [isInPictureInPicture]);
+
     // Keep latest traktAutosync ref to avoid dependency cycles in listeners
     const traktAutosyncRef = useRef(traktAutosync);
     useEffect(() => {
@@ -58,9 +64,13 @@ export const useWatchProgress = (
                     try {
                         await storageService.setWatchProgress(id, type, progress, episodeId);
 
-                        // Trakt sync (end session)
-                        // Use 'user_close' to force immediate sync
-                        await traktAutosyncRef.current.handlePlaybackEnd(currentTimeRef.current, durationRef.current, 'user_close');
+                        if (isInPictureInPictureRef.current) {
+                            logger.log('[useWatchProgress] In PiP mode, skipping background playback end sync');
+                        } else {
+                            // Trakt sync (end session)
+                            // Use 'user_close' to force immediate sync
+                            await traktAutosyncRef.current.handlePlaybackEnd(currentTimeRef.current, durationRef.current, 'user_close');
+                        }
                     } catch (error) {
                         logger.error('[useWatchProgress] Error saving background progress:', error);
                     }
diff --git a/src/screens/settings/DeveloperSettingsScreen.tsx b/src/screens/settings/DeveloperSettingsScreen.tsx
index 8b002e27..fcee9a8a 100644
--- a/src/screens/settings/DeveloperSettingsScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/settings/DeveloperSettingsScreen.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
-import { View, StyleSheet, ScrollView, StatusBar } from 'react-native';
+import { View, StyleSheet, ScrollView, StatusBar, Platform } from 'react-native';
 import { useNavigation } from '@react-navigation/native';
 import { NavigationProp } from '@react-navigation/native';
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from 'react-native-safe-area-context';
@@ -83,6 +83,22 @@ const DeveloperSettingsScreen: React.FC = () => {
         );
     };
 
+    const handleOpenPipTestStream = () => {
+        const playerRoute = Platform.OS === 'ios' ? 'PlayerIOS' : 'PlayerAndroid';
+        navigation.navigate(playerRoute as any, {
+            uri: 'https://test-streams.mux.dev/x36xhzz/x36xhzz.m3u8',
+            title: 'PiP Test Stream',
+            quality: '720',
+            streamProvider: 'Dev Test',
+            streamName: 'Mux HLS',
+            id: 'dev-pip-test',
+            type: 'movie',
+            headers: {
+                'User-Agent': 'Nuvio-PiP-Test',
+            },
+        });
+    };
+
     // Only show if developer mode is enabled (via __DEV__ or manually unlocked)
     if (!developerModeEnabled) {
         return null;
@@ -124,6 +140,13 @@ const DeveloperSettingsScreen: React.FC = () => {
                         icon="refresh-cw"
                         onPress={handleResetCampaigns}
                         renderControl={() => <ChevronRight />}
+                    />
+                    <SettingItem
+                        title={'PiP Test Stream (Temporary)'}
+                        description={'Open a public HLS stream for player/PiP smoke tests'}
+                        icon="tv"
+                        onPress={handleOpenPipTestStream}
+                        renderControl={() => <ChevronRight />}
                         isLast
                     />
                 </SettingsCard>