[Feature] background playback and picture-in-picture for videos on mobile

[MaximilianKos]

I have searched the existing feature requests, both open and closed, to make sure this is not a duplicate request.

• Yes

The feature

Add an opt-in setting to the mobile app so videos keep playing when the app leaves the foreground. Two related options:

1. Background audio: the audio keeps playing when the app is in the background or the screen is locked, with play/pause controls on the lock screen.
2. Picture-in-picture: when you leave the app during playback (home gesture, app switch), the video shrinks into the system's floating PiP window instead of stopping. Supported natively on Android 8+ and iOS 14+.

Why

Picture-in-picture and background audio are standard playback features in most apps that show video, and they apply to any video in Immich: a long family recording, a school performance, a recorded talk. Right now you can't check a message or switch apps without the video stopping.

My personal trigger was longer media like music videos that I keep in Immich, but the feature isn't tied to any particular type of content.

Edit: reworded this section to reflect the discussion below. The original only described my own use case.

Current behavior

Playback stops as soon as the app leaves the foreground, so the only way to keep listening is to keep the Immich app open with the screen on. That drains the battery and blocks the phone for anything else.

Context

Issue #16983 reported videos continuing in the background on Android as a bug, and it was fixed in #17032. That fix makes sense as a default, so this request is for an opt-in setting, so nobody gets the old behavior unless they enable it.

Possible scope

• Settings toggles: "Picture-in-picture when leaving app" and "Continue audio in background", both off by default
• PiP should keep the video's aspect ratio and offer play/pause controls
• Playback stops when the PiP window is closed or the video ends
• Motion photos and silent videos should not trigger background audio sessions or interrupt other apps' audio (see Playing motion photo pauses music #9467)

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[mmomjian]

I store music videos and other entertainment media in Immich

this is not in scope of immich, so I don’t see a need for this feature.

[MaximilianKos]

I’d push back a bit on the scope framing. This isn’t about a specific media type or usage. Background audio and picture-in-picture are standard OS-level playback features that most apps with video support. They improve how any video in Immich is watched, whether that’s a family event, a recorded speech or a music video.

For example, someone watching a long family video can’t currently check a message without the video stopping. Since it would be opt-in and off by default, nothing changes for anyone who doesn’t want it.

Personally I’d even argue PiP could be on by default, since it’s visible and easy to dismiss, but I’m happy with either as long as the option exists.