Picture In Picture

CometChat Calls SDK v5 — Picture-in-Picture

Overview

PiP lets users continue calls in a floating window while using other apps. Your app manages Android's PiP APIs; the Calls SDK adjusts the call UI layout to fit the smaller window.

Prerequisites

• Android 8.0+ (API 26+)
• Active call session

Key Imports

import android.app.PictureInPictureParams
import android.util.Rational
import com.cometchat.calls.core.CallSession
import com.cometchat.calls.listeners.LayoutListener
import com.cometchat.calls.model.LayoutType

Implementation

Manifest Configuration

<activity
    android:name=".CallActivity"
    android:supportsPictureInPicture="true"
    android:configChanges="screenSize|smallestScreenSize|screenLayout|orientation" />

Enable/Disable PiP Layout

val callSession = CallSession.getInstance()

// Tell SDK to adjust UI for PiP
callSession.enablePictureInPictureLayout()

// Restore full UI
callSession.disablePictureInPictureLayout()

Auto-Enter PiP on Home Press

override fun onUserLeaveHint() {
    super.onUserLeaveHint()
    if (CallSession.getInstance().isSessionActive) {
        enterPictureInPictureMode(
            PictureInPictureParams.Builder()
                .setAspectRatio(Rational(16, 9))
                .build()
        )
        CallSession.getInstance().enablePictureInPictureLayout()
    }
}

Handle PiP Mode Changes

override fun onPictureInPictureModeChanged(isInPiPMode: Boolean, config: Configuration) {
    super.onPictureInPictureModeChanged(isInPiPMode, config)
    if (isInPiPMode) {
        CallSession.getInstance().enablePictureInPictureLayout()
    } else {
        CallSession.getInstance().disablePictureInPictureLayout()
    }
}

Listen for PiP Events

callSession.addLayoutListener(this, object : LayoutListener() {
    override fun onPictureInPictureLayoutEnabled() {
        // Hide custom overlays/controls
    }
    override fun onPictureInPictureLayoutDisabled() {
        // Show custom overlays/controls
    }
    override fun onCallLayoutChanged(layoutType: LayoutType) {}
    override fun onParticipantListVisible() {}
    override fun onParticipantListHidden() {}
})

Gotchas

• The SDK only adjusts the call UI layout — your app must call enterPictureInPictureMode() itself
• configChanges in manifest prevents activity restart during PiP transitions
• PiP has no effect on Android < 8.0
• Hide custom controls in PiP mode — they won't be usable in the small window
• Use isSessionActive check before entering PiP to avoid errors

Sample App Reference

• CallActivity.kt — Call activity that could be extended with PiP support