Picture in Picture & Background Playback ¶

On iPhone and iPad, Neptune can keep a video session going after the app
leaves the foreground in two independent ways:

• Picture in Picture continues video in a system-owned floating window when
  you go Home or switch to another app.
• Background Playback continues audio when Neptune is behind another app
  or the screen locks.

Both features are available without Neptune Pro and are on by default. They
work with streamed media and with media already
downloaded through Neptune Pro.

Turn Them On or Off ¶

Open Settings > Playback > Background & Picture in Picture:

Neptune reads both choices when a playback session starts. If you change a
toggle, stop the current video and start a new session before testing the new
behavior.

How the Settings Work Together ¶

The toggles do not enable or disable each other:

Locking the screen does not start Picture in Picture. The Background
Playback toggle decides what happens when you lock directly from Neptune.

Opening Control Center is not the same as fully backgrounding the app.
Playback keeps going when either continuation setting is on. With both off,
Neptune uses its normal foreground-only behavior and pauses when it becomes
inactive.

Using Picture in Picture ¶

Start a video, then swipe Home, press the Home button, or switch to another
app. Neptune uses iOS’s automatic Picture in Picture path; there is no
separate Picture in Picture button in the player.

The floating window uses the standard iOS controls:

• tap it to show or hide playback controls;
• drag it to another corner;
• pinch to resize it;
• drag it partly offscreen when you need the space;
• use Play/Pause or the skip controls;
• tap the full-screen control to return to Neptune; or
• tap Close to end Picture in Picture.

The full-screen Neptune player stays open underneath. Returning from the
floating window restores that same playback session instead of opening a new
one.

If you close Picture in Picture while Neptune remains in the background,
Neptune falls back to the Background Playback choice. Audio continues
when it is on and pauses when it is off.

Background Playback and System Controls ¶

With Background Playback on, video presentation stops when there is no
Picture in Picture window, but the audio, position, and server playback
session keep advancing. Returning to Neptune rejoins the video at the current
position.

Whenever a session continues outside Neptune, the Lock Screen and Control
Center show the title, series name when applicable, duration, elapsed time,
and available artwork. Their transport controls support:

• Play and Pause
• Skip back 15 seconds
• Skip forward 15 seconds
• Scrubbing to a position

Headphone and other system media Play/Pause commands use the same session.

Playback Limits Outside Neptune ¶

• Up Next does not start another item while Neptune is backgrounded. When
  the current item finishes, the session stops cleanly. Return to Neptune and
  resume from Continue Watching.
• Seeking a transcode requires Neptune to be active. Skip and scrub
  commands from Picture in Picture, the Lock Screen, or Control Center may be
  unavailable for a transcoded stream. Return to the full-screen player to
  seek. Direct Play and downloaded sessions can seek outside the app.
• App-rendered text subtitles do not appear in Picture in Picture.
  Bitmap subtitles composited into the video frames can appear. Return to the
  full-screen player for Neptune’s text and ASS subtitle overlays.
• When Picture in Picture is enabled and supported, Trident uses its
  system-compatible display layer for the entire playback session so iOS can
  capture the video. This is automatic and does not change the Direct Play or
  Transcode choice.
• A transcoded session may briefly rebuild its video path when Neptune returns
  to the foreground. Direct Play normally rejoins without a server restart.
• Phone calls, audio-route changes, and other system interruptions can pause
  playback. Neptune follows the interruption’s resume instruction when it is
  safe to continue.

Sync and Administration ¶

The two toggles are profile preferences. With
Backup & Restore, they follow the signed-in server account
to other Neptune clients. A Jellyfin administrator can also set or push them
through Neptune MDM.

They have no effect on Apple TV. The Apple TV player keeps its existing
foreground lifecycle even when the synchronized values are present.

Troubleshooting ¶