diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 602f99961..31d4e2074 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 ### Fixed
 
 - crash when cataloguing some videos
+- switching to PiP for any inactive app state
 
 ## <a id="v1.12.1"></a>[v1.12.1] - 2025-01-05
 
diff --git a/lib/widgets/viewer/entry_viewer_stack.dart b/lib/widgets/viewer/entry_viewer_stack.dart
index 456db9b6b..4d84853dd 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/viewer/entry_viewer_stack.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/viewer/entry_viewer_stack.dart
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ class _EntryViewerStackState extends State<EntryViewerStack> with EntryViewContr
   late VideoActionDelegate _videoActionDelegate;
   final ValueNotifier<EntryHeroInfo?> _heroInfoNotifier = ValueNotifier(null);
   bool _isEntryTracked = true;
-  Timer? _overlayHidingTimer, _appInactiveReactionTimer;
+  Timer? _overlayHidingTimer;
+  late ValueNotifier<AvesVideoController?> _playingVideoControllerNotifier;
 
   @override
   bool get isViewingImage => _currentVerticalPage.value == imagePage;
@@ -168,6 +169,8 @@ class _EntryViewerStackState extends State<EntryViewerStack> with EntryViewContr
     _videoActionDelegate = VideoActionDelegate(
       collection: collection,
     );
+    _playingVideoControllerNotifier = context.read<VideoConductor>().playingVideoControllerNotifier;
+    _playingVideoControllerNotifier.addListener(_onPlayingVideoControllerChanged);
     initEntryControllers(entry);
     _registerWidget(widget);
     AvesApp.lifecycleStateNotifier.addListener(_onAppLifecycleStateChanged);
@@ -185,6 +188,8 @@ class _EntryViewerStackState extends State<EntryViewerStack> with EntryViewContr
   void dispose() {
     AvesApp.pageRouteObserver.unsubscribe(this);
     cleanEntryControllers(entryNotifier.value);
+    _playingVideoControllerNotifier.removeListener(_onPlayingVideoControllerChanged);
+    updatePictureInPicture(context);
     _videoActionDelegate.dispose();
     _verticalPageAnimationController.dispose();
     _overlayButtonScale.dispose();
@@ -201,7 +206,6 @@ class _EntryViewerStackState extends State<EntryViewerStack> with EntryViewContr
     _verticalScrollNotifier.dispose();
     _heroInfoNotifier.dispose();
     _stopOverlayHidingTimer();
-    _stopAppInactiveTimer();
     AvesApp.lifecycleStateNotifier.removeListener(_onAppLifecycleStateChanged);
     _unregisterWidget(widget);
     super.dispose();
@@ -253,7 +257,7 @@ class _EntryViewerStackState extends State<EntryViewerStack> with EntryViewContr
                 // so we do not access status stream directly, but check for support first
                 stream: device.supportPictureInPicture ? Floating().pipStatusStream : Stream.value(PiPStatus.disabled),
                 builder: (context, snapshot) {
-                  var pipEnabled = snapshot.data == PiPStatus.enabled;
+                  final pipEnabled = snapshot.data == PiPStatus.enabled;
                   return ValueListenableBuilder<bool>(
                     valueListenable: _viewLocked,
                     builder: (context, locked, child) {
@@ -328,47 +332,31 @@ class _EntryViewerStackState extends State<EntryViewerStack> with EntryViewContr
 
   // lifecycle
 
+  // app lifecycle states:
+  // * rotating screen: resumed -> inactive -> resumed
+  // * going home: resumed -> inactive -> hidden -> paused
+  // * back from home: paused -> hidden -> inactive -> resumed
+  // * app switch / settings / etc: resumed -> inactive
   void _onAppLifecycleStateChanged() {
     switch (AvesApp.lifecycleStateNotifier.value) {
       case AppLifecycleState.inactive:
         // inactive: when losing focus
         // also triggered when app is rotated on Android API >=33
-        _startAppInactiveTimer();
+        break;
+      case AppLifecycleState.hidden:
       case AppLifecycleState.paused:
       case AppLifecycleState.detached:
-        // paused: when switching to another app
+        // hidden: transient state between `inactive` and `paused`
+        // paused: when using another app
         // detached: when app is without a view
         viewerController.autopilot = false;
-        _stopAppInactiveTimer();
         pauseVideoControllers();
       case AppLifecycleState.resumed:
-        _stopAppInactiveTimer();
-      case AppLifecycleState.hidden:
-        // hidden: transient state between `inactive` and `paused`
         break;
     }
   }
 
-  Future<void> _onAppInactive(AvesVideoController? playingController) async {
-    bool enabledPip = false;
-    if (settings.videoBackgroundMode == VideoBackgroundMode.pip) {
-      enabledPip |= await _enablePictureInPicture(playingController);
-    }
-    if (enabledPip) {
-      // ensure playback, in case lifecycle paused/resumed events happened when switching to PiP
-      await playingController?.play();
-    } else {
-      await pauseVideoControllers();
-    }
-  }
-
-  void _startAppInactiveTimer() {
-    _stopAppInactiveTimer();
-    final playingController = context.read<VideoConductor>().getPlayingController();
-    _appInactiveReactionTimer = Timer(ADurations.appInactiveReactionDelay, () => _onAppInactive(playingController));
-  }
-
-  void _stopAppInactiveTimer() => _appInactiveReactionTimer?.cancel();
+  void _onPlayingVideoControllerChanged() => updatePictureInPicture(context);
 
   Widget _decorateOverlay(Widget overlay) {
     return ValueListenableBuilder<double>(
@@ -939,36 +927,6 @@ class _EntryViewerStackState extends State<EntryViewerStack> with EntryViewContr
     await Future.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 50));
   }
 
-  Future<bool> _enablePictureInPicture(AvesVideoController? playingController) async {
-    if (playingController != null) {
-      final entrySize = playingController.entry.displaySize;
-      final aspectRatio = Rational(entrySize.width.round(), entrySize.height.round());
-
-      final viewSize = MediaQuery.sizeOf(context) * MediaQuery.devicePixelRatioOf(context);
-      final fittedSize = applyBoxFit(BoxFit.contain, entrySize, viewSize).destination;
-      final sourceRectHint = Rectangle<int>(
-        ((viewSize.width - fittedSize.width) / 2).round(),
-        ((viewSize.height - fittedSize.height) / 2).round(),
-        fittedSize.width.round(),
-        fittedSize.height.round(),
-      );
-
-      try {
-        final status = await Floating().enable(ImmediatePiP(
-          aspectRatio: aspectRatio,
-          sourceRectHint: sourceRectHint,
-        ));
-        await reportService.log('Enabled picture-in-picture with status=$status');
-        return status == PiPStatus.enabled;
-      } on PlatformException catch (e, stack) {
-        if (e.message != 'Activity must be resumed to enter picture-in-picture') {
-          await reportService.recordError(e, stack);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-    return false;
-  }
-
   // overlay
 
   Future<void> _initOverlay() async {
diff --git a/lib/widgets/viewer/video/conductor.dart b/lib/widgets/viewer/video/conductor.dart
index 250ded24f..cf409183d 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/viewer/video/conductor.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/viewer/video/conductor.dart
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ class VideoConductor {
   final CollectionLens? _collection;
   final List<AvesVideoController> _controllers = [];
   final List<StreamSubscription> _subscriptions = [];
-  final PlaybackStateHandler playbackStateHandler = DatabasePlaybackStateHandler();
+  final PlaybackStateHandler _playbackStateHandler = DatabasePlaybackStateHandler();
+
+  final ValueNotifier<AvesVideoController?> playingVideoControllerNotifier = ValueNotifier(null);
 
   static const _defaultMaxControllerCount = 3;
 
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ class VideoConductor {
       ..forEach((sub) => sub.cancel())
       ..clear();
     await _disposeAll();
+    playingVideoControllerNotifier.dispose();
     _controllers.clear();
     if (settings.keepScreenOn == KeepScreenOn.videoPlayback) {
       await windowService.keepScreenOn(false);
@@ -51,7 +54,7 @@ class VideoConductor {
     } else {
       controller = videoControllerFactory.buildController(
         entry,
-        playbackStateHandler: playbackStateHandler,
+        playbackStateHandler: _playbackStateHandler,
         settings: settings,
       );
       _subscriptions.add(controller.statusStream.listen((event) => _onControllerStatusChanged(entry, controller!, event)));
@@ -90,6 +93,8 @@ class VideoConductor {
     if (settings.keepScreenOn == KeepScreenOn.videoPlayback) {
       await windowService.keepScreenOn(status == VideoStatus.playing);
     }
+
+    playingVideoControllerNotifier.value = getPlayingController();
   }
 
   Future<void> _applyToAll(FutureOr Function(AvesVideoController controller) action) => Future.forEach<AvesVideoController>(_controllers, action);
diff --git a/lib/widgets/viewer/visual/controller_mixin.dart b/lib/widgets/viewer/visual/controller_mixin.dart
index 90fa9af8b..dc61282e3 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/viewer/visual/controller_mixin.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/viewer/visual/controller_mixin.dart
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
+import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:math';
+
 import 'package:aves/app_mode.dart';
 import 'package:aves/model/entry/entry.dart';
 import 'package:aves/model/entry/extensions/multipage.dart';
 import 'package:aves/model/entry/extensions/props.dart';
 import 'package:aves/model/settings/settings.dart';
+import 'package:aves/services/common/services.dart';
 import 'package:aves/theme/durations.dart';
 import 'package:aves/widgets/viewer/multipage/conductor.dart';
 import 'package:aves/widgets/viewer/multipage/controller.dart';
@@ -10,8 +14,10 @@ import 'package:aves/widgets/viewer/video/conductor.dart';
 import 'package:aves_model/aves_model.dart';
 import 'package:aves_video/aves_video.dart';
 import 'package:collection/collection.dart';
+import 'package:floating/floating.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/scheduler.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
 import 'package:provider/provider.dart';
 
 // state controllers/monitors
@@ -216,4 +222,50 @@ mixin EntryViewControllerMixin<T extends StatefulWidget> on State<T> {
   }
 
   Future<void> pauseVideoControllers() => context.read<VideoConductor>().pauseAll();
+
+  static const _pipRatioMax = Rational(43, 18);
+  static const _pipRatioMin = Rational(18, 43);
+
+  Future<void> updatePictureInPicture(BuildContext context) async {
+    if (context.mounted) {
+      if (settings.videoBackgroundMode == VideoBackgroundMode.pip) {
+        final playingController = context.read<VideoConductor>().getPlayingController();
+        if (playingController != null) {
+          final entrySize = playingController.entry.displaySize;
+          final entryAspectRatio = entrySize.aspectRatio;
+          final Rational pipAspectRatio;
+          if (entryAspectRatio > _pipRatioMax.aspectRatio) {
+            pipAspectRatio = _pipRatioMax;
+          } else if (entryAspectRatio < _pipRatioMin.aspectRatio) {
+            pipAspectRatio = _pipRatioMin;
+          } else {
+            pipAspectRatio = Rational(entrySize.width.round(), entrySize.height.round());
+          }
+
+          final viewSize = MediaQuery.sizeOf(context) * MediaQuery.devicePixelRatioOf(context);
+          final fittedSize = applyBoxFit(BoxFit.contain, entrySize, viewSize).destination;
+          final sourceRectHint = Rectangle<int>(
+            ((viewSize.width - fittedSize.width) / 2).round(),
+            ((viewSize.height - fittedSize.height) / 2).round(),
+            fittedSize.width.round(),
+            fittedSize.height.round(),
+          );
+
+          try {
+            final status = await Floating().enable(OnLeavePiP(
+              aspectRatio: pipAspectRatio,
+              sourceRectHint: sourceRectHint,
+            ));
+            debugPrint('Enabled picture-in-picture with status=$status');
+            return;
+          } on PlatformException catch (e, stack) {
+            await reportService.recordError(e, stack);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    debugPrint('Cancelling picture-in-picture');
+    await Floating().cancelOnLeavePiP();
+  }
 }