PiP and PbP Monitor Modes Explained for Viewing Two Devices at Once

Two devices, one screen, and two completely different ways of arranging them: that is the entire premise behind PiP and PbP modes, and mixing the two up leads to picking the wrong one for what you actually wanted to see.

Quick Answer

Picture-in-Picture places a second input in a small floating window layered over the first, useful for keeping an eye on a secondary source without dedicating real space to it. Picture-by-Picture instead splits the panel into two genuinely separate live regions sitting side by side, giving each source its own usable area. On a wide 21:9 screen, a PbP split gives each source meaningfully more room than the same split would on a standard 16:9 monitor, since there is more total width to divide.

🖼️ Picture-in-Picture: a small window over the main source

PiP is built for monitoring a secondary source without giving up your primary screen space to it.

The small overlay window in PiP mode typically occupies a corner of the screen at around 15% of its total width, usually resizable and repositionable within the monitor's own menu, while the main input fills the rest of the display normally. This suits situations like keeping an eye on a security camera feed, a video call, or a second computer's activity while your primary task occupies almost the entire screen. The trade-off is that the PiP window is genuinely small, unsuitable for any task requiring you to actually read or work within that secondary source in detail.

⬛ Picture-by-Picture: two genuinely usable regions

PbP takes a different approach, dividing the panel rather than overlaying one source on another.

In PbP mode, the screen splits into two independent regions, commonly left and right halves though some monitors support more configurations, with each region displaying a completely separate input at a genuinely usable size. On a wider 21:9 panel, each half of a PbP split still gets meaningfully more horizontal space than the same split would on a standard-shaped monitor, since the total width being divided is greater to begin with. This suits tasks like comparing two computers' outputs directly, or genuinely working within both sources rather than just monitoring one.

🔍 Why support for these modes varies so much by model

Not every monitor offers both modes, or offers them with the same flexibility, and checking the specific model in front of you is the only reliable way to know.

PiP and PbP support depends on the specific video processing hardware built into a given monitor, and support varies meaningfully between models, even within the same manufacturer's range. Some panels offer only one of the two modes, some limit which input combinations can be used together, and some restrict the resolution or refresh rate available while either mode is active. Plugging both sources in and working through the on-screen menu directly is the quickest way to find out exactly what a specific unit does, rather than assuming a monitor supports these modes because a similar-looking model does.

The panels themselves sit in the office monitor range and the full AOC lineup, and a KVM switch from monitor accessories might suit your two-device workflow better than either mode.

🎯 Who actually reaches for each mode day to day

Matching the mode to a real job, rather than the feature list, makes the choice obvious faster than reading a spec sheet does.

A trader or analyst watching a live feed or a dashboard while the bulk of their attention stays on a primary application is the classic PiP case: the secondary source needs to be visible, not readable in detail, and a small corner window does that job without stealing space from the main task. A support technician comparing two computers side by side, or someone reviewing footage from one machine while editing notes on another, is the classic PbP case instead, since both sources genuinely need to be read rather than glanced at.

Console gamers switching between a games console and a PC on one screen sometimes reach for PiP to keep an eye on a chat overlay or a second feed while the main game runs full screen, though this depends heavily on the specific monitor supporting that particular input combination.

🛠️ Turning either mode on for the first time

Getting PiP or PbP running the first time is usually a short menu hunt rather than a complicated setup.

Connect both sources to the monitor using two separate video inputs first, since neither mode works with only one signal present. Open the on-screen menu, typically through a physical button or joystick on the back or underside of the panel, and look for a PIP/PBP entry, sometimes grouped under a Picture or Multi-Window section rather than sitting on its own. Selecting the mode usually then offers a further choice of window size and position for PiP, or split ratio for PbP, though the exact wording and options vary meaningfully between manufacturers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between PiP and PbP?

PiP overlays a small secondary window on top of the main picture, useful for monitoring only, while PbP splits the screen into two genuinely separate, similarly sized regions you can actually work within.

Which mode is better for actually working with two sources at once?

PbP, since it gives each source a proper usable area rather than a small overlay window better suited to monitoring than working.

Does every ultrawide monitor support both modes?

No. Support varies significantly by model and depends on the specific video processing hardware built into that panel, so always check the exact model's specification sheet.

Can I resize the PiP window?

On many monitors that support it, yes, along with repositioning it to a different corner of the screen, though exact options vary by model.

Does using PiP or PbP reduce the resolution or refresh rate available?

On some monitors, yes, particularly when both regions are active simultaneously. Check the specific model's manual for any stated limitations while either mode is in use.

Do both sources need to come from the same type of device?

No. PiP and PbP generally accept any combination of connected sources, such as a PC and a games console together, provided the specific monitor's own input restrictions allow that particular pairing of ports.