Split screen lets you use two compatible apps at the same time on one Android screen. The quickest method on most phones is to open Recent Apps, tap the first app’s icon, choose Split screen, then select the second app.
The exact wording varies by manufacturer.
Use Split Screen on Google Pixel
On current Pixel phones:
- Open the first app.
- Swipe up from the bottom, hold briefly, then release to open Overview.
- Tap the app’s icon above its preview.
- Tap Split screen.
- Choose the second app.
Google currently documents this as the normal Pixel split-screen method.
If you use 3-button navigation, open Recent Apps with the Overview button instead.
Use Split Screen on Samsung Galaxy
On a Samsung Galaxy phone:
- Open the first app.
- Open Recent apps.
- Tap the app icon above its preview.
- Tap Open in split screen view.
- Select the second app.
Samsung calls its multitasking system Multi window.
The divider between the two apps lets you control how much screen space each app gets.
Use Samsung’s Two-Finger Split-Screen Gesture
Samsung devices running recent One UI versions can also use a gesture.
First enable it:
Settings > Advanced features > Multi window > Swipe for split screen
Then, while an app is open, swipe upward from the bottom of the screen with two fingers.
The current app moves into split-screen mode and Android lets you choose the second app.
Samsung currently documents this gesture for devices running One UI 6 or later.
This is useful if you use split screen frequently and do not want to open Recent Apps every time.
Resize the Two Apps
Drag the divider between the apps.
Move it toward one app to give the other app more room.
On a phone held vertically, the apps are usually arranged top and bottom.
In landscape orientation or on larger screens, they may appear side by side.
Some apps enforce a minimum window size, so the divider may stop before reaching the edge.
Exit Split Screen
The simplest method is to drag the divider all the way toward the top or bottom until one app takes over the screen.
On Pixel, Google currently documents dragging the divider to the top or bottom to return to one app.
Samsung also lets you close individual Multi window apps through the window controls.
Pressing Home may leave the split-screen pair available in Recent Apps rather than permanently closing it.
Save an App Pair on Samsung
If you regularly use the same two apps together, Samsung can save them as an App Pair on supported Galaxy devices.
While the two apps are in split screen:
- Tap the divider between them.
- Tap the Add to app pair option.
- Choose where to save the pair.
You can then launch both apps together later.
This is useful for combinations such as:
- Chrome and Samsung Notes;
- YouTube and Messages;
- Gmail and a document;
- Maps and a messaging app.
Split Screen on Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet
Large-screen Pixel devices provide additional multitasking methods.
On Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, you can drag an app from the taskbar into part of the screen to start split-screen mode.
Google also supports selecting Split from Overview.
On Pixel Tablet with newer Android versions, you can save app pairs for quicker reuse.
These controls are designed for larger displays, so do not expect every phone to show the same taskbar options.
Why Is the Split Screen Option Missing?
The most common reason is the app.
Not every Android app supports split screen.
Google and Samsung both state that some apps cannot run in split-screen mode.
Try the same steps with common apps such as:
- Chrome;
- Gmail;
- Settings;
- YouTube;
- Notes.
If those work, the original app is probably restricting Multi window.
Why Does One App Keep Closing?
If one app repeatedly closes while you use two apps together, test it normally in full screen.
If it also crashes there, split screen is probably not the real problem.
Update the app first.
If several apps began closing after an Android update, use Apps Keep Crashing After Android Update instead.
Older phones with limited memory may also struggle to keep two demanding apps active at once.
Split Screen Is Slow or Laggy
Running two active apps can demand more memory and processing power.
If the phone becomes slow:
- Restart it.
- Update Android and both apps.
- Check available storage.
- Test lighter apps together.
- Check whether the phone is overheating.
Do not clear every app cache simply because split screen feels slow.
If the entire phone is sluggish outside split screen too, see How to Speed Up a Slow Android Phone.
If storage is nearly full, use How to Free Up Storage Space on Android.
Split Screen vs Picture-in-Picture
These features solve different problems.
Split screen keeps two apps active in separate parts of the display.
Picture-in-picture places a small floating video or compatible app window over another app.
Picture-in-picture is often better when you mainly want to keep watching a video while doing something else.
Google documents Picture-in-picture separately from split screen because an app can support one feature without supporting the other.
Useful Ways to Use Split Screen
Split screen is most useful when both apps need to remain visible.
For example:
Browser + Notes: research while writing notes.
Email + document: read instructions while editing a file.
YouTube + Notes: take notes while watching a tutorial.
Calculator + browser: work through prices or calculations.
Messages + Maps: discuss plans while keeping directions visible.
If you need to save something visible on either side of the screen, see How to Take a Screenshot on Android.
For document-heavy work, How to Scan Documents Using an Android Phone can also fit well with a notes or cloud-storage app.
Does Split Screen Use More Battery?
It can.
Two active apps may use more:
- processing power;
- memory;
- network activity;
- screen time.
The actual difference depends on the apps.
Using Notes beside a browser is very different from running navigation beside video streaming.
If battery life is poor even when you are not multitasking, see Why Your Android Battery Drains Fast.
The Main Method to Remember
For most Android phones:
Open the first app > Recent Apps > tap the app icon > Split screen > choose the second app
On Samsung, the wording is usually Open in split screen view, and newer Galaxy phones can also use the two-finger Multi window gesture.
If the option is missing for only one app, the app itself is usually the limitation rather than a problem with Android.
