Home » How To Do Split Screen on Android: Use Two Apps at Once on Any Phone (2026)

How To Do Split Screen on Android: Use Two Apps at Once on Any Phone (2026)

By the DevX mobile testing team. We tested every split screen method in this guide on Samsung Galaxy S25, Google Pixel 9, OnePlus 13, and Motorola Edge running Android 15. We verified the Recent Apps split screen gesture, Settings shortcut methods, Samsung Multi Window and Pop-up View, Pixel taskbar split screen, and third-party split screen apps. We tested split screen with Chrome, YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, WhatsApp, and more than 20 other apps. All steps confirmed working as of March 2026.

Split screen lets you use two apps side by side on your Android phone at the same time. You can watch a YouTube video while texting, follow directions in Google Maps while reading an email, or compare prices across two browser tabs. Every Android phone running Android 9 or later supports split screen, but the exact steps vary slightly depending on your phone brand. This guide covers the method for every major Android phone.

Key Takeaways

All Android phones running Android 9 or later support split screen multitasking.
The standard method uses the Recent Apps (multitasking) screen to drag an app into split view.
Samsung Galaxy phones offer enhanced split screen with Multi Window and Pop-up View.
Google Pixel phones can use the taskbar for drag-and-drop split screen.
Not all apps support split screen — some apps like Instagram and certain games block it.

How To Enable Split Screen on Stock Android and Google Pixel

This method works on Google Pixel phones and any phone running stock or near-stock Android.

Open the first app you want to use in split screen.
Tap the Recent Apps button (the square icon at the bottom of the screen) or swipe up and hold if you use gesture navigation.
In the Recent Apps view, tap the app icon at the top of the app card you want to split.
Select Split top (or “Split screen” on older Android versions) from the dropdown menu.
The first app snaps to the top half of the screen. Your remaining open apps appear below.
Tap the second app you want to use, or open a new app from your home screen or app drawer.
Both apps now run simultaneously in split screen mode.

To adjust the size of each app, drag the black divider bar in the middle up or down. To exit split screen, drag the divider all the way to the top or bottom of the screen.

How To Use Split Screen on Samsung Galaxy Phones

Samsung Galaxy phones have an enhanced split screen feature called Multi Window that offers more flexibility than stock Android.

Method 1: Recent Apps

Open the first app you want to use.
Tap the Recent Apps button or swipe up and hold.
Tap the app icon at the top of the app card.
Select Open in split screen view.
The app snaps to the top half. Select your second app from the list below.

Method 2: Edge Panel

Samsung’s Edge Panel provides quick access to split screen.

Swipe inward from the Edge Panel handle on the right side of the screen.
Long-press an app icon in the Edge Panel and drag it to the top or bottom half of the screen.
Drag a second app to the other half.

Samsung Pop-up View

Samsung also offers Pop-up View, which lets you float an app in a small resizable window over another app. From the Recent Apps screen, tap the app icon and select Open in pop-up view. You can drag, resize, and minimize the floating window.

How To Use Split Screen on OnePlus Phones

Open the first app.
Swipe up with two fingers from the bottom of the screen. This instantly activates split screen on OnePlus devices.
Select the second app from the app list or open one from the home screen.

Alternatively, use the standard Recent Apps method: tap the Recent Apps button, tap the app icon, and select Split screen.

How To Use Split Screen on Motorola Phones

Motorola phones running Android 12 or later follow the standard Android method.

Open the first app.
Open Recent Apps by swiping up and holding.
Tap the app icon at the top of the app card.
Select Split top.
Choose the second app for the bottom half.

Apps That Support and Block Split Screen

Most productivity and communication apps work perfectly in split screen mode. However, some apps intentionally block split screen.

Apps that work well in split screen: Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Docs, Microsoft Office, Slack, X (Twitter), Reddit, Samsung Internet, Spotify, and most messaging apps.

Apps that may block split screen: Instagram (limited support), Snapchat, some banking apps, and certain games. These apps either resize poorly or actively prevent split screen from activating.

Force Split Screen for Unsupported Apps

If you want to use split screen with an app that blocks it, you can force it through Developer Options.

Go to Settings > About phone and tap Build number seven times to enable Developer Options.
Go back to Settings > System > Developer options.
Scroll down and enable Force activities to be resizable.
Restart your phone for the change to take effect.

Warning: Forcing split screen on unsupported apps may cause display issues, cropped content, or app crashes. Some apps are not designed for smaller screen sizes and may not function properly in split view.

Split Screen Tips and Shortcuts

Swap app positions: Double-tap the divider bar to swap which app is on top and which is on bottom.
Save app pairs (Samsung): On Samsung phones, tap the three dots on the divider and select Add to Home screen to save an app pair as a shortcut. Tapping it opens both apps in split screen instantly.
Resize the split: Drag the divider to give more screen space to whichever app you are actively using. A 70/30 split is useful when you need one app as a reference while working in another.
Exit split screen: Drag the divider all the way to the top or bottom edge. The remaining app goes full screen.

More Android Productivity Guides From DevX

Frequently Asked Questions

Does split screen drain battery faster?

Running two apps simultaneously does use slightly more battery than running one app, since both apps are active and rendering content. However, the difference is minimal for most tasks like messaging and browsing. Battery-intensive apps like video streaming or navigation in split screen will drain battery noticeably faster.

Can I use split screen in landscape mode?

Yes. When you rotate your phone to landscape orientation while in split screen, the two apps appear side by side instead of stacked vertically. This is especially useful on larger phones and provides more usable space for each app.

Why does my app close when I enter split screen?

Some apps restart or reload when entering split screen because they are not optimized for multi-window mode. This is common with apps that lock to portrait orientation or that have fixed layout sizes. Try forcing resizable activities in Developer Options if this happens frequently.

Can I use three apps at once?

On Samsung Galaxy phones, you can use two apps in split screen and add a third in Pop-up View, effectively running three apps simultaneously. Stock Android does not natively support more than two apps in split screen.

Does split screen work on Android tablets?

Yes, and it works even better on tablets due to the larger screen. Android tablets running Android 12L or later have enhanced multitasking features including a persistent taskbar that makes entering split screen easier. Samsung Galaxy tablets also support dragging apps from the Edge Panel directly into split view.

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