How to split the screen on Android: a complete guide for all devices

Multitasking on smartphones has long ceased to be a luxury - it is a necessity for those who are used to working with several applications at the same time. Split screen Android allows, for example, to chat in a messenger and simultaneously view a web page, compare prices in two stores, or transfer text from a document to a letter. However, not all users know that this function is available not only on flagship models, but also on most budget devices - the main thing is to know where to look for it.

In this article we will look at all the possible ways to activate the split-screen mode, including standard tools Android 10-14, proprietary shells from Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and even hidden functions for experienced users. We'll pay special attention to problems you might encounter (for example, why some apps don't support multitasking) and give recommendations for optimizing your experience in this mode.

If you've never used split screen or tried but didn't work, don't worry. We'll explain each step in detail, add screenshots of key points, and provide alternative solutions for devices where the feature is disabled by default. Let's start with the simplest method, which works on most modern smartphones.

1. Standard method: split the screen through the recent applications panel

The most universal method that works on clean Android (for example, on Google Pixel or Motorola) and most branded shells. It does not require installation of additional applications and takes literally 10 seconds. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the first applicationthat you want to place on half the screen. For example, Chrome or YouTube.
2. Tap on the "Recent apps" button (usually a square at the bottom of the screen or a delayed swipe up gesture).
3. In the list of open applications, find application icon (not preview!) and press it with your finger.
4. In the menu that appears, select Split screen (or Open in multitasking mode).
5. The bottom half of the screen will remain with the first application, and the top half will offer to select the second from the list of recent ones.

If the item Split screen is missing, this can mean one of three things:

• 📱 Your device does not support the function (relevant for very old models on Android 7 and below).
• 🔧 Function disabled in settings (we'll talk about this in the next section).
• 🚫 The application is not compatible with multitasking (for example, some games or banking apps).

On Samsung Galaxy (shell One UI) and Xiaomi (shell MIUI) the interface may be slightly different, but the principle remains the same. For example, on Samsung instead of holding the application icon, you need to click on the application icon in the header. windows (next to the close button) and select Open in split view.

2. Enabling the function in the settings (if it is disabled)

On some devices, the split screen mode is hidden in the depths of the settings. This is often found on smartphones with highly customized shells, for example, Huawei EMUI or Oppo ColorOS. To activate the function:

1. Go to Settings → System → Gestures and buttons (on some devices the path may be Settings → Additional functions).
2. Find the section Multitasking or Split screen.
3. Activate the slider Enable split mode.
4. If there is an option Activation typeselect Gesture or Button depending from preferences.

On Xiaomi the path may look like this: Settings → All settings → Accessibility → Split screenHere you can also configure whether it will be. function to work in horizontal orientation.

Manufacturer	Path to settings	Features
Samsung (One UI)	Settings → Additional features → Laboratory	You can enable a quick split gesture (swipe diagonally from a corner).
Xiaomi (MIUI)	Settings → Accessibility → Split screen	Supports three applications simultaneously (on some models).
Huawei (EMUI)	Settings → System → Multitasking	The function may be called "Parallel windows".
Pure Android	Settings → System → Gestures → Multitasking	Setting the gesture for splitting (swipe up and hold).

⚠️ Attention: On some devices Huawei and Honor after updating to EMUI 12+ the split screen function may disappear. In this case, try resetting the settings. gestures in the section Settings → System → Gestures → Reset.

3. Split the screen using gestures (for advanced users)

If you are tired of opening the recent applications panel every time, you can configure quick gestures to activate multitasking. This method requires enabling hidden functions or using third-party utilities, but significantly speeds up the work.

On the clean Android 12+ there is a built-in gesture:

1. Open the first application.
2. Swipe your finger from the bottom edge of the screen up and hold your finger in the centeruntil the recent panel appears.
3. Without releasing finger, drag the application to the top of the screen.
4. Select the second application from the list.

For devices with shells (Samsung, Xiaomi), you can use the application Taskbar (available in Google Play). It adds a taskbar like on a PC and allows you to drag and drop application windows:

• 📲 Set Taskbar from Play Market.
• 🔧 Grant permission to Display on top of other windows (in accessibility settings).
• 🖱️ Long-press the application icon on the taskbar and drag it to the edge of the screen.

⚠️ Attention: Applications like Taskbar may conflict with proprietary skins on Xiaomi before. By installing, disable battery optimization for this application in the section Settings → Applications → Taskbar → Battery.

How to return standard multitasking after Taskbar?

If after using Taskbar it stopped the standard recent applications panel will work, reset the gesture settings in the section Settings → System → Gestures → Reset. Also check if system applications are disabled in the settings (for example, "Launcher" or "System UI").

4. Alternative methods: third-party applications and ADB

If your device does not support split screen at the system level, you can use third-party solutions: We will consider two proven options: the application Split Screen Launcher and activating the hidden function through ADB.

Method 1: Split Screen Launcher

• 📥Download Split Screen Launcher from Google Play.
• 🔧 Open the application and grant access to Accessibility.
• 📱 Select two applications from the list - they will open in split mode.

The application works even on devices where the function is disabled by the manufacturer, but may slow down on weak smartphones.

Method 2: Enabling via ADB (for advanced)

If you are ready to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can force split screen activation:

adb shell settings put global enable_multi_window true

After running this command, reboot your device. The function will appear in the recent applications panel.

On some devices Samsung s One UI 5.0+ this method may not work due to manufacturer restrictions. In this case, all that remains is to use third-party launchers.

Install ADB drivers on the PC

Enable USB debugging in the developer settings

Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trusted device

Download Android platform tools SDK-->

5. Why do some applications not work in split screen?

Not all apps support multitasking. Here are the main reasons why an application may not open in split mode:

• 🔒 Security restrictions: Banking applications (for example, SberBank Online or Tinkoff) often block multitasking to prevent data interception.
• 🎮 Games and heavy applications: most games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact) are not optimized for split screen.
• 📺 Media players: some video players (for example, Netflix or Twitch) disable multitasking due to DRM protection.
• 🛠️ Technical limitations: the application may simply not have support multi-window mode in your manifest.

To check whether the application supports split screen, you can use the utility App Inspector (available in Play Market). It shows whether support android:resizeableActivity="true" is declared in the application manifest.

If the application is critical to your work, but does not support multitasking, try:

• 🔄 Use picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for video players.
• 📱 Open the application in window mode via Taskbar or Island (for Android 10+).
• 🖥️ Connect your smartphone to the monitor via DeX (Samsung) or Desktop Mode (for other brands).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 13+ Google has tightened the requirements for multitasking. If the application has not been updated for more than a year, the likelihood of it working correctly in split screen approaches zero.

6. Optimizing work in split screen

Split screen is only half the battle. To work effectively, you need to properly configure the interaction between applications. Here are some tips:

• 🔄 Quick switch: Tap and hold divide line between windows to swap them.
• 📏 Resizing: Drag the dividing line up or down to change the proportions (for example, 70/30 instead of 50/50).
• 🔒 Pinning a window: on some devices you can freeze one of the windows so that it does not close when switching (for example, on Samsung DeX).
• 🔊 Mute the sound: if a video is playing in one of the windows, the sound will only come from it. To hear both applications, connect Bluetooth headphones.

For convenience, you can create desktop shortcut to quickly launch frequently used pairs of applications:

1. Open the first application in split screen.
2. Select the second application.
3. Tap and hold the icon recent applications (square) - an option will appear Save as shortcut.

On Samsung Galaxy s One UI 5.0+ there is an additional function App pairs:

1. Go in Settings → Additional functions → Laboratory.
2. Activate Application pairs.
3. Select two apps you want to link (for example, WhatsApp and Google Keep).
4. Now, when you hold the icon of one of the applications, you will be offered to open them together.

7. Solving problems with split screen

Sometimes the function does not work correctly: applications crash, the screen flickers or the split mode does not activate at all.

Problem	Possible reason	Solution
Function not in the menu	Disabled by the manufacturer or outdated version of Android	Try the ADB command or third-party applications
Applications close themselves	Insufficient RAM	Close background processes or restart the device
The screen flickers when split	Conflict with the shell or launcher	Reset the launcher settings or disable animation in the developer settings
Cannot resize windows	Shell limitation (for example, on some Xiaomi)	Use horizontal orientation or third-party launchers

If split screen stopped working after a system update, try:

1. Clear application cache Settings (Settings → Applications → Settings → Storage → Clear cache).
2. Reset settings gestures section in the Settings → System → Gestures.
3. Roll back update via Settings → System → Reset → Roll back application updates (if the problem appeared after the update Google Play Services).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android Go Edition (for example, Nokia 1.4 or Samsung Galaxy A03 Core) the split screen function can be completely disabled at the firmware level. In this case, all that remains is to use alternative launchers.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about split screen on Android

Is it possible to split the screen into three parts?

On most devices - no, only on two. However, on some models Xiaomi (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) and Samsung (with One UI 4.0+) there is an experimental function three-window mode. activate: Three-window mode phone

1. Turn on Developer Mode (click 7 times on the build number in Settings → About phone).
2. Go to Settings → System → For Developers.
3. Find the option force_resizable_activities and enable it.
4. Restart the device.

After this, in the recent applications panel it will be possible to split the screen into three parts (not available for all applications).

Why did the split screen disappear after the update?

This is a typical problem after major updates (for example, from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13). Manufacturers sometimes remove functions from the main menu, but they can be returned:

• Check if the function is hidden in Settings → Accessibility.
• Reset the launcher settings (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear data).
• If all else fails, use the ADBcommand:

  adb shell cmd overlay enable-exclusive com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural_extra_wide_back

How to take a screenshot of only one window in a split screen?

Standard button combination (Power + Volume Down) takes a screenshot of the entire screen. To capture only one window:

1. Activate gesture mode to take a screenshot (on most devices, slide the edge of your palm across the screen).
2. Tap the window you want to capture before the gesture.
3. Use apps like Screen Masterthat allow you to select the area to screenshot.

Does split screen work in landscape mode?

Yes, but not on all devices. Samsung And Google Pixel the function works stably, and on some Xiaomi and Realme it can turn off when turning. To force activation:

1. Turn on auto-rotate screen.
2. Activate split screen in vertical mode.
3. Rotate the device - the windows should remain in their positions places.

If the windows move, try fixing the orientation in the developer settings (disable_rotation).

Can I use split screen on an Android tablet?

On tablets (for example, Samsung Galaxy Tab or Lenovo Tab) the function works even better than on smartphones. Additional options are available here:

• Floating windows: you can open up to 4 applications in separate windows (activated in Settings → Multitasking).
• DeX mode: connect the tablet to the monitor - get a full-fledged desktop with multitasking support.
• Gestures for windows: on some models you can resize windows using gestures (for example, by pinching two fingers together).

On Android 12L (special version for tablets) there is also support for paired applicationsthat automatically open together (for example, Gmail and Calendar).