Modern smartphones have turned into powerful portable computers capable of performing many tasks simultaneously. The operating system Android 12 has significantly improved multitasking, making the split-screen function more accessible and intuitive. Splitting the display allows you, for example, to watch a video from YouTube and simultaneously chat in instant messenger or compare products in an online store without minimizing the application.
However, many users still do not know how to activate this mode, getting confused in gestures or not finding the right buttons in the interface. In this article, we will analyze in detail all available activation methods split screen on devices running the “twelfth” version of Android, consider the nuances of working with various manufacturers’ shells and answer frequently asked questions.
It is worth noting that the appearance of the menu and the arrangement of elements may differ slightly depending on the brand of your device. We will look at universal methods for a clean system, as well as features for popular shells, such as One UI from Samsung or MIUI from Xiaomi.
Preparing the device and checking compatibility
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your device is technically ready to work in multi-window mode. Although Android 12 supports this feature at the system level, some manufacturers may limit it on budget models with low RAM. Check to see if you have at least two applications running that you plan to use simultaneously.
It is important to understand that not all apps support split-screen work. Social networks, browsers and instant messengers usually work correctly, while some games or video players may be forced to expand to the entire display. If the application does not support the function, the system will notify you about this when you try to activate the mode.
For comfortable work, it is recommended to use a device with a screen diagonal of at least 6 inches. On small screens, text in apps may become too small to read, reducing usability. Also make sure that you have the latest firmware installed, as early builds of Android 12 may have contained bugs that prevent windows from working correctly.
Before starting experiments, close all unnecessary background applications through the multitasking menu to free up RAM and avoid system slowdown.
If you are the owner of a smartphone with a custom skin, go to the settings and look for a section dedicated to advanced features or multitasking. Sometimes you need to manually enable the “Allow window resizing” checkbox to force activation of the function in unsupported applications.
The classic method through the recent applications menu
The most common and universal method of activating split screen is to use the recent applications menu. This method works on most devices running stock Android 12, as well as Pixel, Motorola and Nokia smartphones. To get started, open the first app you want to pin to the top of the screen.
Once the app launches, swipe up from the bottom (or press the square button if you have classic navigation) to open the list of running apps. Find the icon of the selected application at the top of the card. On pure Android, this is usually the icon of the application itself, which you need to click on.
In the context menu that opens, select the item Split screen (or Split screen). The screen will instantly split in half: the selected application will occupy the top part, and a list of other running apps or the desktop will be displayed at the bottom for selecting a second application.
- 📱 Click on the application icon in the recent tasks menu.
- 🖥️ Select the “Split screen” option in the drop-down list.
- 🔽 Click on the second application so that it opens in the lower half.
After activating the mode, you will see a dividing line between the two windows. You can drag this bar up or down to change the proportions of the space it takes up. However, remember that the minimum window size is limited by the system: you cannot make one of the applications too small, otherwise it will automatically minimize.
☑️ Algorithm for enabling split screen
Using gestures and the taskbar
In Android 12, Google has introduced a more advanced gesture system that allows you to control windows even more faster, especially on devices with large screens or tablets. If you have gesture navigation enabled, you can use swipes to quickly switch between viewing modes without having to go into a deep settings menu.
Some devices, especially tablets and foldable smartphones, may display a docked taskbar (Dock) at the bottom of the screen. You can drag an application icon directly from this panel onto an empty area of the screen to instantly create a split window. This action is similar to dragging files on a computer.
There is also a method using a swipe from the edge of the screen. Long-press an app in the recent tasks menu and drag it to the top or bottom edge of the display. The system recognizes this gesture as a command to dock the window. If the application “sticks” to the edge, then the mode has been activated successfully.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with narrow screens, gestures may not work correctly due to accidental taps. In such cases, it is better to use the classic method through the menu button to avoid unintentionally minimizing apps.
For users who frequently multitask, it is recommended to enable the display of recent applications in a grid rather than a list. This simplifies the visual search for the desired app and makes the process of dragging icons more convenient. This option is often found in the launcher settings or in the “System” section.
Features on Samsung and Xiaomi smartphones
Electronics manufacturers often modify the standard Android interface by adding their own unique features. Owners of devices Samsung Galaxy with the One UI shell have access to advanced multitasking capabilities, including running more than two applications simultaneously in Pop-up mode.
To split the screen on Samsung, open the recent applications menu, click on the app icon at the top and select “Open in split screen mode.” A special feature of One UI is the ability to save a couple of applications as a shortcut on the desktop. This allows you to launch two specific applications in separate mode with one touch.
On smartphones Xiaomi with the MIUI shell, the process is slightly different. This often involves swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding to bring up the multitasking menu. After selecting an application to split the screen, Xiaomi offers a convenient quick access panel to frequently used apps for the second window.
| Brand / Shell | Activation method | Additional. features |
|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel (Stock) | Icon in the task menu | Basic split screen |
| Samsung (One UI) | Task menu + Edge panel | Up to 3 windows, saving pairs |
| Xiaomi (MIUI) | Long swipe up | Floating windows |
| Motorola (MyUX) | Menu button | Gestures Moto Actions |
Please note that on Samsung devices the function Good Lock allows you to customize the behavior of the split screen beyond recognition. You can customize window transparency, change the switching animation, and even set your own key combinations for quick access to the mode.
Samsung Secret Feature
On Galaxy devices, you can enable Taskbar mode, which makes the interface similar to Windows, allowing you to run applications in floating windows on top of other apps without necessarily splitting the screen in half.
Customization window size and border management
One of the key features of working in split-screen mode is the ability to flexibly manage space. Android 12 allows you to resize each window independently by moving the dividing line. This is especially useful if one app needs more space to display content, such as a map in a navigator.
To change the size, look for a dark or light bar between two apps. Press and hold on it, then drag in the desired direction. The system will automatically adjust the application interface to the new area size. Some apps may restart if the aspect ratio changes suddenly.
If you want to temporarily hide one of the applications without closing it completely, drag the dividing line to the very edge of the screen. The application will be minimized to the background, but will retain its state. You can get it back by dragging the line back again or selecting the app from the recent taskbar.
In landscape mode, apps are placed next to each other rather than on top of each other. This may be more convenient for working with documents or tables where display width is important.
Solving problems and incompatible applications
Sometimes users encounter a situation where the split screen button is inactive or missing from the menu. Most often this is due to the fact that the developer of a particular application has prohibited working in multi-window mode. This is often seen in banking applications for security reasons or in games that require complete immersion.
If you critically need to run an unsupported application in split screen, you can use developer mode. Enable it by clicking 7 times on the build number in the About the phonesection. Then find the item Forced resizing of actions and activate it. After the reboot, most applications will become available for split screen.
⚠️ Attention: Forced resizing may lead to incorrect display of the application interface, button overlap, or app crashes. Use this function with caution and only for those apps where visual errors are not critical.
Problems may also arise due to insufficient RAM. If the system feels low on resources, it can automatically close one of the windows while trying to launch a second heavy application. In this case, it is recommended to close all background processes before activating the mode.
Forcing the activation of developer mode bypasses software restrictions, but does not guarantee stable operation of the application - the interface may “jiggle” or become unreadable.
Another common problem is the inability to enter text in one of the windows when the on-screen keyboard is active. The keyboard may overlap the second application. To solve this problem, use a floating keyboard if your shell supports such a function, or temporarily collapse the keyboard by swiping down.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to run three applications at the same time on Android 12?
The standard split-screen function only supports two applications at a time. However, on some devices (for example, Samsung with Pop-up view), you can launch a third application as a floating window on top of two split screens.
Why does the sound disappear in one of the applications when splitting the screen?
Android 12 usually allows you to play audio in only one active window to avoid overlapping audio tracks. The sound will come from the application that you launched last or that has focus. Some players can run in the background, even if the window is minimized.
How to exit split-screen mode?
To exit the mode, drag the dividing line completely up or down so that one of the applications takes up the entire screen. Or press the Home button to minimize both apps, or the Back button if it's set to close the current window.
Does splitting the screen affect battery consumption?
Yes, running two active apps at the same time increases the load on the processor and screen, which leads to faster battery drain. It is recommended to monitor the charge level when using multitasking for a long time.
Is it possible to copy text from one window to another?
Yes, the clipboard works globally for the entire system. You can select text in the top application, click “Copy”, and then paste it into the input field of the bottom application with a standard long press.