Multitasking is a key feature of a modern mobile operating system that allows users to perform multiple actions simultaneously without the need to constantly switch between tabs. In version Android 10 the split-screen function has been significantly improved compared to previous releases, becoming more intuitive and accessible to a wide range of devices. This feature turns your smartphone into a powerful tool for work, allowing you, for example, to respond to messages while watching a video or compare products in an online store by looking at a map of store locations.
Activating split-screen mode, often called Split Screen, does not require root access or installing third-party software, since this option is built directly into the core of the Google system. However, the implementation interface may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer of your gadget: shells from Xiaomi, Samsung or Oppo have their own unique gestures and button layouts. Understanding the general principles of how this function works will help you quickly adapt to any device and increase your productivity significantly. MIUI from Xiaomi, One UI from Samsung or ColorOS from Oppo have their own unique gestures and button layouts. Understanding the general principles of how this function works will help you quickly adapt to any device and increase your productivity significantly.
In this guide, we will examine in detail all the ways to activate multitasking, possible limitations and settings that you may encounter. You'll learn which apps support this mode and which will be forced to launch in full screen despite your attempts to split the display. We will also look at hidden developer settings that allow you to force split screen even for those apps that are not officially adapted for this format.
Standard methods of activating split screen
The most common and universal method of enabling multitasking mode on devices running Android 10 is associated with using the recent applications menu. This method works on most smartphones with “pure” Android, as well as on models from Motorola, Nokia and Sony. First, you need to open the applications that you plan to use simultaneously so that they are recorded in the history of running tasks.
After that, call up the recent applications menu. If you are using the classic navigation with three buttons at the bottom of the screen, click on the square button Overview or Menu. If you're using modern gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold your finger in the center of the display for a second until the list of running app cards opens. Find the card of the first application, which should occupy the top or left part of the screen.
On the application card, find the icon at the top of the preview - usually this is the app logo or three vertical dots. Click on this icon to open the window management context menu. In the list of available actions, select Split screen (or Split screen). After this, the selected application will occupy the upper half of the display, and a list of other recent applications will appear at the bottom for selecting a second app.
☑️ Checking readiness for split screen
If you do not see a split screen option in the menu, this may mean that a particular application does not support this function at the code level. In this case, the system simply will not offer you this option, and you will have to look for alternative solutions or use other apps. Some instant messengers and games deliberately block this mode to prevent interface errors or cheating in online modes.
Features of interfaces from different manufacturers
Although the basic logic of operation Android 10 is the same, smartphone manufacturers often make their own changes to the user interface, which affects how multitasking is activated. Owners of devices Samsung with a shell One UI may notice that the process has become even simpler: in the recent applications menu, just click on the application icon at the top of the card, and the split-screen item will appear one of the first in the list. In addition, Samsung allows you to pin applications to always run in split mode through the settings.
Users of smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi with a shell MIUI may encounter additional gestures. On many models of this brand, it is enough to open the application and then make a specific three-finger swipe from the bottom up or to the side to instantly activate the split-screen mode. This gesture can be configured in the section Advanced → Multitasking, where you can also choose which apps will open in a small window and which ones will open in full screen.
On devices Huawei and Honor with a shell EMUI or Magic UI the “Floating Window” function is often used in combination with split screen. Here you can drag applications from the dock directly onto the screen, creating complex window configurations.
⚠️ Attention: On smartphones with a small screen diagonal (less than 5.5 inches), manufacturers can programmatically block the split-screen function, as the application interface will become unreadable. In such cases, the option may not be in the menu, even if the system is technically capable of performing it.
Setting window size and managing applications
Once you have successfully split the screen into two, you have the ability to flexibly manage the space allocated for each application. Between the two active windows there is a special dividing bar that can be moved up and down (in portrait orientation) or left and right (in landscape). By dragging this bar, you can give priority to one of the applications, giving it 70% or more of the display space.
If you try to move the dividing bar too far towards one of the applications, the system will prompt you to minimize the second application to Pop-up view (pop-up window) mode or close it completely. This feature is especially useful when you need to temporarily focus on one task, but don't want to lose the context of a second application. In some shells, when minimized, the application turns into a small floating circle or icon that can be moved around the screen.
To close the split-screen mode, simply drag the dividing bar to the very edge of the display, completely blocking one of the windows. An alternative method is to press the Home button or swipe to return to the Home screen, which typically minimizes both apps, keeping their state in memory. When you reopen through the recent tasks menu, you can see a combined card of two applications, which allows you to quickly return to your work session.
If the dividing bar does not respond to touches, try clearing the launcher cache or restarting the device, as this may be a temporary system failure of the interface.
It is worth noting that in landscape orientation the operating logic may change: applications are located not above each other, but side by side, which is convenient for working with tables or documents. However, not all apps display correctly in landscape mode when split screen, which can result in distorted graphics or overlapping controls.
Force activation for unsupported apps
Sometimes a situation arises when you critically need to use two applications at the same time, but one of them does not support split-screen mode. T Android 10 here is a hidden feature for developers that allows you to bypass this limitation and force any application to launch in a window. To access these settings, you first need to activate developer mode on your device.
To unlock the developer menu, go to Settings → About phone and find Build number. Click on this item 7 times in a row until a notification appears indicating that you have become a developer. After this, a new section will appear in the main settings menu For developers, where the option we need is hidden. Be careful when changing other settings in this section, as incorrect settings may affect system stability.
Inside the developer menu, scroll down to the "Applications" section or "Multitasking" Find the switch named Force to allow resizing (Force resize activities) and activate it. After enabling this feature, the system will ignore application manifest flags that prohibit split screens and will allow you to launch them in Split Screen mode through the standard recent tasks menu.
Risks of using developer mode
Forcing window resizing can lead to incorrect display of the interface and crashes applications or data loss if the app was not designed to run in windowed mode. Use this feature only when absolutely necessary.
⚠️ Attention: Enabling forced resizing may cause unstable operation of banking applications and games with anti-cheat protection. It is recommended to disable this option after completing the necessary tasks.
Compatibility table and possible problems
Not all applications behave predictably in multitasking mode. Below is a table that summarizes the behavior of various categories of apps when attempting to split the screen into Android 10. This information will help you understand in advance what to expect from specific types of software.
| Application category | Split Screen support | Possible problems | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) | Full | Notifications may overlap the text | Ideal for correspondence while working |
| Video players (YouTube, Netflix) | Partial | Video may freeze when minimized | Requires Premium subscription for background |
| Games and 3D applications | Limited | Crashes, black screen, lags | Use only with developer mode |
| Banking applications | Locked | Security protection prohibits multitasking | It is impossible to bypass without the risk of blocking |
One of the common problems is the automatic closing of one of the applications when there is insufficient RAM. If your smartphone has less than 4GB of RAM, the system may force a background app to be unloaded in split mode to free up resources for the active window. In such cases, it is recommended to close unnecessary apps before activating multitasking.
Also, users often complain that the keyboard overlaps the contents of the lower window when entering text. B Android 10 this behavior depends on the keyboard implementation and developer settings. Sometimes it helps to enable the “Share screen with keyboard” option in accessibility, which forces the system to shrink the active window instead of covering it with the input panel.
The effectiveness of multitasking directly depends on the amount of RAM on the device: for comfortable operation of two heavy applications, a minimum of 4-6 GB of RAM is desirable.
Alternative methods multitasking
In addition to the classic split screen, Android 10 offers other forms of multitasking that may be more convenient in certain use cases. For example, mode Picture-in-Picture (Picture in Picture) allows you to display video or navigation in a small floating window on top of any other application. It's ideal for watching live streams or following directions without interrupting your texting.
Picture-in-Picture mode is usually just a matter of pressing the Home button while playing a video in a supported app, such as YouTube or Google Maps. The window will automatically shrink and "snap" to the corner of the screen, allowing you to move it or resize it. Unlike split screen, this mode takes up minimal space and does not require dividing the display in half.
Another interesting feature is launching applications in floating windows through the sidebar (if supported by the manufacturer). On Samsung devices and some other brands, you can configure the quick application panel, which is called up by swiping from the edge of the screen. From there, you can drag a app icon onto the screen, creating a floating window on top of the current content, which gives you even more flexibility than a static split screen.
⚠️ Warning: The sidebar and floating window features consume more battery resources than the standard split-screen mode, since the system is forced to render more active layers of the interface at the same time.
Often asked questions (FAQ)
Why don’t I see the “Split Screen” button in the recent tasks menu?
This can happen for several reasons: either the application does not support this function, or on your device it is disabled by the manufacturer to save resources. Also check if the Energy Saver mode is activated, which often blocks multitasking.
Is it possible to split the screen into three parts in Android 10?
It is impossible to split the screen into more than two parts using standard means. However, some manufacturers, such as Samsung's One UI, allow you to combine split screen with floating windows, which effectively creates a configuration of three or more active applications. Android 10 It is not possible to split the screen into more than two parts. However, some manufacturers, such as Samsung's One UI, allow you to combine split screen with floating windows, which effectively creates a configuration of three or more active applications.
Does split screen affect how quickly your battery drains?
Yes, running two active applications at the same time increases the load on the processor and RAM, which leads to faster battery drain compared to using one application in full screen mode.
How to exit split screen mode if it is frozen?
If the interface is frozen and you cannot drag the divider, try pressing the Home button or the Back button. As a last resort, rebooting the device or calling up the recent applications menu and closing all tasks using the “Close all” button will help.
Does split screen work in horizontal orientation?
Yes, in horizontal position applications are located next to each other (left and right), and not on top of each other. This is convenient for tablets and smartphones with a large screen, but may be less comfortable on narrow devices.