How to make a double screen on Android 8

The era of large displays with a diagonal of more than 6 inches has led to the fact that users are no longer content with one active application. The operating system Android in version 8.0 Oreo made the Split Screen function a system standard, available on almost all modern devices. This allows you to simultaneously watch videos from YouTube and chat in instant messenger or compare products in an online store without switching between tabs.

However, despite the built-in support, many smartphone owners do not know how to activate this mode, since manufacturers often hide the necessary gestures or settings deep in the menu. In this article, we will look in detail at how to make a double screen on Android 8, what limitations exist, and how to get around the typical problems that users encounter when trying to run two applications at the same time.

Multi-window mode dramatically changes the approach to multitasking on mobile devices. If previously you had to constantly minimize one application and open another, now the screen is divided into two independent work areas. It is important to understand that not all apps support this function, and the behavior of the interface may differ depending on the manufacturer's shell, be it MIUI, OneUI or pure Android.

The standard activation method through the recent applications menu

The most common and universal way to enable split screen on Android 8 is to using the recent tasks menu. This method works on most devices where Google's default navigation logic has not been modified. To begin, open the app you want to pin to the top or left side of the screen, and then minimize it to the Home screen.

Next, tap the Overview navigation button (the square or three bars at the bottom of the screen) to open a list of running apps. Find the icon of the desired application in the list. Depending on the firmware version, you will need to either press and hold the application icon, or find the words “Split screen” right under the app name in the recent tasks card.

• 📱 Press and hold the application icon in the recent tasks menu until the split appears.
• 🔄 Select the second application from the list so that it takes up the remaining space display.
• ⚙️ Resize windows by dragging the black separator bar in the middle of the screen.

After you select the second application, the system automatically scales both windows. You can change the proportions by dragging the dividing line. However, it is worth remembering that some applications, especially games or video players with DRM protection, may be forced to expand to full screen, ignoring the split mode. In such cases system restrictions user settings take priority.

⚠️ Attention: On some smartphone models with custom skins (for example, older versions of MIUI), the function may be hidden in additional multitasking settings and not activated by default.

Using navigation gestures for quick separation

With the release of Android 9 and the update of many devices based on the eighth version, users were able to use gesture navigation instead of three buttons at the bottom of the screen. This changes the dual screen activation algorithm, making it more intuitive, but less obvious to newbies. Instead of pressing the "Browse" button, a specific finger movement is now required.

To activate the mode, open the first application. Then swipe up from the bottom and hold your finger in the center of the screen for about one second until the recent tasks menu or app preview appears. Without releasing your finger completely, drag the application card up or to the side (depending on the orientation of the device) until it “sticks” to the edge of the screen.

Swipe from bottom to top -> Hold -> Drag the card to the edge

This method requires some skill, since the sensitivity of the sensor varies depending on the model. Samsung, Xiaomi or Pixel may differ. If you don't succeed the first time, try changing the speed or pressure. Gesture controls Saves screen space by removing navigation buttons, which is especially important for compact smartphones.

After pinning the first window, the system will prompt you to select a second application from the list or from the main screen. It's important to note that in Gesture mode it can sometimes be more difficult to accurately hit the split-screen activation zone, especially if you have a thick-edged screen protector. In this case, it is better to temporarily switch to the classic three-button navigation in the system settings.

Features of working on tablets and devices with large screens

Owners of tablets based on Android 8 have a significant advantage, since the system interface is initially optimized for large diagonals. Here, split-screen mode often works more consistently, and window proportions can be adjusted much more freely than on phones. On tablets, the division can occur not only vertically, but also horizontally, depending on the orientation of the device.

In some shells, such as OneUI from Samsung or Lenovo interfaces, there is an additional “Pop-up view” mode. It allows you to launch a second application not on half the screen, but in a small floating window that can be moved around the display. This creates the effect of a real desktop interfacewhere you can work with three or more applications simultaneously.

Device type	Split orientation	Pop-up support	Minimum resolution
Smartphone (vertical)	Vertical (50/50)	Rarely	1080x1920
Smartphone (horizontal)	Horizontal (side by side)	Often	1920x1080
Tablet	Any	Almost always	1280x800
Folding smartphone	Dynamic	Yes	Depends on the model

The peculiarity of tablets is that some applications can run in split mode even without explicit support from the developer, simply scaling to fit the available area. However, the interface in such cases may look stretched or incorrect. Native support for multi-windows in Android 8 is most fully implemented on devices with a diagonal of 7 inches or more.

Application compatibility issues and black screen

One of the most common problems when trying to make a dual screen is a black window appearing instead of a second application or one of them automatically minimizing. This is due to the fact that application developers can explicitly prohibit the operation of their software in multi-window mode. Most often this applies to banking applications, games with anti-cheat and some video players.

If the application does not want to open in a second window, the system usually displays a notification that “The application does not support split screen.” Android 8 doesn't have a built-in button to force this feature on for incompatible apps, but there are workarounds through developer mode. However, the use of such methods can lead to unstable operation of the software.

⚠️ Attention: Forcing multitasking for banking applications may cause security errors or blocking access to the account by the bank's security service.

It is also worth considering consumption RAM. Running two heavy applications at the same time (for example, a navigator and a browser with many tabs) can lead to the system starting to aggressively unload background processes. On devices with 2 GB of RAM, this can manifest itself in constant reboots of one of the windows.

How to bypass the ban on split screen?

There are third-party utilities like "Split Screen Shortcut" that try to force the mode, but they work unstable on Android 8 and higher, since Google tightened API security policies.

Configuration through the “For Developers” menu

For advanced users who want full control over the behavior of windows, there is a hidden “For Developers” menu. Here you can find settings that affect the minimum window height and system behavior when switching tasks. To get to this menu, you need to go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the “Build number” item.

After activating developer mode, go to Settings → System → For Developers. Find the section related to applications or multitasking. There may be an option “Force resizable activities”. Enabling this feature causes the system to attempt to run any application in split mode, ignoring developer manifest flags.

Settings -> System -> For Developers -> Force Allow Resizing

Using this setting requires caution. Some applications may simply crash or display an interface with elements overlapping each other. This is a useful tool for testing, but for everyday use it is better to keep it turned off to ensure stability. Android. System crashes This mode occurs more often than with the standard configuration.

Alternative solutions and third-party launchers

If the standard Android 8 tools do not suit you