Multi-tasking on a phone sounds like a recipe for a headache. We’ve all been there—flipping back and forth between a YouTube tutorial and your Notes app, losing your place every single time. It's annoying. But learning how to split screen in Android actually changes the math on how much you can get done without reaching for a laptop.
Honestly, most people forget this feature exists because Google hides it behind a few gestures that aren't exactly intuitive. It’s not just about having two windows open. It’s about flow.
The "secret" gesture for split screen in Android
You’d think there would be a big "Split Screen" button right on the home screen. There isn't. Instead, it’s tucked away in your "Recents" or "Overview" screen.
First, swipe up from the bottom of your screen and hold (or tap the square button if you’re still using the old-school three-button navigation). This brings up all your open apps. Now, don't just tap the app window. That just opens the app. You have to tap the app icon at the very top of the preview card.
A small menu drops down. If the app supports it, you'll see "Split top" or "Split screen." Tap that. The first app pins itself to the top of the frame, and your bottom half stays in the Recents view so you can pick your second app.
It’s snappy. It’s useful. But it doesn't work for everything.
Why some apps refuse to play nice
You’ll eventually run into an app—usually Instagram or certain high-end games—that simply won't split. Why? Because developers have to explicitly enable "resizableActivity" in their manifest files. If they don't, Android blocks the feature to prevent the UI from looking like a total mess.
There is a workaround for this in the Developer Options, which we'll get into later. It’s a bit "power user," but it’s worth it.
Samsung’s way is actually better (The Edge Panel)
If you’re on a Galaxy device running One UI 6.1 or later, the standard Android way feels slow. Samsung figured out that people want "App Pairs."
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You can slide out the "Edge Panel" from the side of your screen, grab an app icon, and literally drag it onto the top or bottom half of your current screen. It’s much more fluid. Samsung also lets you save these pairings. If you always use Slack and Google Calendar together, you can create a single icon that launches both into split-screen mode instantly.
Motorola and Pixel have started catching up, but Samsung’s multitasking engine remains the gold standard for Android power users.
The Developer Hack: Forcing any app to split
Some apps are stubborn. If you really need to see your banking app and a calculator at the same time, but the banking app says "App doesn't support split screen," you can force its hand.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap About Phone.
- Tap Build Number seven times until it says you’re a developer.
- Go back to System > Developer Options.
- Search for "Force activities to be resizable."
- Toggle it on and restart your phone.
Just a heads-up: this can make some apps look wonky. Buttons might overlap or text might get cut off because the app wasn't designed to be squished into a tiny rectangle. Use it, but don't be surprised if it’s a little glitchy.
Pixel Fold and Tablets: A different beast
On larger screens, like the Pixel Fold or a Galaxy Tab S9, split screen isn't just a gimmick; it’s the primary way to use the device. Google introduced a "Taskbar" in Android 13L and 14 that makes this even easier.
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You just drag an icon from the taskbar to the side of the screen. Done. On foldables, you can even have three apps open at once if you're feeling particularly chaotic. This is where Android really beats iOS—the window management on Android tablets feels much closer to a desktop experience than the iPad's "Stage Manager," which still feels a bit restricted.
Managing the divider
You can grab the little handle in the middle of the two apps and slide it. This lets you give 70% of the screen to your video and 30% to your chat. If you want to swap them, double-tap that center line. It flips the top app to the bottom. Simple.
Common misconceptions about battery drain
"Does split screen kill my battery?"
Kinda, but not for the reason you think. Running two apps doesn't inherently double the power draw. Your processor is still doing roughly the same amount of work. However, because you’re likely keeping the screen on longer to look at both apps, and your GPU has to render two different interfaces simultaneously, you will see a slightly faster drain.
If you're worried about juice, keep the brightness down. That's the real killer, not the multitasking.
Real-world scenarios where this actually matters
Think about these moments:
- Banking: Copying an IBAN from a PDF into your banking app without switching back and forth five times.
- Navigation: Keeping Spotify open on the bottom while Google Maps runs on top.
- Shopping: Comparing prices on Amazon and eBay side-by-side.
- Education: Watching a Khan Academy video while taking notes in Google Keep.
Actionable Next Steps
To truly master this, don't just read about it. Open your phone right now.
Go into your Recents menu and see which of your most-used apps actually support the feature. If you're on a Samsung, set up your first "App Pair" in the Edge Panel—try pairing your Email with your Calendar. If you find an app that's blocking you, head into those Developer Options I mentioned and toggle "Force activities to be resizable." Once you get the muscle memory down, you’ll stop feeling like your phone screen is too small. It’s not small; you’re just not using all of it yet.
Check your "Display" settings to ensure your "Screen Zoom" isn't set too high. If the text is huge, split screen becomes almost unusable because there isn't enough digital real estate to show two things clearly. Set it to a smaller size for a much better experience.