To run two apps at once, open the first app, open Recents, choose that app’s menu, select the split-screen command, and then choose the second app. On Google Pixel phones the command is Split screen; on Samsung Galaxy phones it is usually Open in split screen view. The names and availability depend on the phone model, Android version, navigation mode and whether each app supports multitasking.
Split-screen is a software feature, so you do not need a special case, stand, stylus, subscription or paid app. The instructions below use the current official paths for Pixel and Galaxy devices, then explain how to resize, save and troubleshoot a two-app layout.
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What split-screen does on Android
Split-screen divides the phone display into two app areas. Each app remains open in its own pane, allowing tasks such as reading a message while checking a calendar, following a recipe while viewing a browser, or comparing information in two supported apps. The divider between the panes controls how much space each app receives.
It is not a guarantee that any two apps can run together. Google describes Pixel support conditionally: Depending on the app, you can sometimes use more than one app at once.
Samsung likewise instructs Galaxy users to choose another supported app. An app can omit split-screen support, restrict its interface to one window, or behave differently after an update.
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The exact menu also changes between manufacturers and software generations. The procedures in this guide are documented for Google Pixel phones and Samsung Galaxy phones; they should not be treated as a universal sequence for every Android handset.
Quick comparison: Pixel and Galaxy
| Phone family | First-app command | Where you start | Resizing | Saved shortcut | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel | Split screen | Recents overview, then the first app’s icon | Drag the divider to the top or bottom to leave split-screen | Not stated in the cited Pixel help | Google says some instructions apply only to Android 14 and newer, and app support varies. Pixel Phone Help |
| Samsung Galaxy | Open in split screen view | Recents app icon or the Multi window tray | Drag the divider; tapping it exposes additional controls | App Pair for frequently used combinations | Labels and options differ by Galaxy model and software. Samsung’s Galaxy multitasking guide |
Both families require a second app that is available for split-screen. If the command is missing, that absence may reflect app restrictions or a different interface on your model rather than a fault with the display.
Set up split-screen on a Google Pixel
Google’s documented route uses the recent-apps overview. The following sequence applies to the Pixel instructions that Google identifies as working on Android 14 and newer; older versions or different Pixel software may present another layout.
- Open the first app. Start the app you want in the upper or first pane. You can begin from the home screen or the app drawer.
- Open Recents. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and hold until the recent-apps overview appears. With three-button navigation, use the system’s overview button instead; the exact gesture depends on your navigation setting.
- Open the app menu. In the overview card for the first app, tap its app icon at the top of the card. Do not tap the card itself, which simply returns you to the app.
- Choose Split screen. Tap the command in the icon menu. If it is not present, see the compatibility and troubleshooting sections below rather than assuming every app supports the mode.
- Select the second app. The remaining portion of the display shows available recent apps and other choices. Tap the app you want in the second pane.
- Adjust or end the layout. Drag the divider between the panes. Dragging it all the way to the top or bottom returns the phone to one app, as described in Google’s Pixel instructions.
What to expect on Pixel
- The app chosen first is placed in the first pane; the second selection fills the other pane.
- Some apps can open in split-screen while others cannot. Google does not publish a list that makes every app pairing predictable.
- The documented Pixel wording is tied to Android 14 and newer for some steps. A Pixel running another Android release may use different labels or omit the action.
- Leaving split-screen by moving the divider fully to one end closes the two-pane arrangement and leaves the app at that end active.
Set up split-screen on a Samsung Galaxy phone
Samsung provides two ways to begin: the Recents menu and, on supported models, a Multi window tray. The most consistent route in Samsung’s current guides is through Recents. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip8 guide is a model-specific example, so other Galaxy phones can show different controls.
Method 1: use Recents
- Open the first app. Put the app you want to use in the first pane on screen.
- Open Recents. Use your navigation gesture or the Recents button to display recent apps.
- Tap the first app’s icon. The icon appears above that app’s preview card.
- Tap Open in split screen view. This is Samsung’s label in the cited Galaxy guides. On some models the wording or icon arrangement may differ.
- Choose a second supported app. Tap another app from the list or recent-apps view to place it in the remaining pane.
- Resize the panes. Drag the central divider toward one side. A larger pane gives that app more working room; a smaller pane keeps the other app visible without closing it.
The current Galaxy Z Flip8 instructions describe the same sequence—Recents, the icon above the first app, Open in split screen view, then another supported app. They also note that tapping the divider opens extra controls. See Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip8 support page for that model’s illustrations and options.
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Method 2: use the Multi window tray
Samsung’s general Galaxy guide documents a Multi window tray as an alternative entry point. If your phone exposes the tray, open it and choose the first app, then select the second app when prompted. The tray is not shown on every Galaxy model or software build, so use Recents when the tray is absent.
Samsung places related controls under Settings > Advanced features > Multi window on supported models. The available choices can include swipe gestures and a full-screen split-screen setting. Menu contents are model- and software-dependent; do not assume that seeing the Advanced features heading means every Multi window option is available.
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Change how much space each app gets
The divider is the horizontal or vertical boundary between the two apps, depending on the phone’s orientation and interface. Press and drag it toward the app that needs more room. This is useful when one app is mainly for reference and the other is where you type or scroll.
On Pixel, moving the divider completely to the top or bottom returns to a single app. On Galaxy, dragging the divider changes pane sizes; the divider’s menu can expose more actions on models that support them.
Switch app positions on Galaxy
On the Galaxy Z Flip8 guide, tapping the divider provides an option to switch app positions. This is useful if the app you want to focus on is in the less convenient pane. The control is not guaranteed on every Galaxy generation, so its absence does not indicate a problem with split-screen itself.
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Exit split-screen
Use the divider rather than pressing Back repeatedly when you want a predictable exit. Move it fully toward the pane you want to close. You can also return to the home screen or open another app, but those actions may leave the split arrangement in the background depending on the device’s task handling.
Save a frequently used pair on Galaxy
Samsung calls a saved two-app combination an App Pair. After opening two apps in split-screen, tap the divider to reveal the available controls and choose the option to save the pair when your model offers it. Samsung documents App Pair as a shortcut for combinations you use repeatedly, such as a browser and notes app.
The location and appearance of the App Pair control vary by Galaxy model, launcher and software version. If the option is not shown after tapping the divider, your build may not support saving pairs in that location. You can continue to launch the two apps manually from Recents.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the split-screen option may be missing
There is no single menu path that covers every Android manufacturer, navigation mode, operating-system version and app. Work through the checks below in order.
Check the app’s support
Open Recents, tap the first app’s icon and look for the split-screen command again. If the command remains absent, the app may not allow multi-window use. Try a different app as the first pane, then a different second app. A successful pairing does not prove that all other combinations are supported.
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Check the model’s software interface
On Pixel, the documented action is Split screen. On Galaxy, it is commonly Open in split screen view. A phone from another manufacturer can use different wording or place the feature in a side panel, task switcher or system menu. The cited official pages do not establish a verified procedure for every brand, so avoid applying either label universally.
Check Android and One UI generation
Google notes that some Pixel instructions work only on Android 14 and newer. Samsung’s guides likewise warn that menu options can differ across Galaxy models and software. Install the updates offered by your phone if you need the current interface, but do not expect an update to make an app that forbids multi-window suddenly support it.
Check navigation and gesture settings
If swiping up does not open Recents, your phone may use three-button navigation or a different gesture area. Use the on-screen Recents control, then tap the app icon above the preview. On Galaxy models with Multi window settings, open Settings > Advanced features > Multi window and check whether swipe gestures or the Multi window tray are available.
Check orientation and available space
Rotate the phone if the current orientation makes the panes too narrow. A large display gives each app more room, but the usable area still depends on the app’s own layout rules. Some apps may hide controls or show a simplified interface when their pane becomes small; dragging the divider can restore those controls.
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When a second app will not launch
If the second app disappears, refuses to open or immediately returns to one pane, close Recents and try again with another supported app. The behavior can be an app limitation rather than a system failure. The official Pixel and Galaxy pages do not promise that every app pair remains active simultaneously.
Split-screen versus Android desktop windowing
Google documents a separate large-screen feature called desktop windowing on supported Android devices. It lets multiple apps appear as movable, resizable windows, which is different from the ordinary two-pane split-screen command in Recents. Desktop windowing can be useful when you need more flexible arrangements than one divider allows, but Google cautions that support and the user experience vary by device.
Do not infer that a large Android phone automatically has desktop windowing. Look for the feature in the phone’s own system documentation or settings. If it is unavailable, regular split-screen remains the relevant method for two apps at once. Read Google’s overview at Multitask with desktop windowing and connected displays on Android.
Accessibility and screen readers
Split-screen controls are presented through the system’s Recents interface, but the gestures and focus behavior can differ when a screen reader or other accessibility service is active. If you use TalkBack, consult Google’s current instructions for navigating apps and system controls with TalkBack at Android Accessibility Help. The Pixel and Galaxy split-screen pages do not establish a separate universal TalkBack sequence, so follow the controls announced by your phone rather than relying on an unverified gesture.
A practical two-app workflow
For the least friction, decide which app needs the larger pane before launching the pair. Open that app first, then use Recents to invoke split-screen and select the reference app second. Once both apps are visible, move the divider toward the reference app if the primary task needs more space. On Galaxy, save the combination as an App Pair if the divider menu offers that action.
If the layout stops being useful, do not repeatedly relaunch both apps. First try moving the divider, rotating the phone, or switching the app positions on a Galaxy model that provides that control. If one app still fails, test the same first app with a different second app to determine whether the limitation belongs to the pairing.
Quick Recap
Key takeaways
- Start from Recents, tap the first app’s icon, choose the split-screen command and select a second supported app.
- Pixel uses Split screen; Google’s cited instructions include an Android 14-and-newer qualification for some steps.
- Galaxy commonly uses Open in split screen view, with a Multi window tray available on some models.
- Drag the divider to allocate space; Galaxy models may expose position switching and App Pair when you tap it.
- App support and menu labels are not universal. A missing command can reflect the app, model or software version.
- Desktop windowing is a separate, supported-device feature with movable and resizable windows, not a synonym for ordinary split-screen.
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