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On a Samsung Galaxy phone, the quickest route is Recents: open Recents, tap the first app’s icon, choose Open in split screen view, and select a second app. Drag the divider to change how much space each app receives. On other Android phones, the wording and entry point can differ by manufacturer, model, and software version.
Wide-screen devices, especially foldables, may also offer a taskbar, Edge panel, pop-up windows, saved app pairs, Android desktop windowing, or an external-display desktop. These are related but different modes, so choose the one that matches whether you need two fixed panes, a floating window, or several movable windows.
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Check your phone and screen before following steps
Android multitasking is not controlled by one universal menu. A Galaxy phone running One UI can expose Samsung-specific labels such as Open in split screen view, Multi window, App pair, and Open in pop-up view. Another manufacturer may use different wording or omit some controls entirely.
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- Device family: a conventional phone, a foldable with an inner display, or a phone connected to an external monitor.
- Software version: menus and gestures can change after Android or manufacturer-interface updates.
- Desired layout: two panes sharing the screen, one floating window over another app, or several independent windows.
App support also matters. A phone can provide a multitasking control while a particular app does not allow that layout. If a menu item is missing for one app but present for another, the difference may be app or device policy rather than a fault with your phone.
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Samsung Galaxy: split screen from Recents
Recents is the most reliable temporary method on supported Galaxy phones because it does not require a taskbar or a saved setup.
- Open the first app you want to use.
- Open Recents using your navigation control: the Recents button, gesture, or the interface’s equivalent.
- At the top of that app’s Recents card, tap the app icon.
- Choose Open in split screen view.
- Select the second app from the app list or home interface.
- Drag the divider between the two apps to give either one more space.
The first app normally occupies one side or half of the display and the second app occupies the other. Rotating the phone can change the arrangement, but the exact orientation behavior depends on the model and app. If you see Open in pop-up view instead, that is a floating window, not a fixed two-pane split.
Adjust or end the split
Drag the center divider toward one app to enlarge it and reduce the other. To leave split screen, move the divider fully toward an edge, use the split-screen control presented by your interface, or return to the home screen and reopen the apps normally. Labels and animations vary between One UI versions.
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Supported Galaxy Z Fold models can launch apps by dragging them from the taskbar onto the large inner display. Samsung states that this taskbar workflow is not compatible with the cover screen, so open the phone and use the inner display for these steps.
- Open Settings > Display > Taskbar and enable the taskbar if it is off.
- Open an app on the inner display so the taskbar is available.
- Press and hold another app in the taskbar.
- Drag it to the top, bottom, left, right, or another supported region of the display.
- Release it when the placement highlight shows the arrangement you want.
On some Fold layouts, placing an app at the left or right creates side-by-side panes. Top and bottom placements create a stacked arrangement. The available regions can depend on the Fold model and One UI version; a cover-screen taskbar should not be expected.
Save a recurring app pair
If you repeatedly use the same two apps, create the split first, then tap the control at the center divider. Use the app-pair option to save that combination to the taskbar when it is offered. Later, tapping the saved pair can reopen both apps together. This is useful for combinations such as a notes app beside a browser, but saving a pair does not guarantee that every app supports every orientation or window size.
Use the Galaxy Edge panel
The Edge panel is another Samsung-specific launcher for Multi window. It is useful when you are already inside an app and do not want to return to the home screen.
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- Open the Edge panel from its handle on the side of the display.
- Open the app grid or Multi window panel.
- Drag an app to the highlighted top, bottom, left, or right region.
- Choose the second app for the remaining region.
Samsung documents left-and-right as well as top-and-bottom placements on Z Fold inner screens. On Z Fold cover screens, Z Flip models, and non-foldable Galaxy phones, the documented placement is generally top or bottom. If your panel shows fewer regions, that is a form-factor limitation rather than a missing setting.
Enable the two-finger split-screen gesture
Galaxy devices running One UI 6 or later can offer an optional gesture called Swipe for split screen.
- Open Settings > Advanced features > Multi window.
- Turn on Swipe for split screen.
- With an app open, swipe upward from the bottom using two fingers.
- Select the second app when the split-screen chooser appears.
This gesture is optional and version-dependent. If the switch is absent, use Recents or the Edge panel instead, and check the instructions for your exact model. Do not assume that a two-finger swipe is available on every Android phone.
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Other Android phones: find the manufacturer’s split-screen control
Many Android phones provide split screen through Recents, but the command may be called Split screen, Split-screen view, or something similar. A common pattern is to open Recents, tap the app icon or app-card menu, choose the split option, and then select another app. Treat that as a starting point, not a guarantee: manufacturers can move, rename, or remove the control.
If the first app’s Recents menu has no split option, try the phone’s multitasking, window, or accessibility settings. Search Settings for “split screen,” “multi window,” or “floating window” using the built-in search. The exact result can depend on the software build, screen size, and whether the app is currently in a mode that supports multitasking.
Choose the right multitasking mode
| Mode | What you see | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split screen | Two apps share the display with a divider. | Reading while taking notes, checking a reference while composing, or comparing two live views. | Each app receives only part of the screen, and the available layout depends on the device and apps. |
| Pop-up view | A movable, resizable window floats over another app. | Keeping a small utility or conversation visible while working elsewhere. | It is not a fixed two-pane split; controls and support are Samsung- and app-dependent. |
| Desktop windowing | Separate app windows can be moved and resized on supported large screens. | Managing several apps in a more desktop-like arrangement. | Google says availability and the experience vary by supported device. |
| External-display desktop | A connected monitor can mirror the phone or show a separate desktop session with taskbar and window controls. | Keyboard-and-mouse work on a large monitor. | The phone, cable or wireless connection, display, and software must all support the mode. |
Use split screen when both apps need a stable share of the phone display. Use pop-up view when one app is secondary and should float. Use desktop windowing or an external display only when your device explicitly supports those features.
Android desktop windowing on supported large screens
Google describes desktop windowing as a mode for supported large-screen devices that can run multiple movable and resizable app windows. It is not a universal replacement for phone split screen.
- Open an app in full-screen or split-screen mode.
- Find the app’s top handle or title area.
- Drag the top app handle downward to move the app into windowed mode.
- Drag the window to reposition it.
- Drag an edge or corner to resize it when the device exposes resize handles.
Window controls, minimum sizes, and the number of simultaneous windows vary by device and software. If dragging the handle does nothing, your phone may not support desktop windowing, the feature may be disabled, or the current app may not permit that transition.
Use a connected display when your phone supports it
Android can support either screen mirroring or a separate desktop session on compatible connected displays. In a separate session, the external screen may show a desktop-style taskbar and window controls while the phone remains usable.
Samsung also documents DeX workflows on supported Galaxy phones, including external displays and keyboard or mouse input. These accessories can improve a desktop setup but are not required for ordinary on-phone split screen.
- Confirm that your phone supports wired or wireless display output; a USB-C port alone does not prove that it can send video.
- Use a compatible display, adapter, cable, or wireless receiver for the connection method your phone supports.
- Pair a keyboard and mouse only if your workflow benefits from desktop input.
- Choose mirroring for the same phone image on both screens, or a separate desktop session when the phone and monitor should show different workspaces.
Because external-display support is model-specific, consult the phone maker’s instructions for the exact model before buying an adapter or monitor.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Build practical multitasking workflows
Start with the app that needs the most space, then add the supporting app. For example, put a document or message composer in the larger pane and a browser or notes app in the smaller pane. Drag the divider after both apps load; the best balance can change when an app displays a keyboard, media, or a wide table.
Use saved pairs for repeat tasks
On a supported Galaxy device, save frequently repeated combinations as an app pair after creating the split. A pair can reduce the number of taps needed for a routine such as notes plus browser or calendar plus email. Reopen the pair from the taskbar or the location where Samsung stores saved pairs on your model.
Keep the form factor in mind
A wide inner foldable display can support side-by-side panes that feel cramped on a narrow cover screen. If a layout is comfortable on the inner screen but not the cover screen, switch to the inner display rather than forcing the same arrangement. On a conventional phone, a stacked top-and-bottom split may be more practical than side-by-side panes.
Compatibility limits you should expect
There is no promise that every app works in every layout. An app can omit split-screen support, impose a minimum window size, or behave differently when resized. Device software can also restrict certain placements or window modes.
- If one app cannot be selected, try another app to determine whether the limitation is app-specific.
- If a saved pair will not reopen, recreate it after updating the apps and phone software.
- If a window becomes too small to use, resize it or switch back to a two-pane split.
- If an app restarts when resized, save work before changing the layout and use a larger pane.
These behaviors are compatibility constraints, not evidence that split screen is broken globally.
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Troubleshoot missing or unreliable multitasking controls
The split-screen command is missing
Open the app’s icon menu in Recents rather than tapping the card itself. If the command still does not appear, test another app and check for software updates. The feature may be unavailable for that model, app, or current screen.
The two-finger gesture does nothing
On Galaxy, verify Settings > Advanced features > Multi window > Swipe for split screen. Samsung documents this gesture for One UI 6 or later. If the setting is not listed, use Recents or Edge panel.
The taskbar is not visible on a Z Fold
Check Settings > Display > Taskbar, open an app, and use the inner display. Samsung’s taskbar workflow is not compatible with the cover screen, so it should not be expected there.
An app opens as a floating window instead
Choose Open in split screen view, not Open in pop-up view. Pop-up view intentionally creates a movable overlay.
The external monitor shows only a mirror
Mirroring and a separate desktop session are different modes. Confirm that the phone and connection support desktop output, then select the desktop or DeX mode offered by the device. Not every phone supports an independent external workspace.
Which method should you use?
| Your situation | Start here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One temporary pair on a Galaxy phone | Recents > Open in split screen view | It is quick and does not require a saved setup. |
| Frequent pairs on a Z Fold inner display | Taskbar drag-and-drop, then save an app pair | You can launch combinations quickly and place them on the large screen. |
| You are already inside an app on a Galaxy | Edge panel | It launches another app without returning to the home screen. |
| You want a fast gesture on a recent Galaxy | Two-finger swipe after enabling the One UI 6-or-later setting | It moves the current app into split-screen mode with one gesture. |
| You need a small app over another | Pop-up view | The window can float and move instead of dividing the display. |
| You need several movable windows | Android desktop windowing or a supported external-display desktop | These modes provide desktop-style windows, but device support is required. |
The dependable rule is to match the method to the phone, software version, display, and app combination. Start with Recents for a quick two-app split; move to a taskbar or saved pair for repeated Fold workflows; and reserve desktop windowing or an external display for devices that explicitly support them.
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