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Freedom251 › Blog › foldable phones

How to Use the Galaxy Z Fold8’s Cover Screen and Inner Display for Multitasking

By Freedom251 Team · · 11 min read

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Keep the Galaxy Z Fold8 closed for quick, supported single-app tasks; open it when you want Samsung’s Multi window tools for two or three apps, a Taskbar, or saved App Pairs. The distinction matters: Samsung’s Fold8 guidance places these multitasking controls on the main display, not the cover screen.

Choose the screen that fits the task

The Fold8 works as two different work surfaces. The cover screen is for handling a quick task without opening the phone. The larger inner display is where Samsung documents split-screen and Taskbar workflows for using multiple apps at once. The screen you choose affects which controls are available, not just how much space you have.

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Screen Best fit Multitasking controls described by Samsung Proportions and size
Cover screen Short, supported tasks while the phone is closed; convenient one-handed use App continuity for supported apps. Taskbar, split-screen and pop-up view are not supported there. 5.5 inches diagonally; 10:16
Main (inner) display Longer or more involved tasks that benefit from viewing several apps together Two- or three-app split screen, divider controls, Taskbar and saved App Pairs, subject to app compatibility 7.6 inches diagonally; 4:3

Samsung gives the diagonal measurements as 5.5 inches for the cover screen and 7.6 inches for the main screen. The viewable area is smaller than those measurements because of rounded corners and the camera hole. Samsung describes the proportions as 10:16 and 4:3, respectively. These specifications describe screen size and shape; they do not establish that one screen performs faster than the other.

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The different proportions also help explain why it is useful to choose the display based on the job. The cover screen is the compact surface for a quick check or response; the main screen offers more room for a multi-app layout. Samsung’s published specifications give dimensions and proportions, not an ideal pane size for every app, so use the divider to allocate space for the particular content you have open.

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Use the cover screen for quick tasks

When the Fold8 is closed, use the cover screen for an app or action that works well in a phone-sized view. Samsung’s setup guidance highlights Messages, Chrome, WhatsApp, Samsung Wallet and Camera as apps worth having ready for quick, one-handed use. These are examples, not a guarantee that every feature within each app behaves identically on both screens.

For a short task, staying on the cover screen avoids opening the device just to check or respond. If the task grows—such as comparing information while writing notes—open the Fold8 and continue on the main display if the app supports continuity. Samsung describes App continuity as letting you start a task while the device is closed and continue on the main display after opening it. Continuity is supported-app behavior, not a promise that every app or activity transfers seamlessly.

This makes the cover screen a useful starting point rather than a smaller version of the full multitasking workspace. Check a message, use a supported app, or begin an activity that you may later continue on the inner display. When you need two apps visible together, or a view that benefits from a larger workspace, open the phone and use the main-display controls instead.

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What not to look for while the phone is closed

Do not expect the cover screen to offer the same multitasking interface as the main display. Samsung says the Taskbar is not supported on the cover screen. Its general Fold guidance also says split-screen and pop-up view are not available on the front screen. To put two or three apps in panes, open the phone first.

That boundary matters if you are following instructions that mention the Taskbar or the divider. Those steps apply to the inner display. If the relevant option is missing while the device is closed, it does not mean you need to hunt through cover-screen settings for a hidden split-screen control; switch to the main display for that workflow.

Open two or three apps with Multi window

Samsung’s Fold8-specific One UI 9 instructions use the Recent apps screen to start a split-screen layout. The workflow applies on the main display and depends on the apps supporting Multi window.

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  1. Open the Fold8 so the main display is active, then tap the Recent apps button.
  2. Find the app you want to keep in the layout. Tap its app icon above the app preview, then choose Open in split screen view.
  3. Select a second supported app. The two apps open together in split screen.
  4. To make a three-app arrangement, select another supported app when the interface offers the option.
  5. Drag the divider between panes to give an app more or less room.
  6. Tap the divider to open its additional options, which Samsung says include switching app positions and saving the arrangement as an App Pair.

The first choice is the app you want to keep in the layout, so begin with that app in Recents. The app-icon menu above its preview is the control Samsung identifies for opening split-screen view. Once you choose it, select a second compatible app from the available choices. If you want three apps, select another supported app when that option appears. Samsung’s instructions describe these arrangements, but app support can affect whether a particular selection is available.

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After the apps are open, you can tune the layout rather than accepting the initial division. Dragging the divider changes how much room each app receives. Tap the divider when you want the additional controls, including switching the apps’ positions or saving the combination as an App Pair. These are separate actions: dragging is for resizing; tapping opens the divider options.

Samsung presents comparing information across apps, browsing while taking notes, and watching a video while replying to messages as examples of Multi window use. The practical benefit is that both apps remain visible in one layout instead of requiring you to switch back and forth. How useful a particular arrangement is depends on the content and controls each app exposes in its pane.

Choose panes around the work

For research or comparison, place the reference app beside the app where you are recording or acting on what you find. For messaging alongside video, keep the conversation visible without leaving playback. In a three-app arrangement, use the extra pane only when it has a clear job; three panes divide attention and display area more than two. Adjust the divider after opening the apps rather than assuming every app needs equal space.

A two-app layout is a straightforward choice when you need to read in one app and write, reply or compare in another. A third app can be useful when it adds a distinct task to the arrangement, but it is not necessary just because the Fold8 supports three panes. Consider what needs to stay visible at the same time, then choose the number of apps that serves that task. Samsung does not publish a one-size-fits-all layout recommendation, and the usable space each app needs depends on its own content and controls.

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If the second or third app does not appear as an option, treat compatibility as the first thing to check. Samsung warns that some third-party apps may not support Multi window. Try a different supported app and check the app-icon menu on the device. The feature’s availability is app-dependent, so the fact that one combination works does not mean every app can be added to every layout.

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Enable the Taskbar and save an App Pair

The Taskbar gives access to favorite apps, recent apps and App Pairs on the Fold8’s main display. Samsung’s enable path is Settings > Display > Taskbar. After enabling it, use the Taskbar when you want to launch or return to apps without leaving the main-display workflow.

Samsung describes the Taskbar as a way to reach favorite and recently used apps while using the Fold8. It can make repeated transitions between apps more convenient on the inner display, and Samsung also identifies App Pairs among its available shortcuts. The Taskbar is not a cover-screen feature: if it is not visible while the phone is closed, open the device before checking the main-display setup.

An App Pair saves a frequently used combination so you can reopen those apps together instead of rebuilding the layout each time. First create the split-screen arrangement using the Recent apps steps, then tap the divider and choose the save option. Samsung lists the Taskbar, Home screen and Apps Edge panel as possible places to put the saved pair. The precise labels or available destinations can vary with country, model and software version.

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The order is useful to keep in mind: create the layout first, use the divider’s options to save it, then choose a destination offered by the device. Samsung’s guidance describes the Taskbar, Home screen and Apps Edge panel as destinations; it does not mean that every destination will necessarily be shown on every software configuration. If the wording or available locations differ, follow the options presented on your own Fold8.

App Pairs suit combinations you return to regularly, such as a note-taking app alongside a browser. A one-off pairing is usually quicker to open directly through Recent apps than to save and organize. Saving the combination does not remove app-compatibility limits: each app still needs to support Multi window.

For example, if you regularly browse and take notes together, saving that pair can reduce the repeated work of selecting the two apps and arranging them. If you only need two apps together once, the regular split-screen flow may be enough. Use App Pairs as a shortcut for recurring combinations, not as a way to make unsupported apps compatible.

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  • THE BRIGHTEST DISPLAY ON A GALAXY PHONE: Our brightest smartphone display² provides you with a comfortable view, whether you’re inside or outside. Watch movies, play games and scroll with ease no matter where you are.
  • RECORD. REFRAME. READY FOR SOCIAL³: Record content on Galaxy Z Fold8 and then use My FanCam³ to keep your subject center stage. The result is a social-ready video that focuses on the part of the action you really want.
  • UNTETHER YOUR ENTERTAINMENT: The long-lasting battery of Galaxy Z Fold8 is built to power hours of entertainment. And when you do need to recharge, Super Fast Charging 2.0⁴ gets you back to what you love quickly.

Fix common Multi window problems

  • “Open in split screen view” is missing: Samsung notes that some third-party apps may not support Multi window. Try another supported app and check the app-icon menu on your device.
  • The Taskbar is not visible: Confirm that the main display is open, then check Settings > Display > Taskbar. Samsung does not support the Taskbar on the cover screen.
  • You cannot create a third pane: Three-app layouts are supported by the Fold8 guidance, but app compatibility still applies. Try a different app for the additional pane if the option is unavailable.
  • The panes are the wrong size or order: Drag the divider to resize them; tap it for the additional options, including switching positions.
  • A menu path or feature name differs: Samsung cautions that names and configurations can vary by country, model and software version. Its Fold8-specific One UI 9 guide was last updated October 9, 2026, so compare the available controls on your software build rather than assuming every device shows identical wording.
  • A task does not continue after opening the phone: App continuity applies to supported apps and activities. If an app does not continue, reopen it on the main display; do not assume every app transfers automatically.
  • You are looking for split screen on the cover: Samsung’s Fold guidance excludes split-screen and pop-up view from the front screen. Open the device to use Multi window on the main display.
  • A saved pair is not where you expected: Samsung lists the Taskbar, Home screen and Apps Edge panel as possible destinations, but labels and configurations can vary. Check the destination selected when saving and the options available in your software version.

When troubleshooting, separate display availability from app compatibility. First confirm that the device is open to the main display for Taskbar and split-screen controls. Then check whether the particular app combination supports Multi window. If a feature or label still differs, Samsung cautions that configurations can vary by country, model and software version; its Fold8 One UI 9 support guide was last updated October 9, 2026.

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What the published guidance establishes

Samsung documents the Fold8’s main-display workflow for two- and three-app split screen, Taskbar access, divider adjustment and saving App Pairs. It also identifies the cover-screen boundary and warns about app support and regional or software variation. Those details explain how to use the available controls; they are not a published benchmark of productivity, speed or performance, and they do not establish compatibility for every app.

Samsung’s published specifications identify the display sizes as diagonal measurements: 5.5 inches for the cover and 7.6 inches for the main screen, with less viewable area because of rounded corners and the camera hole. Samsung Mobile Press gives the respective proportions as 10:16 and 4:3. These are useful for understanding the two surfaces, but do not substitute for trying a particular app layout. The features described here concern how Samsung says Multi window works, rather than a measured claim about how much time it saves.

The Fold8-specific One UI 9 instructions are from Samsung India Support, whose guide was last updated October 9, 2026. Samsung also cautions that feature names and configurations may differ by country, model and software version. If the steps on your device do not exactly match the labels here, use the corresponding controls shown on your installed software and remember that some third-party apps may not support Multi window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use split screen on the Galaxy Z Fold8 cover screen?

No. Samsung says the Taskbar is not supported on the cover screen, and its general Fold guidance says split-screen and pop-up view are not available on the front screen. Open the phone and use the main display for Multi window.

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How do I open two apps at once on the Galaxy Z Fold8?

Open the phone to the main display, tap Recent apps, tap the icon above the app preview you want, and choose Open in split screen view. Select a second supported app. Some third-party apps may not support Multi window, so the option can depend on the app.

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Can the Galaxy Z Fold8 show three apps at once?

Samsung’s Fold8-specific One UI 9 guide supports two- and three-app split-screen arrangements on the main display, subject to app compatibility. Select another supported app when the interface offers the option; if it is unavailable, try a different app.

How do I resize or switch apps in split screen?

Drag the divider between panes to change how much space each app gets. Tap the divider for additional options, which Samsung says include switching app positions and saving the combination as an App Pair.

How do I save an App Pair on the Fold8?

First create a split-screen arrangement, then tap the divider and choose the save option. Samsung lists the Taskbar, Home screen and Apps Edge panel as possible destinations. Available labels and configurations can vary by country, model and software version.

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Where do I turn on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Taskbar?

On the main display, Samsung’s Fold8 guide gives the path as Settings > Display > Taskbar. The Taskbar is not supported on the cover screen.

Will an app continue from the cover screen when I open the Fold8?

Samsung describes App continuity for supported apps: you can start a task while the device is closed and continue on the main display after opening it. It is not a guarantee that every app or activity transfers seamlessly.

Why is Open in split screen view missing for an app?

Samsung notes that some third-party apps may not support Multi window. Check the app-icon menu on your device and try another supported app. Feature names and configurations can also vary by country, model and software version.

The Bottom Line

Use the closed Fold8 for quick tasks in supported apps, and open it when you need two or three apps together, divider controls, the Taskbar or saved App Pairs. Samsung’s main-display workflow depends on app compatibility, and menu names can vary by country, model and software version.

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foldable phonesGalaxy Z Fold8 multitaskingOne UI 9Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8Samsung Multi window

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