Split Screen on Android: Large Phone Setup

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Split screen on a large Android phone lets you run two apps side by side at the same time, so you can watch a video while texting, compare prices while shopping, or take notes while reading. This guide walks you through the built-in multitasking feature on current Android versions (Android 10 and newer, with slight variations by manufacturer). No special apps or permissions are needed—just your phone and the two apps you want to use.

What You’ll Need

A large Android phone (the steps work on any size, but the feature is most useful on screens 6 inches and up).
Android 10 or later (check in Settings > About Phone > Android version).
Two apps that support split screen. Most apps do, but a few (like some games and camera apps) may not.

Step-by-Step

Open the first app you want to use. For example, open your web browser.
Open the Recents screen by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and holding, or by tapping the square button (if you use the three-button navigation). This shows all your recently opened apps as cards.
Tap the app icon at the top of the app’s preview card. A small menu pops up with options like “Split screen,” “App info,” and “Pin.” On some phones (like Samsung), you may need to tap the icon that looks like two overlapping rectangles instead.
Select “Split screen” from the menu. The app will shrink to the top half of the screen, and the bottom half will show your other recent apps.
Choose the second app from the bottom half. Tap the app you want to use. If you don’t see it, swipe through the list or tap the All Apps icon to browse your full app drawer.
Adjust the divider: Once both apps are open, you’ll see a thin gray line (the divider) between them. Drag the divider up or down to resize the windows. Drag it to the top or bottom edge to exit split screen and go back to a single app.
Switch apps: To replace one of the apps, drag the divider to the top or bottom to close that app, then open the Recents and start over. Or, while in split screen, tap the app icon in the top window and select “Swap” to switch the two apps’ positions.

Common Mistakes

Not finding the split screen option: On some phones, the menu that appears when you tap the app icon may not show “Split screen” directly. Look for a small icon that looks like two rectangles, one on top of the other. On Samsung phones, it’s often labeled “Open in split screen view.”
Using apps that don’t support split screen: Some apps (especially games, camera apps, and certain banking apps) disable split screen. If you don’t see the option, that’s likely why.
Forgetting to hold the app icon: A quick tap on the app icon might just open the app. You need to tap and hold (or long-press) the icon to bring up the menu.
Dragging the divider to the edge accidentally: If you drag the divider all the way up or down, you’ll exit split screen. That’s normal, but it can be annoying if you meant to resize.

Tips

Use the Recents screen as your starting point: It’s the fastest way to enter split screen. Just open the first app, then go to Recents.
Drag and drop between apps: On many phones, you can drag text, images, or files from one app to the other while in split screen. For example, drag a link from Chrome to a notes app.
Save your split screen pair: Some manufacturers (like Samsung) let you save a split screen pair as an app pair, so you can open both apps together with one tap from the edge panel or home screen.
Use the divider as a shortcut: Double-tapping the divider (on some phones) will swap the two apps. Dragging the divider to the edge will exit split screen.
Try app pairs on Samsung: If you have a Samsung phone, look for “App pairs” in the Edge panel. You can create a pair of apps that always open together.

Troubleshooting

Split screen option is grayed out or missing: This usually means the app doesn’t support it. Try a different app. If it happens with all apps, check if your phone has a setting that disables split screen (some “Easy mode” or “Kids mode” settings do). Go to Settings > Advanced features (or Display) > Multi-window and make sure it’s enabled.

Only one app appears after selecting split screen: You may have accidentally tapped the app icon instead of the split screen option. Go back to Recents and try again, making sure to select “Split screen” from the menu.

The second app opens full screen instead of in the split view: This can happen if you tap the app’s icon in the Recents list instead of the app’s preview. Make sure you tap the preview card (the large area) of the second app, not the icon.

Split screen works but the apps are too small: Drag the divider to give more space to the app you’re using more. On large phones, you can also try rotating the phone to landscape mode, which gives each app more horizontal space.

My phone doesn’t have a Recents button: If you use gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom and hold. If you have a three-button navigation, the Recents button is the square on the right. If you don’t see it, go to Settings > Display > Navigation bar and switch to three-button navigation temporarily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use split screen with any two apps? Most apps support it, but some (like certain games, camera apps, and apps that use the full screen in unusual ways) may not. If you don’t see the option, the app likely doesn’t allow it.

How do I exit split screen? Drag the divider all the way to the top or bottom of the screen. Or, go to Recents and tap the app you want to keep—it will open full screen.

Can I resize the windows after I’ve set them up? Yes, just drag the divider up or down. There’s no limit to how small or large you can make each window, but there is a minimum size (usually around 30% of the screen).

Does split screen work in landscape mode? Yes, it works in both portrait and landscape. In landscape, the apps appear side by side (left and right) instead of top and bottom.

Will split screen drain my battery faster? Yes, because both apps are running at the same time, it uses more processing power and battery. It’s not a huge difference, but if you’re low on battery, consider using one app at a time.

Can I use split screen on any Android phone? Split screen is a standard Android feature since Android 7.0, so any phone running Android 7.0 or later should have it. However, some manufacturers (like Samsung, OnePlus, and Xiaomi) may have slightly different steps or additional features.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.