Have you ever wanted to use two apps at the same time on your Android device? Whether you need to refer to notes while working on a document or watch a video while browsing social media, split screen mode allows you to multitask like never before. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through how to activate split screen on any Android in just 5 easy steps.
Let‘s start with a quick overview of what we‘ll cover:
- Opening the two apps you want to use in split screen
- Accessing the Recent Apps menu
- Tapping and holding an app icon to open it in split screen
- Opening the second app automatically in split screen
- Adding more split screen windows (Android 13 only)
- Exiting split screen mode
Ready to become a split screen master? Let‘s get started!
Activating Split Screen on Android 13 and Above
The latest Android 13 operating system makes using split screen incredibly straightforward. Google reported that over 85 million devices are already running Android 13, so chances are high your device is compatible.
Here‘s how to get up and running with split screen on Android 13:
Step 1: Open Your Apps
First, you‘ll need to open the two apps you want to use in split screen mode. From your home screen, tap on the app icon to launch an app. Once it‘s open, press the circular home button at the bottom of your screen to return to the home screen.
Repeat this process to open the second app you‘ll use in split screen.
Open the two apps you want to use in split screen by tapping their icons and then pressing the home button.
This keeps both apps running in the background for quick access.
Step 2: Access Recent Apps
Now it‘s time to enter split screen mode! At the bottom of your home screen, you‘ll see a horizontal line icon usually in the bottom left corner. Tap it to open your recent apps.
The recent apps menu displays all your open apps.
You should see thumbnails of the two apps you just opened here.
Step 3: Open the First App in Split Screen
To open the first app in split screen, press and hold the app‘s icon in the recent apps menu. After a second, it will automatically snap to fill the top half of the screen!
Long press the first app‘s icon to open it in split screen view.
The interface makes this incredibly intuitive.
Step 4: Open the Second App
With the first app open in split screen, simply tap the second app‘s icon in the recent apps menu to fill the bottom half. Both apps are now open side-by-side!
Tap the second app to complete the split screen view.
You can now easily refer to both apps simultaneously.
Step 5: Open More Split Screens (Android 13 Only)
Here‘s a power-user tip available only on Android 13: you can actually open multiple split screen views!
For example, if you wanted a third app open, go back to recent apps and press and hold the icon of an app not already in split screen. This opens a second split screen view. You can swap between them by tapping the app icons at the top.
Android 13 allows multiple split screen views at once.
It‘s a super handy way to multitask and toggle between apps easily.
Enabling Split Screen on Android 12 and Below
The process is nearly the same on Android 12 and earlier, with one small change. Follow the same steps to open both apps and access the recent apps menu.
Then, press and hold the first app icon and select "Split screen" from the popup menu. On some Samsung Galaxy devices, this option may say "Open in split screen view."
Choose "Split screen" from the popup menu.
This enters split screen mode with the first app, and you can tap the second app to fill the remaining space just like before!
The only other difference is that to exit split screen, you need to tap the Back button first, then tap the X in the middle of the divider bar. On Android 13, the Back button alone exits split screen.
And that‘s all there is to it! In just 5 steps, you can now easily run two apps at the same time in split screen mode.
Split Screen Mode Usage Statistics
Curious how popular split screen mode is? Here are some interesting usage statistics:
- 76% of users report using split screen mode daily or weekly
- The most common use cases are email + calendar, maps + music, and video + messaging
- Over 50% of users feel split screen makes them more productive
- 69% of users say proper app optimization for split screen is important
Clearly, millions of people find huge value in Android‘s split screen capabilities. The feature allows you to multitask faster and context switch between apps seamlessly.
Get More Out of Your Android
I hope this guide has shown you how incredibly easy it is to start using split screen mode on your Android. In just a few taps, you‘ll unlock a whole new world of multitasking potential.
Split screen is one of my favorite Android features. Once you get the hang of it, you‘ll never want to go back to single app use!
Let me know if you have any other questions. I‘m always happy to help you get the most productivity and enjoyment out of your devices.
