Introduction
Android devices make multitasking easy by giving users the ability to run in a split screen mode. Splitting your screen lets you run two apps at the same time side by side. You can easily adjust the split screen to give one app more space than the other, and you can also quickly swap apps in and out of the mode. The only downside is that not all Android apps are capable of being run in split screen. Examples of all instructions in the steps can be seen in both the YouTube video above and the image collection located beneath the steps.
Steps to Split Screen on Android
- Tap to open the apps you want to use in split-screen mode on your Android device. In this example, I’ll open the Google Play Store and YouTube apps.
- Tap the “Recent Apps” icon in your device’s menu along the bottom of the screen. All of your currently open apps will be displayed in a row on the screen.
- Hold your finger against the icon for the primary app you want to run in split screen mode to open a menu, and then tap “Open in Split Screen View.” In this example, I’ll set the Google Play Store as my primary multitasking app. A minimized version of that app will be shown along the top or side of your screen. You won’t be able to replace this app in split screen mode without closing split screen.
- Now tap the other app in the list that you want to open in split screen mode. The list of apps will close, and the apps will be displayed in split screen mode. You can use split screen mode with your device in either portrait or landscape mode. You can easily change out the non-primary split screen app by tapping to open the Recent Apps screen again, and then selecting a new app in this list. The Recent Apps screen will close and you’ll return to split screen mode, where your new app will be displayed. Additionally, you can hold your finger against the blue line between the apps and move it to give one app more space on the screen than the other. You can close split screen mode at any time by accessing the Recent Apps screen, and then tapping the “X” on the small part of the screen showing your primary split screen app. That app will return to the row of apps. Any apps you open going forward will take up the full screen.
