Overview
Doing two things at once — reading a recipe while messaging, or copying between apps — is far easier with split-screen and quick app switching. These features are built into the recent-apps view on nearly every modern phone. This guide shows how to open a split pair, resize it, flick between apps, and save a split you use often.
Symptoms you might see
- You switch back and forth between two apps constantly and lose your place.
- You don't know how to show two apps on screen at the same time.
- Split-screen opens but one app refuses to share the screen.
- You can't resize or close the split once it's open.
Possible causes
- Split-screen is triggered from the recent-apps view, which isn't obvious.
- A few apps block split-screen and only run full screen.
- The divider bar needs to be dragged to resize or dismiss the pair.
- Fast switching uses a gesture on the navigation pill that's easy to miss.
Step-by-step troubleshooting
Work through these in order — the earliest steps are the safest and fix the most cases.
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Open the recent-apps view
Swipe up from the bottom and hold (gesture navigation) or tap the recents button. You'll see your open apps as cards — this is the launch point for split-screen.
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Send the first app to split-screen
Tap the app's icon at the top of its card to open a small menu, then choose 'Split screen' or 'Open in split-screen view'. The app docks to the top (or left in landscape).
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Pick the second app
Your home screen or recent apps appears in the remaining half. Tap the second app and it fills the other pane. You're now running both at once.
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Resize or swap the panes
Drag the divider bar in the middle to give one app more room. Drag it fully to the edge to exit split-screen and keep that app full screen. Some phones let you swap panes by dragging the divider's handle.
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Flick between apps instantly
Outside split-screen, slide the bottom navigation pill left or right to jump between your two most recent apps. Repeat to keep toggling — it's the quickest way to move between a chat and a browser.
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Try a floating or pop-up window
From the recent-apps icon menu, some phones offer 'Pop-up view' to float an app in a small movable window over whatever's below. Drag it around, shrink it to a bubble, or expand it back to full screen.
Before you go further: back up your device to a cloud backup or a computer whenever possible. Steps that could affect your data are clearly flagged — and for suspected hardware faults, a qualified repair professional is the safest next step.
Prevention tips
- Learn the app-icon menu in recents — it's the key to every multitasking mode.
- If an app won't split, it has opted out; use pop-up view or quick switching instead.
- Use the slide-the-pill flick for two-app workflows rather than full split-screen.
- Rotate to landscape for split-screen when comparing long content side by side.
- Close splits you no longer need to keep memory free on older phones.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't an app go into split-screen?
Some apps, especially certain games and secure apps, disable split-screen. There's no setting to force it; use pop-up view or fast app switching as an alternative.
How do I close split-screen?
Drag the divider bar all the way to the top or bottom edge. Whichever app you drag toward becomes full screen; the other closes out of the split.
What is the fastest way to switch between two apps?
Slide the bottom navigation pill left or right. Each slide jumps to your previous app, so you can toggle between two apps with a single thumb motion.
Related guides
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