How to use split-screen multitasking on a Samsung Galaxy phone
Multitasking on a smartphone can be difficult, with the default smartphone settings limiting you to one application at a time. That can be a pain for those who want to jot down notes while watching a video or chatting with a friend during a video call.
Split-screen multitasking on a Samsung Galaxy phone is a handy feature that lets you view and interact with two apps simultaneously. Here’s how to activate it:
Using Recent Apps Button:
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Open the first app you want to use in split-screen view.
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Tap the Recent Apps button. This button is typically the lower left button on the navigation bar (it looks like three vertical lines).
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Find the app icon for the first app you opened.
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Tap the app icon and hold it down for a moment.
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You’ll see a pop-up menu with several options. Select “Open in split screen view”.
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The first app will then snap to the top half of your screen. You’ll see the other open apps displayed in the bottom half.
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Tap the second app you want to use in split-screen view. It will then fill the lower half of the screen.
Using Gesture Navigation (if enabled):
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Open the first app you want to use in split-screen view.
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Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment until you see the Recent Apps window.
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Find the app icon for the first app and swipe it to the top of the screen to pin it to the desired half (top or bottom).
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The other open apps will be displayed in the remaining half of the screen.
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Tap the second app you want to use in split-screen view.
Using App Edge Panel (if enabled):
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Open the first app you want to use in split-screen view.
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Swipe right on the screen to open the Edge panel (assuming you have it enabled).
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Tap and hold an app icon in the Edge panel.
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Drag the app icon to the top or bottom of the screen to launch it in split-screen view.
See Also:
How to replace the joystick modules on the DualSense Edge
How to View Favorites on TikTok PC
Using and Managing Split-Screen:
- Once in split-screen mode, you can adjust the size of each window by dragging the dividing line in the middle of the screen up or down.
- To close split-screen view, swipe up from the dividing line (similar to dismissing an app) or tap the home button.
Additional Notes:
- Not all apps support split-screen multitasking. You might see an incompatibility message if you try to use an unsupported app.
- Some features within apps might be limited while in split-screen view.
By following these steps, you can effectively use split-screen multitasking on your Samsung Galaxy phone to boost your productivity and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
If you own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you’ll be pleased to hear that it offers a multitasking split-screen mode, which allows you to display two apps simultaneously.
But Samsung hasn’t made it clear how to make use of this feature, so we’ve decided to step in and create this step-by-step guide. Here’s how you can use the split-screen multitasking mode on your Galaxy smartphone.
What you’ll need
- A Samsung Galaxy smartphone
The Short Version
- Press the bottom-left button to open Recent Apps
- Hold down on your chosen app
- Drag the app to the top of your screen, and release
- Use the bottom screen to pick your second app
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Step
1Press the bottom-left button to open Recent Apps
The Recent Apps icon should look like three vertical lines. It should be to the left-hand side of the home button.
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Step
2Hold down on your chosen app
You can swipe across your phone’s screen to find your chosen app. If the app is not already active, then you’ll need to search for it, open it and start again at step one.
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Step
3Drag the app to the top of your screen, and release
When dragging your chosen app upwards, you should see a greyed out square pop up on the screen with the words ‘Drop here to open’. You should then see the app take up the top half portion of your smartphone display.
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Step
4Use the bottom screen to pick your second app
You should now be able to see the app drawer on the bottom-half of your screen. Pick from Recent Apps to choose your second application. You can also use the search function. Once selected, both apps should now be displayed on each half of your Galaxy smartphone’s screen.
Troubleshooting
Will this work with any Android phone?
No. Most Android phones will offer the same split-screen functionality, but require different steps in order to use it. For example, the Google Pixel phone requires you to tap the app icon in ‘Recent Apps’ and then select ‘Split top’ from a dropdown menu instead.
