Best daily deals

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

How to split screen on any Samsung device

Using one app at a time is a thing of the past!
By
December 11, 2023

The increased screen real estate makes our smartphones, foldables, and tablets much more functional than ever. We can enjoy movies more easily, read books, and browse the web more comfortably. Larger screens have also turned our smartphones into productivity powerhouses, especially with the introduction of split-screen in recent years. Are you unsure how to view two windows or apps on a single screen? Today, we’ll teach you how to use a split-screen on any Samsung device.

QUICK ANSWER

To split-screen on a Samsung device, open Recent Apps, tap on your chosen app's icon, and select Open in split-screen view. Then, select the other app you want to use.


JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

Editor’s note: We’ve assembled these steps using a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra running Android 12. We’ve verified that the same steps also work on a Samsung Galaxy S23 ultra running Android 14. Remember that some steps might differ depending on your phone and software version.

How to split-screen on Samsung using Recent Apps

Using two apps at once sure has its benefits. Imagine being able to watch a YouTube video while you talk to your friend about it on Messenger. That’s only one example, and your imagination is the only limit. What matters most is knowing how to use split-screen on Samsung, so let’s start by giving you the primary method.

Split-screen using Recent Apps:

  1. Open the Recent Apps section.
  2. Find the first app you want to use and tap on the app’s icon right above the displayed window.
  3. Select Open in split-screen view.
  4. You can now select which app you want to use on the other half of the screen.
  5. You can press the Home or Back buttons to exit the split-screen view.

How to split-screen on Samsung using the Edge Panel

You don’t always plan which apps you want to use. The idea just pops up when needed. This is what makes using the Edge Panel much more convenient and natural.

Split-screen using the Edge Panel:

  1. Open the first app you want to use.
  2. Slide out the Edge Panel.
  3. Tap and hold on to the second app you want to use in split-screen view. Drag it to either the lower or upper part of the screen.
  4. You can press the Home or Back buttons to exit the split-screen view.

How to store split-screen app pairs

If you commonly use a couple of apps together, there is a way to store these app combinations to open together. These app combos can be stored as shortcuts in the Edge Panel. Here’s how to do it.

Add app pairs to Edge Panel on Samsung:

  1. Open two apps in split-screen mode using either of the methods above.
  2. Tap on the three-dot menu in the division line.
  3. Select the Add app pair to Edge Panel option.
  4. The pair will be added to the Edge Panel. You can now launch these apps together, directly from there.

How to use pop-up view

The split-screen view is excellent, but it limits you to dividing the display in two. Those who want more flexibility can use the pop-up view. This feature mimics using a traditional window, much like on a computer. You can drag it around, resize it, change its size, and more.

Use pop-up view from the Recent Apps:

  1. Open the Recent Apps section.
  2. Find the app you want to use and tap on the app’s icon right above the displayed window.
  3. Select Open in pop-up view.
  4. You can now tap on the upper section of the pop-up to pull out options, or drag the sides to resize it. Additionally, you can move it around by dragging it from the top section.

Use pop-up view with the Edge Panel:

  1. Slide out the Edge Panel.
  2. Tap and hold on to the app you want to use. Drag it to the middle of the screen.
  3. You can now tap on the upper section of the pop-up to pull out options, or drag the sides to resize it. Additionally, you can move it around by dragging it from the top section.

FAQs

The feature was introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S8, so you should be able to use split-screen on Android Samsung devices newer than the S8 handset.

Yes, you can save shortcuts for entering split-screen views using two predetermined apps of your choosing. Enter split-screen view using the apps you want to make a shortcut for, tap on the three-dot menu section where the screen splits, and select the icon to add to the Edge Panel. You can now access these two apps in split-screen view from the Edge Panel.

Yes. Just drag the line where the screen splits and move it around.

You can run multiple apps in pop-up view. Just continue launching them using the instructions above.