Overview
Doing two things at once — reading a message while checking a map, or copying details from one app into another — is far easier when you can see both at the same time or jump between them instantly. Split-screen stacks two apps on one display, and a single flick gesture switches to your last app. This guide shows how to set up both.
Symptoms you might see
- You lose your place constantly switching back and forth between two apps.
- The split-screen option is greyed out or missing.
- Only one of your two apps supports the split view.
- Switching apps feels slow because you open the full recents list every time.
Possible causes
- You are opening apps from the home screen each time instead of switching.
- The app you chose does not support running in a split window.
- Split-screen is triggered from the recent-apps view, which you may not be using.
- A full-screen game or video is pinned and blocking multi-window mode.
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, or tap the recents button, to see your carousel of open apps. Split-screen almost always starts from here rather than from inside an app.
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Send the first app to the top
Tap the small app icon above a card in the recents view and choose "Split screen" or "Open in split view". The first app docks to the top (or left) half of the display.
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Pick the second app
The bottom half shows your home screen or app list. Tap a second app and it fills the other half. You now have both running together and can tap in either one.
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Resize the split
Drag the divider bar in the middle up or down to give one app more room. Drag it all the way to an edge to close the split and return that app to full screen.
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Flick to switch apps
When you only need one app at a time, swipe left or right along the very bottom edge of the screen to flick straight to your previous app — no need to open the full recents list.
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Use app pairs if available
Some phones let you save a split-screen pair as a single shortcut. If yours does, save your common combination so both apps launch together with one tap from the home 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
- Use the bottom-edge flick for quick two-app switching instead of the home screen.
- Keep frequently paired apps next to each other for faster set-up.
- Remember that not every app allows a split window — that is normal.
- Close apps you are finished with so the recents carousel stays tidy.
- Save an app pair shortcut if you repeat the same combination daily.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I only add one app to split-screen?
Some apps are not built to run in a resized window and will refuse to open in split view. You will need to choose a different second app that supports multi-window.
What is the fastest way to switch between two apps?
Swipe left or right along the bottom edge of the screen. One flick jumps to your last app, which is quicker than opening the recents carousel each time.
Does split-screen use more battery?
Running two apps at once uses a little more power and memory than one, but for everyday tasks the difference is small. Close the split when you are done to save resources.
Related guides
Icare Manual is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any phone manufacturer or software maker. Our guides offer general information; for physical or hardware faults we recommend a qualified local technician. All product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.