Table of Contents

Mastering Multitasking: How to Split Screen on Your Samsung Phone Like a Pro

So, you want to split your screen and conquer the digital world two apps at a time? Excellent choice! Multitasking on your Samsung phone is a game-changer, boosting productivity and making you feel like a true digital wizard.

Here’s the straightforward answer: You can split the screen on a Samsung phone in a few different ways, primarily through the Recents button, the Edge Panel, or by enabling the feature in Settings. Each method has its own advantages, so let’s dive in and see which one suits your style.

Three Ways to Split Your Samsung Screen

Let’s explore each method in detail:

1. The Recents Button Method: A Classic Approach

This is often the most intuitive and widely used method:

Open the Recent Apps: Tap the Recents button (the three vertical lines or swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold briefly, depending on your navigation settings) to view all recently used apps.
Tap the App Icon: Look at each app card. Instead of tapping the card itself, tap the app icon located at the top of the app card. A menu will pop up.
Select “Open in Split Screen View”: From the menu, choose the “Open in Split Screen View” option. The selected app will jump to the top half of the screen.
Choose Your Second App: The remaining apps from your Recent Apps list will appear at the bottom. Select the second app you want to use in split-screen mode. If the app you want isn’t there, you can tap the Home button and then open the app from your app drawer – it will automatically fill the lower half of the screen.

2. The Edge Panel Method: For Lightning-Fast Multitasking

If you’ve configured your Edge Panel (that handy little tab on the side of your screen), you can access split-screen mode with even greater speed:

Open the Edge Panel: Swipe the Edge Panel inwards from the side of your screen.
Find Your App Pair (If Available): If you’ve already created an app pair for split screen (we’ll explain how to do that later), simply tap the icon.
Create a New App Pair (If Needed): If your desired app pair isn’t there, tap the “Edit” icon (usually a pencil or three dots) in the Edge Panel. You can then drag and drop app icons into the designated split-screen area.
Launch Your Split Screen: Once your apps are selected or your pre-configured app pair is chosen, tapping the icons will launch them together in split-screen mode.

3. Enabling Split Screen from Settings

This is an alternate way to access split-screen mode.

Open Settings: Open your device’s Settings.
Find Advanced Features: Scroll down and tap Advanced features.
Multi Window: Select Multi window.
Ensure the feature is enabled: Enable the feature. If enabled, you can swipe from either top corner of the screen to enter the split screen mode.
Open in Split Screen View: Select Open in Split Screen View option. The selected app will jump to the top half of the screen.
Choose Your Second App: The remaining apps from your Recent Apps list will appear at the bottom. Select the second app you want to use in split-screen mode. If the app you want isn’t there, you can tap the Home button and then open the app from your app drawer – it will automatically fill the lower half of the screen.

Mastering the Split Screen Interface

Once you’re in split-screen mode, you’ll see a divider bar separating the two apps. This bar allows you to:

Adjust the App Size: Drag the bar up or down to resize the apps, giving one app more screen real estate than the other.
Swap Apps: Tap the three dots in the middle of the divider bar. You’ll see options to:
- Swap the apps: Switch the positions of the apps on the screen.
- Minimize app into a pop-up window: Shrink the app to a small, movable window.
- Add an App Pair to the Edge Panel: This is the magic button! It saves your current app combination as a preset on the Edge Panel for instant access later.
Exit Split Screen: Drag the divider bar all the way to the top or bottom of the screen to close one of the apps and return the other to full-screen mode.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Split Screen on Samsung

Here are some common questions and answers to further enhance your split-screen skills:

1. Why can’t I split screen a certain app?

Not all apps support split-screen mode. Some apps are designed to function only in full-screen mode due to their interface or functionality. You’ll usually find that games and certain video-intensive apps might not be compatible.

2. How do I create app pairs for quick access?

The easiest way is when you’re already in split-screen mode. Tap the three dots on the divider bar and select “Add app pair” or “Add to Edge Panel”. This will save the combination to your Edge Panel for one-tap access in the future.

3. Can I have more than two apps on the screen at once?

While split screen is limited to two apps, you can also use the Pop-up View feature to have apps float on top of each other. To enable Pop-up View, follow similar steps as split-screen but choose “Open in pop-up view” when tapping the app icon from Recent Apps.

4. Does split-screen mode drain my battery faster?

Yes, running two apps simultaneously will generally consume more battery power than running a single app. The impact on battery life will depend on the apps you’re using and the intensity of their usage. Consider closing split-screen mode when you no longer need it to conserve battery.

5. How do I exit split-screen mode?

Simply drag the divider bar all the way to the top or bottom of the screen. This will maximize the app on the side you drag towards, closing the other app.

6. Can I use split-screen in landscape and portrait mode?

Yes, split-screen mode works in both landscape and portrait orientations. The layout will adjust automatically based on your device’s orientation.

7. My Edge Panel is missing. How do I enable it?

Go to Settings > Display > Edge panels. Make sure the “Edge panels” toggle is turned on. You can also customize which panels are displayed, including the “Apps edge” which is most useful for creating app pairs.

8. How do I adjust the size ratio of the apps in split-screen?

Drag the divider bar up or down. This will dynamically resize the apps, allowing you to allocate more screen space to the app you’re actively using.

9. Can I copy and paste between apps in split-screen?

Absolutely! Copying and pasting text, images, and other content between apps is one of the biggest benefits of using split-screen mode. Simply use the standard copy/paste functions within each app.

10. Will split-screen slow down my phone?

If you’re running resource-intensive apps, using split-screen mode might slightly impact performance, especially on older or less powerful devices. However, modern Samsung phones are generally well-equipped to handle split-screen multitasking without significant slowdown.

11. Is there a quick way to switch between the apps in split-screen?

Besides tapping on each app, you can use the Recents button to quickly switch to another app, which will replace the app currently in the lower half of the split screen.

12. Does split screen work with DeX mode on Samsung phones?

Yes, split screen functionality works seamlessly within Samsung DeX mode, offering an even more powerful multitasking experience on a larger screen. You can manage and resize multiple windows just like you would on a desktop computer.

By mastering these techniques and understanding the nuances of split-screen mode, you can unlock a whole new level of productivity and efficiency on your Samsung phone. So, go ahead and split that screen and conquer your digital tasks like a pro!