Especially on tablets, but also on smartphones, the native function of the Android system is really useful, which allows you to divide the screen into two sections, so you can use two applications together. Instead of jumping back and forth between the two apps, they can both be viewed and used simultaneously . In this way, for example, you can watch a video on Youtube and take notes, copy and paste from one app to another, see a video while writing an email, keep Google Maps and the music player open (useful in the car), open Facebook and Instagram together or whatever you want. The function to view both apps simultaneously on Android to have a split screen has been present since 2016 (Android 7), but only starting from the Android 9 version has it been made really effective on all smartphones and tablets Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi and devices from other manufacturers.
Although it is an effective way to use an Android phone efficiently and even more so a tablet, it still remains a somewhat hidden function, which can sometimes happen to activate unconsciously, finding yourself with the screen divided in two without even knowing such as. So let's see how to use the split screen mode on Android in an optimal way with this small schematic guide.
READ ALSO: Best Android Hacks and Cheats for every smartphone
Most Android apps and games are compatible with split screen mode, although not all of them work. For example, apps like Netflix and the camera must be viewed in full screen mode.
If we wanted a different way to open two applications together on the screen, we have seen in the past how to open Android apps in windows as on Windows, in small floating boxes that can be moved on the screen.
Finally, it should be noted that from the Android 9 version, some applications such as Google Maps (in navigator mode) can remain open in Picture in Picture mode, after pressing the Home button on the phone, in small floating windows.
Although it is an effective way to use an Android phone efficiently and even more so a tablet, it still remains a somewhat hidden function, which can sometimes happen to activate unconsciously, finding yourself with the screen divided in two without even knowing such as. So let's see how to use the split screen mode on Android in an optimal way with this small schematic guide.
READ ALSO: Best Android Hacks and Cheats for every smartphone
- Open the first app, for example, Google Maps.
- Return to the home screen by pressing the center button on the phone, the one at the bottom of the screen.
- Open the list of apps and open another app, for example Google Chrome.
- Touch the Recent Apps button, the one located in one of the lower corners of the screen, next to the Home button, which appears in many cases with three vertical lines.
- Touch and hold the icon at the top of one of the apps until a menu appears where you can make several choices.
- In the menu, tap on " Open in split screen view " (in some smartphones this menu does not appear and just touch the button with two rectangles to activate the split screen mode).
- The selected app will be visible in the upper part of the screen while in the lower part it will be empty, with the initial screen that allows you to open another application.
- By opening another app, it will open on the free part of the screen and the screen will be divided in two, with a horizontal line that separates the two apps open together.
- In split screen mode, you can touch and hold the black line between the two apps to move it up or down in order to change the size of the windows.
- If you turn the screen of your phone or tablet, if the option of automatic rotation is active (in case activate it by pulling down the notification bar and looking for the switch in the quick buttons), the screen will be divided horizontally, with the separation line that can be moved left and right to choose the portion of space to devote to the two open windows.
- Touching the line without holding down, two buttons appear, one to end the split mode, the other to swap the windows and bring the bottom one up and the top one down.
- To switch to another app, you can always touch the Recent apps button and select a different app to replace the one currently displayed.
- Finally, you can disable the split screen mode, if you do not intend to use it, from the Android settings, looking for the option (which in most Android phones is under the Accessibility section).
- Also note, if the split screen mode is active, it can be used quickly by drawing a horizontal line in the middle of the screen with the knuckle of the index finger (tested on Huawei).
- To end the split screen, you can drag the line all the way up or down, depending on the application you want to leave open. You can also press and hold the recent apps icon to disable the split screen and automatically close the secondary app, the one that appears at the bottom.
Most Android apps and games are compatible with split screen mode, although not all of them work. For example, apps like Netflix and the camera must be viewed in full screen mode.
If we wanted a different way to open two applications together on the screen, we have seen in the past how to open Android apps in windows as on Windows, in small floating boxes that can be moved on the screen.
Finally, it should be noted that from the Android 9 version, some applications such as Google Maps (in navigator mode) can remain open in Picture in Picture mode, after pressing the Home button on the phone, in small floating windows.
