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How to use split-screen multitasking on the Samsung Galaxy

In This Article

In This Article

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.

If you own aSamsung Galaxysmartphone, 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

What you’ll need

The Short Version

Step1

Press 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.

Step2

Hold 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.

Step3

Drag 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.

Step4

Use 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

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.

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Formerly the Staff Writer at Stuff Magazine, Ryan’s been writing about tech since he graduated from Cardiff University. At Trusted Reviews he is focused on everything computer-related, giving him a va…

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Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.