What is split screen?
The short answer
Split screen is a feature that divides your display into two or more sections so you can see and use multiple apps at the same time.
How it works
Instead of switching back and forth between apps, split screen places them next to each other on your screen. You can read an article on one side while taking notes on the other, or join a video call while reviewing a document.
Most devices let you drag a divider between the two halves to give more room to whichever app you need most.
Where you can use it
- Windows — drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen, or press Windows key + left/right arrow
- Mac — hover over the green button in a window’s top-left corner and choose a side
- iPad — swipe up from the bottom to open the dock, then drag an app to the left or right edge
- Android — open your recent apps and tap the app icon at the top, then select “Split screen”
- iPhone — not natively supported on most models (iPad only)
Why it is useful
Split screen helps when you need to:
- Compare two documents or web pages side by side
- Copy information from one app into another
- Follow instructions in one window while working in another
- Watch a video while browsing or chatting
It saves time because you stop constantly switching between apps, which breaks your focus.
When it might not work well
Split screen is less helpful when:
- Your screen is small — two apps crammed onto a phone display can be hard to read
- One app needs full attention — photo or video editing usually benefits from the full screen
- Your device is older — running two apps at once uses more memory, which can cause slowdowns
If things feel cramped or laggy, just exit split screen and go back to using one app at a time.