Samsung changed and removed some multi-window features on Galaxy S10 with the updated Recents screen. Besides, Galaxy S10 Multi Window is significantly from that in the stock Android.
This Galaxy S10 how-to guide explains everything you need to know about Galaxy S10 Multi Window: what is it, the difference between the split-screen view and pop-up view, how to use the split-screen and pop-up views of Galaxy S10 Multi Window.
By default, only one Android app can occupy the screen at any time, although Android is based on Linux, which of course supports multitasking on the desktop.
Google first introduced the multi-window (split-screen view) feature in Android Nougat.
But for Samsung Galaxy phones users, Multi Window had been introduced since Galaxy Note II in 2013.
And Samsung continued to polish this feature in each iteration of the Galaxy devices.
Galaxy S10 Multi Window allows you:
Of course, you can use the split-screen view and pop-up view simultaneously.
Unfortunately, Samsung removed some very useful features from Galaxy S10 Multi Window including:
Please note, these features were also removed in the Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S8.
If you still need these features, you need to install Samsung's Good Lock app.
If you migrated to Galaxy S10 from other Android phones, you probably tried the split-screen view in the stock Android.
The most powerful feature of Galaxy S10 Multi Window is the pop-up view.
Basically, the split-screen mode allows you to run two apps side-by-side (in the long side). You can adjust the percentage of the screen for each app. If one app gets 60%, the other will use the remaining 40%.
You can also create app pairs so that two apps can always be used together as explained in this guide. Please note, on Galaxy S10, you have to use the Edge screen to create app pairs.
The pop-up view mode does not have the limitation of 2 apps. It can be used for one or more apps simultaneously.
So, it is similar to the apps on your desktop, and you can resize any of them, relocate them, and stack them as you want.
Of course, due to the screen size of the Galaxy S10, it is impractical to use many apps in pop-up view at the same time. If you need to use GalaxyS 10 like a desktop, you may try to use Galaxy S10 in Samsung DeX mode.
On Galaxy S10, you have to start the multi-window features in Recents (Overview) screen.
You can tap the Recents button if you are using the navigation bar, or swipe up from the line on the left (or on the right depending on your button layout settings) if you are using Galaxy S10 navigation gestures, to enter Recents screen (in the stock Android, it is usually called as the Overview screen).
Galaxy S10 Recents screen supports the following navigation gestures:
As shown in the screenshot below, the thumbnails of recently used apps are listed here horizontally. You can swipe left and right to navigating through these apps.
If you want to open Chrome in the split-screen view mode, you just tap and hold (long tap) the Chrome app icon of the thumbnail as shown below.
After long tapping the Chrome icon, you can find the options as shown above:
Tap Open in split-screen view as shown above to re-open Chrome in the split-screen view.
As shown in the screenshot below, Chrome is now re-opened on the top part of the screen.
At the same time, the Recents button (on the bottom left) changes to the multi-window icon.
You need to choose the second app for the bottom part because the split-screen view always requires two apps.
There are several ways to choose the second app. For example:
In this tutorial, we simply choose the Galaxy Apps from the Recents list.
So, tap the thumbnail to open it in the bottom part.
As shown above, now Chrome and Galaxy Apps each occupy 50% of the screen.
Between the two apps, there is a dark-colored divider. And in the center of the divider, you can find a short light-colored line.
As shown below, you can tap and hold (long tap) the short line, then drag it up (to increase the screen space for the app in the lower part) or down (to increase the screen space for the app in the upper part).
In this example, we drag it upwards so that the screen space for Galaxy Apps is increased.
Please note. if you enlarge the screen space for one app too much, then the other app will be closed and you will exit the split-screen view mode.
To exit the split-screen view mode, you can use any of the following methods:
Anyway, if you want to continue to use one of the apps in normal mode, you can enlarge the screen for it until the other app closes.
If you want to open an app (Chrome in this tutorial) in the pop-up view mode, tap Open in pop-up view in the thumbnail options as shown earlier.
As shown in the screenshot below, the Chrome app is now in the pop-up view. The window will be floating over the Home screen.
Please note, the pop-up view window can float over other apps (including other pop-up view windows) as well.
Of course, you can tap and hold (long tap) the empty area of the pop-up view window, then drag it to any locations on the screen.
You can also resize the pop-up view window.
As shown above, you tap and hold any of the 3 borders of the window, then drag it to any direction to adjust the pop-up view window size as shown below.
For each app in the pop-up view multi-window mode, there are 4 buttons as shown in the screenshot above.
As shown below, once you minimize the app in the pop-up view, a floating app icon will be added to Galaxy S10 home screen automatically.
But if there are multiple minimized apps, the floating app icons will be overlapping. In other words, the floating app icons will always look like one.
If you move it, all floating app icons will move together.
If you tap the icon, it will expand and all app icons will be listed as shown above. You can then tap anyone to reopen it in the pop-up view.
If you have any questions on Galaxy S10 Multi Window on Galaxy S10, S10+, S10 5G or S10e, please let us know in the comment box below.
The community will help you find the answer.
If you have questions on new features of Samsung Galaxy S10, please check Galaxy S10 new features guides page.
For using Galaxy S10, please check Galaxy S10 how-to guides page.
You can find the detailed guides of using Galaxy S1o camera in Galaxy S10 camera guides page.
To find and use accessories for Galaxy S10, please check Galaxy S10 accessories guides page.
To read and download the official Samsung Galaxy S10 user guides (in PDF format) in your local language, please check Galaxy S10 user guides page.
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View Comments
Is there a way to have the windows in split screen mode both be active? If I put two games in split screen mode only 1 is "playing" while the other is paused. Is there a way so they both are actively playing?
There is no way to control it without using some tools, as I know. It depends on the game as well.
You can try Samsung's Good lock and enable "Use Multi window without pausing" (Multistar extension). Most games should work without pausing. But some may not.
Our guide for Good Lock is still under preparation.