To use split screen on a Pixel phone, open an app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, hold and let go, tap that app's icon, tap Split screen, then pick a second app for the other half. Google's Pixel Phone Help says some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up, and that whether it works depends on the app.
Here's the catch. Split screen isn't the only way to run two things at once, and it isn't always the best one. Pixel phones also have picture-in-picture, for keeping a video playing in a small window, and bubbles, which float an app over whatever you're doing. Google's help says you can have up to 5 bubbles at one time, and on a Pixel Fold you can open a bubble over a split-screen view to multitask with 3 apps.
Split screen on a Pixel phone, step by step
The steps from Pixel Phone Help, as of October 2026:
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to the top.
- Open an app.
- From the bottom of your screen, swipe up, hold, then let go.
- Tap the app's icon.
- Tap Split screen.
- You'll see two screens. In the second screen, tap another app.
To go back to one app, drag the bar between the two apps to the top or bottom of the screen.
Older Pixels need one setting first. If you have a Pixel 2 or the original Pixel from 2016, turn on Swipe up on Home button in the Settings app, under System, Gestures, Swipe up on Home button.
Split screen, picture-in-picture or bubbles
| Option, as of October 2026 | What it does | How to close it |
|---|---|---|
| Split screen | Two apps on screen at the same time | Drag the middle bar to the top or bottom |
| Picture-in-picture | A video keeps playing in a small window while you use another app | Drag the video off the bottom of the screen |
| Bubbles | An app opens in a small floating window over your current app, up to 5 at once | Touch and hold the bubble, then drag it onto Close |
Watch a video while you use another app
Picture-in-picture is the one to use when one of your two apps is a video. Here's how:
- Open an app and play a video.
- Depending on the video app, swipe up or tap Picture-in-picture.
- Open the other app you want to use.
- When you're done, drag the video off the bottom of the screen to close it.
You can drag the video window anywhere on the screen, and to make it big again, tap the video, then Full screen. If you swipe up and the app closes, or you don't see the Picture-in-picture icon, Google says the feature won't work with that app. That's the honest limit of all of this: the app decides.
If a particular app keeps popping into a little window when you'd rather it didn't, open Settings, tap Apps and notifications, Advanced, Special app access, Picture-in-picture, choose the app and turn off Allow picture-in-picture.
Multitask with bubbles
Bubbles are available on all Pixel phones, including Fold, with Android 17, according to Google's Pixel help as of October 2026. To make one:
- On your Home screen or all apps screen, touch and hold the app icon.
- In the menu, tap Bubble.
- The app opens in a floating bubble window.
When you have more than one bubble, they group together, and you can find recent ones by tapping More. Tap the floating bubble icon to expand it, and tap it again, or anywhere outside the window, to shrink it back to its icon. To switch between open bubbles, tap the bubble bar and then the icon you want, and to move the whole bar, touch and hold it and drag it somewhere else. To get rid of everything at once, touch and hold the bubble bar and drag it onto Close at the bottom of the screen.
Split screen on a Pixel Fold
The Fold gets extra routes into split screen. Google's Fold help covers splitting an app from the taskbar, from the overview menu, and from the Home screen or all apps menu, plus stopping split screen and saving an app pair you use together.
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The taskbar is the Fold's quickest way to switch apps. Swipe up slowly from the bottom edge to open it, then select the app you want; to see apps that aren't pinned, tap Action. Pick a new app and the taskbar collapses on its own. To change what's on it, swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen to open the app library, touch and hold an app, drag it to the spot you want on the taskbar and let go.
You can also make bubbles from the taskbar on a Fold: open it, touch and hold an app, drag the icon to the left or right side of the screen and release, and repeat to add more. If you want the taskbar always visible, open it, touch and hold the divider line and turn on Always show Taskbar. Google notes you can only navigate the taskbar with gestures.
My verdict on Android split screen
For two apps you're working between, like notes beside a document, split screen does the job. For a video, picture-in-picture is better, and for quick replies while you're doing something else, bubbles are the neatest of the three. If an app refuses, that's the app, not you, so don't waste time on it. Want to capture what's on your split screen? Here's how to take a screenshot on Android, and if you need a video of it, my guide on recording your screen on Android for free covers that.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split the screen on a Pixel phone?
Open an app, swipe up from the bottom, hold and let go, tap the app's icon, tap Split screen, then choose a second app in the other half.
How do I turn off split screen on Android?
Drag the bar between the two apps to the top or bottom of your screen to go back to one app.
Why won't an app work in split screen or picture-in-picture?
It depends on the app. For picture-in-picture, if the app closes when you swipe up or there's no icon, the feature won't work with that app.
How many bubbles can you have open on a Pixel?
You can have up to 5 bubbles at one time.
Can I use three apps at once on a Pixel Fold?
Yes. On a Pixel Fold, you can open a bubble over a split-screen view to multitask with 3 apps.
