Android 16 Makes It Easier to Use Split-Screen Mode on Smaller Screens.
The concept of app pairing was introduced to stock Android back in Android 15. You select two apps to use in split-screen mode, add shortcuts to the paired apps to your home screen, and now multitasking in split-screen mode is incredibly easy (instead of requiring a lot of tapping and dragging).
It sounds tempting, but I’ve never used it because on my tiny Pixel 9a, using apps in 50:50 split-screen mode is barely practical. There’s simply not enough screen real estate for each app to take up half the screen and still be functional. But that changed with Android 16, thanks to a minor update to the way split-screen works.
In Android 16, the split-screen aspect ratio for paired apps has become much more flexible. You can use two apps simultaneously in 70:30 or even 90:10 mode. And once you get used to the idea of multitasking in 90:10 split-screen mode, everything will work like a charm.
For example, I have a pair of apps for Chrome and Gemini. Chrome is for browsing the web, and Gemini is for searching information.
I usually have Chrome maximized, taking up 90% of the screen, and Gemini minimized to the bottom. But with one tap, Gemini comes to the foreground and Chrome fades into the background. And I can switch between them just as easily. It’s much faster than using Android’s multitasking menu.
How to set up paired apps with 90:10 split-screen multitasking
To set up app pairing and try it out yourself, first create a split-screen pairing. Open the two apps you want to pair, then go to multitasking mode (swipe up from the Home bar and hold for a second). Tap the name of the first app you want to open and select “Split Screen.” Then, select the other app to pair. You’ll now be in a 50:50 split-screen mode. Grab the handle between the two apps and drag it all the way up or down to activate a 90:10 split. Alternatively, you can also set up a 70:30 split, leaving some space on the second app.
Now go back to the multitasking mode, tap on one of the app names and select the “Save app pair” option.
After that, you’ll find the app pair as a shortcut on your home screen. Tap it to launch the pre-configured app combination. And yes, it remembers your last used split-screen aspect ratio, saving you valuable setup time.