Make Any App Work with Android's Split Screen Mode in 30 Seconds Flat

By Jon Knight

Sep 24, 2019 08:05 PM

Sep 24, 2019 08:12 PM

Ever tried using Android's split screen mode only to find the app you wanted to split doesn't support it? Even big-name apps like ESPN still don't support the feature despite the majority of Android devices having split screen. So instead of waiting for the developers, how about we just force compatibility?

If your phone or tablet runs Android 7.0 Nougat or newer, you can make it so that all apps are forced to support split screen, whether the developer enables it or not. To do this, you'll need to activate Developer Options, so open Settings and type "Build" into the search bar. Tap the "Build number" result, then tap the actual "Build number" entry 7 times. Enter your PIN and Developer Options will be enabled.

More Info: How to Enable Developer Options on Any Android Phone

Make Any App Work with Android's Split Screen Mode in 30 Seconds Flat

System settings menu on a mobile device.

Now you'll see "Developer Options" as the last entry on your main Settings page. If you don't see it, go to "System," then "Advanced." Once inside the Developer Options menu, scroll to the bottom and find "Force activities to be resizable." Enable this toggle, then restart your phone. Presto! All your apps now support split-screen mode.

Cover image by Jon Knight/Gadget Hacks

You already know how to use your phone. With our newsletter, we'll show you how to master it. Each week, we explore features, hidden tools, and advanced settings that give you more control over iOS and Android than most users even know exists.