How about watching your favorite YouTube video on your iPhone while scrolling through your Instagram feed? Or maybe you want to compare two products on Amazon but can’t do that since iPhones don’t have the split screen feature. Although it’s disappointing, there are workarounds.
And the good news is there’s no need to jailbreak. After all, seamlessly multitask between apps with apps like Split Screen – Dual Window. And if you don’t like additional apps, the picture-in-picture feature can get your job done most of the time.
Let’s get started on how to split screen on iPhone using the different methods and see which works best for you.
How To Split Screen On iPhone?
The split-screen feature on iPads makes it easy to multitask like on PCs and Macs. While iPhones don’t have this option by default, you can still use some tricks to have a similar experience. Let’s explore them below.
Method 1: Use the Split Screen – Dual Window App
The Split Screen – Dual Window App is a popular and user-friendly option for creating split screens on your iPhone. And it’s super easy to set up and use. Just follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Download and Install the App
Start with downloading and installing the Split Screen – Dual Window App from the App Store, which is free. After installing, it’ll ask you for permission to show notifications, which you’d better not allow, as it could disturb your multitasking.
Step 2: Launch the App on Your iPhone
Now launch the app by tapping its icon on your home screen. Once opened, you’ll see a web browser with two separate windows side by side or top to bottom, depending on your preferred screen orientation.
Step 3: Adjust the Layout
You’ll also notice a separator between the two windows, which you can adjust by dragging it to resize the windows according to your preference. Dragging it up and down enlarges the top window while shrinking the bottom one, and vice versa.
You can also rotate your iPhone to landscape mode to change the split view to a horizontal orientation, which gives you more room for browsing side by side. And likewise, you can drag the separator to adjust the size of the windows.
Step 4: Load the Websites
Now you can start loading the websites or web-based apps you want to use within the two windows.
First, you need to tap one of the windows to set it as active. Then tap the address bar or the search bar in each window and type the URL or keywords of the website you’re looking for. You can also use the built-in search options to quickly find specific sites or apps.
Once you have your websites loaded on each window, you can now interact with them simultaneously, just like using a split screen on an iPad.
It would be like playing your favorite music on YouTube in the top window while dragging the separator all the way up to show the bottom window in full. Then leisurely scroll through your Instagram feed with the music playing in the background. How cool is that?
Step 5: Share Something from the Split View
Splitting your screen doesn’t take away the option to share content from either window. If you want to share a link or image from one of the windows, tap the ‘Share’ button at the bottom.
It’ll ask you whether to share content from the top or the bottom window. Select the one you want to share from and proceed as usual with sharing to your social media platforms, texting, or sending via email.
Step 6: Exit Split Screen View
When you’re done using the split screen view and want to exit, you can do so using your iPhone’s usual app-closing method. Simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or press the Home button on models with one) to return to your home screen.
Step 7: Be Mindful of the Limitations
Please note that Split Screen – Dual Window App only supports web-based apps and websites. Meaning, you have to use the web version of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or your email provider.
The native apps of these services won’t work within the split windows. Nevertheless, it still does enough to let you multitask with most web-based services you regularly use on your iPhone.
Method 2: Using Picture-in-Picture (PiP) to Multitask
If you don’t want to install any additional apps for split screening, you can use the built-in Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature on your iPhone. This doesn’t technically give you a split-screen experience, but it allows you to watch videos or make FaceTime calls while using other apps.
Here’s how to use PiP to multitask:
Step 1: Enable Picture-in-Picture
First, ensure that the Picture-in-Picture feature is enabled on your iPhone. To do this, go to ‘Settings‘ > ‘General‘ > ‘Picture in Picture‘. Toggle on the ‘Start PiP Automatically’ if it’s not already enabled.
Step 2: Launch a Supported Video App
Open a supported video apps such as YouTube, Apple TV, or any other app that supports PiP playback. Start playing the video you want to watch.
Once the video begins, look for the Picture-in-Picture icon (a small rectangle with an arrow pointing to another rectangle). It’s usually located on the video player’s control panel.
Step 3: Activate Picture-in-Picture Mode
Tap on the Picture-in-Picture icon to enter PiP mode. The video window will shrink and float on your screen, allowing you to access other apps or browse the internet while the video plays.
However, since PiP is automatically enabled on your iPhone, it should also work if you exit the app without tapping anything.
Step 4: Resize and Move the Floating Video Window
You can resize the floating video window by pinching or stretching it with two fingers. To move the PiP window, simply drag it to any desired location on your screen.
Step 5: Control Video Playback
In Picture-in-Picture mode, you can still control the video playback with play, pause, and fast-forward buttons directly available on the floating video window. If you want to exit PiP mode, just tap on the full-screen icon located on the video window’s controls.
Step 6: Close the Picture-in-Picture Window
To close the floating video window completely, tap on the ‘X’ icon on the video window’s controls. This will end the PiP playback and free up your screen space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have further queries regarding the split-screen view on your iPhone? Check out some commonly asked questions and their answers below, which could help.
Can you split-screen on iPhones without jailbreaking?
Yes, you can split-screen on iPhones without jailbreaking. You can either use the Split Screen – Dual Window App or the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature built into the iPhone’s system. Both methods do not require jailbreaking of your iPhone.
Does split screen affect the performance or battery life of my iPhone?
Since the Split Screen – Dual Window works as a single app, its impact on performance and battery life should be minimal. However, depending on the content displayed in each window, for instance—HD videos or web games, your iPhone may use more resources.
Is there a split-screen alternative on iPhones without using an app or PiP?
If multitasking is your priority, mastering fast-switching between apps is your only alternative to using a split-screen app or the PiP feature. To make things easier, you can close all unnecessary apps from the App Switcher by swiping them away, and focus on what you need.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how to use split screen features on your iPhone without needing to jailbreak it. While many prefer the latter for more customizations, let’s not forget that jailbreaking can void your warranty and pose security risks.
Using the Split Screen – Dual Window App or the built-in Picture-in-Picture feature offers decent routes to multitask without compromising your device’s security, warranty, or performance.
Although the experience might not be identical to a true split-screen found on other devices, these methods still provide a helpful way to manage multiple tasks simultaneously on your iPhone.
