Split View on iPhone Duo lets you run two apps, or two windows of the same app, side by side. Unfold the phone and turn it sideways, and both apps share the 7.6-inch inner display equally.
The split is fixed, because the iPhone Duo divider cannot be dragged to make one app bigger. Opening the second app takes one swipe or one long press.
Swipe Up or Touch and Hold to Open a Second App in Split View
Unfold the iPhone Duo and turn it sideways first. You can pair two different apps, such as Photos and Messages, or open two windows from one app.
The first route starts from an open app:
- Open the first app.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, pause in the center, then keep dragging the app to the left or right side.
- The app moves to that side and your Home Screen appears on the other half.
- Find the second app on the Home Screen or in App Library and tap it.
The second route starts from an app icon:
- Touch and hold an app on the Home Screen or in App Library.
- Tap Open in Split View.
- Pick the second app from the Home Screen or App Library.
Notes beside Safari is a practical first pair, and our list of best apps for new iPhone Duo owners give you plenty more to try.
Swipe Up Again to Swap Sides and Tap an Icon Again for a Second Window
To move an app to the other side of the screen, swipe up from the bottom of one of the apps, pause in the center, then move it to the opposite side.
Apps that support multiple windows can also sit beside a copy of themselves. That suits comparing two web pages in Safari or keeping two notes open at once.
- Open an app that supports multiple windows, such as Mail, Notes, Safari or Files, in Split View.
- Tap the app’s icon again on the Home Screen or in App Library.
- A second window of the app opens beside the first.
Tap the Divider to Pair Two Apps and Drag It to an Edge to Leave
With two apps open in Split View, tap the divider between them to pair them. The next time you open either app, the other one opens at the same time. Pairing is handy when you use the iPhone Duo as a small tablet with a keyboard and mouse and want the same two apps ready each time.
To unpair them, drag the divider in the center all the way to the left or right edge of the screen. The same drag shows one app in full screen. To go straight to the Home Screen, swipe up from the middle of the screen.
Eight Split View Gestures Summarized
| Action | Gesture |
|---|---|
| Open a second app | Swipe up from the bottom, pause in the center, drag the app to a side, then tap another app |
| Open from an icon | Touch and hold the app, tap Open in Split View, then pick the second app |
| Swap the apps | Swipe up from the bottom of one app, pause in the center, move it to the opposite side |
| Open a second window | Tap the app’s icon again while it is in Split View |
| Pair two apps | Tap the divider between them |
| Unpair two apps | Drag the divider to the left or right edge |
| Show one app in full screen | Drag the divider to the left or right edge |
| Go to the Home Screen | Swipe up from the middle of the screen |
Split View on iPhone Duo FAQ
Which apps can open two windows at once?
Any app that supports multiple windows can. Mail, Notes, Safari and Files all do.
How do I stop two apps from opening together?
Drag the divider between them all the way to the left or right edge of the screen to unpair them.
Can I resize the two apps in Split View on iPhone Duo?
No. Each app gets exactly half of the 7.6-inch inner display, whichever two apps you pick.
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