How to Save App Pairs (Split-screen Apps Shortcut) on Android

Google recently released Android 15 with several new and improved features. One notable feature is the ability to open two apps side by side. It is called App Pairs and you can create as many app pairs as you want. For example, I like to use the calculator alongside my expense tracker to quickly know how I am wasting my money.

Samsung first introduced the option to save app pairs with Android 14, and now Google has caught up with Android 15. In this article, we’ll show you how to create app pair shortcuts, whether you’re on Samsung or other Android phones.

Save App Pairs on Samsung (Android 14 or above)

Samsung has made it incredibly simple to create and save app pairs on smartphones running Android 14 or later. To save the app pair, you must open those apps in split-screen mode.

1. Open the first app that you want to save in the app pair.
2. Go to the Recent Apps menu, tap the app’s icon at the top, and select Open in split-screen view.
3. When prompted, select the second app from Recent Apps or the app drawer.
4. Once both apps are in split-screen view, tap the three dots between them, select Star, and choose Home Screen to save the app pair.

That’s it, your pair will be placed on the home screen. On Samsung Fold phones, you can even create app pairs with 3 apps in the similar way.

Save App Pairs on Android Natively (Android 15 or above)

Google has baked the feature into Android 15 making app pairs accessible on phones from different OEMs.

1. Open both apps you want to use in the app pair one after another.
2. Go to the Recent Apps menu, tap the app’s icon at the top for the app you want to place at the top in split screen, and select Split screen.
3. When prompted, select the second app from your recent apps.
4. Once both apps are in split-screen view, open the Recent Apps menu again, tap one of the app icons at the top, and select Save app pair.

The app pair is saved on the home screen and you can move it to any place you want.

What If You Are Running Older Versions?

There is no way to create a split-screen app pair if your Android phone is running an older version of Android. While there are many third-party apps like split-screen shortcuts, they do not work anymore.

Ravi Teja KNTS

From coding websites to crafting how-to guides, my journey from a computer science engineer to a tech writer has been fueled by a passion for making technology work for you. I've been writing about technology for over 3 years at TechWiser, with a portfolio of 700 articles related to AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. When I'm not demystifying tech, you can find me engrossed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.