Skip to main content

Here’s what Android apps look like in Chrome OS split-screen view

Android Apps Running-Split Screen On A Chromebook

If Chrome OS is going to continue to make headway in the market, then it needs a strong ecosystem of apps to let users get what they want done on the platform. Allowing Android apps to run on Chrome OS has been Google’s main approach to solving that problem, and the company has done a decent job of making it happen. Now, it seems that an important milestone is being reached — enabling Android apps to run in split-screen mode.

That’s a very important capability as Google and various manufacturers work to push out Chrome OS tablets, to go with the increasing number of convertible 2-in-1s with displays that can flip around into tablet mode. Chrome Unboxed reports in with a demo of just this functionality, with split-screen Android apps running on a Samsung Chromebook Pro. Check out the video above for the demonstration.

The Chromebook Pro was running Chrome OS Canary, which is a very early pre-release version. That means that split-screen mode for Android apps is likely a few months away. But as you can see in the video, the split-screen functionality works a lot like it does in Windows 10. When you enter the multitask view, you’ll see the available running apps. Grab one and drag it to either side of the display, and it snaps to that side and fills half of the display. Picking another app and pinning it to the side fills the other half.

Also as with Windows 10, you can grab the divider and drag it to re-side the apps. Overall, it looks like welcome functionality that will greatly improve the Android app experience on Chrome OS. As the video points out, apps will need to specifically support the feature, and so that could have some impact on how quickly it’s rolled out.

Split-screen view joins a list of functionalities coming to Android apps on Chrome OS. Another is Android notification badges, which would be huge for Android productivity apps. And as Chrome Unboxed pointed out, Android apps will also be gaining the ability to run in parallel on the platform, which is important for making Chrome OS a true multitasking platform.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Coppock
Mark has been a geek since MS-DOS gave way to Windows and the PalmPilot was a thing. He’s translated his love for…
Windows vs. MacOS vs. Chrome OS
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 review

Deciding on the right operating system can feel downright overwhelming. There are so many factors to consider when choosing an OS, and it often comes down to your personal preference for features, capabilities, user-friendliness, and price.

If deciding on the best OS has been nothing but a headache, look no further. We’ve rounded up the most vital information on the latest from Windows, Mac, and Chrome to make the process a breeze.
Windows 10 (and 11)

Read more
Here’s what Windows 11 needs to do to ensure Android apps don’t flop on PCs
A photo of the TikTok app running on a Windows 11 laptop

The next generation of Windows is Windows 11. The updated operating system brings some big changes and improvements to Windows 10, including Xbox features on Windows and Microsoft Teams integration. Maybe the biggest announcement to come out of the Windows 11 event, though, is that Android apps are coming to Windows 11.

Running Android apps on the desktop sounds great, and it could fill an important whole in the Windows app library. But the implementation may not be as cut-and-dried as Microsoft has suggested. There are three key things Android apps need on Windows 11 to not totally flop.
No intervention from developers

Read more
Chrome OS was born 10 years ago. Here are the highlights in its rise to power
HP Elite C1030 Chromebook

Ten years ago to this date, the computing world was forever changed. But it wasn’t because of something that was done by Apple or Microsoft. Rather, it was Google.

On June 15, 2011, the first public version of Chrome OS was released. It was initially foreign to a lot of technology journalists, but it ended up ushering in a new type of operating system that is now entrenched in schools, businesses, and even your home.

Read more