How To Get Rid Of Split Screen On Samsung Tablet

To get rid of split screen on Samsung tablet, simply tap and hold the divider bar between the two apps and drag it all the way to the top or bottom edge of the screen. This instantly collapses the split view and returns your tablet to a single full-screen app.

How to get rid of split screen on Samsung tablet by dragging the divider

The fastest and most intuitive way to exit split screen is to use the separator bar that divides the two apps. This is the primary method because it takes less than a second and works in almost every situation where split screen is active.

1. Locate the thin vertical line (the divider) in the middle of the screen between the two apps.
2. Press and hold your finger on that divider.
3. Drag it steadily toward either the top or bottom edge of the display.
4. Release your finger once the divider reaches the edge, the remaining app will snap to full screen.

If you drag the divider all the way to one edge, the app on that side closes, and the other app expands to fill the entire screen. This method is ideal when you want to keep one specific app open and discard the other.

Close an app in pop-up view to return to full screen

Sometimes what looks like a stuck split screen is actually a pop-up view, where one app floats in a small movable window on top of another. You'll recognize this mode by the rounded top bar on the floating window, which is separate from the main app behind it. To exit this mode, you can either close the pop-up entirely or expand it to full screen.

1. Tap the horizontal bar at the top of the floating pop-up window.
2. To close the pop-up completely, tap the "X" icon at the top-right corner of that bar.
3. To keep the app but return it to full screen, tap the expand icon (diagonal arrows) instead.

If you choose the expand icon, the pop-up window instantly fills the entire screen, replacing whatever app was behind it. This is the cleanest way to get rid of a pop-up view without losing the app you were using.

Use the Recents menu to close split screen apps

If the drag gesture isn't responding, perhaps because the divider is too small or a touch glitch is interfering, you can exit split screen through the Recents menu. This alternative method gives you explicit control over each app individually, which is especially helpful when one of the two apps is frozen or unresponsive.

1. Tap the Recents icon (usually the square or three-line button to the left of the Home icon).
2. You'll see previews of all your open apps, with the two split-screen apps shown side by side or as separate cards.
3. Tap the app's icon at the top of its preview to open a small menu.
4. Select "Close app" from that menu, or tap the "X" icon on the preview card.
5. Repeat for the second app if needed, once both are closed, the split screen is gone.

Closing both apps from Recents clears the split view entirely, and your next app launch will open in normal full-screen mode. This method is also useful if you want to close both apps simultaneously rather than keeping one.

Restart your Samsung tablet to fix a stuck split screen

A restart is the simplest troubleshooting step when split screen won't go away, even after dragging the divider or using Recents. This clears temporary software glitches that can sometimes lock the multi-window layout in place. It's a low-risk fix that takes under a minute and doesn't affect any of your data or settings.

1. Press and hold the power button on the side of your tablet.
2. When the power menu appears, tap "Restart" (or "Power off" then turn it back on).
3. Wait for the tablet to shut down and boot back up, this usually takes 30-60 seconds.
4. After the restart, check whether the split screen is still active.

In most cases, a restart resolves the issue because it forces all apps to close and reload fresh. If the split screen persists after a restart, the problem may be tied to a specific app or a system setting, which brings us to the next section.

Prevent accidental split screen by changing Multi window settings

If you keep triggering split screen by accident, especially with a two-finger swipe from the bottom of the screen, you can disable the gesture that causes it. This is the most effective long-term solution for anyone who rarely uses multi-window mode and wants to avoid the annoyance of unexpected split views.

1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung tablet.
2. Navigate to Advanced features.
3. Tap Multi window.
4. Turn off the switches next to "Swipe for split screen" and "Swipe for pop-up view".

Disabling these two swipe gestures stops accidental activation while still allowing you to use split screen manually if you ever need it, you can still open apps side by side through the Recents menu or by dragging apps from the Edge panel. Note that the exact location of these settings may vary slightly depending on your tablet model and software version, but the Advanced features menu is consistent across most recent Samsung tablets.