How to Enable Multi Window Mode on Android M Developer Preview

Multi-window mode on Android M Developer Preview lets you run two apps side by side on the same screen, making it easier to multitask on tablets and large phones. This guide walks you through the exact steps to enable it, what you need beforehand, and how to fix common issues.

What You’ll Need

A device running Android M Developer Preview (the multi-window feature was introduced in this preview).
Developer options enabled on your device (tap the build number 7 times in Settings > About phone).
An app that supports multi-window (most system apps and many third-party apps work, but some may not resize properly).
Optional: A tablet or phone with a large screen for the best experience.

Step-by-Step

Enable Developer Options – Go to Settings > About phone and tap Build number seven times until you see a message that you are now a developer.
Turn on Multi-Window – Navigate to Settings > Developer options and scroll down to find Multi-window (sometimes labeled “Multi-window mode”). Toggle it to On.
Reboot your device – Some builds require a restart for the setting to take effect. Press and hold the power button, then select Restart.
Open the first app – Launch the first app you want to use, for example, Chrome or Gmail.
Open the second app – Tap the Recent Apps button (the square icon at the bottom right) to see your open apps.
Drag an app to the top or side – In the recent apps screen, touch and hold the app card you want to add, then drag it to the top half of the screen (or the left side on landscape). Release to snap it into place.
Adjust the divider – A horizontal or vertical divider will appear between the two apps. Drag it up or down (or left/right) to resize the windows as desired.
Exit multi-window – To return to a single app, drag the divider all the way to the top or bottom (or left/right) until one app fills the screen.

Common Mistakes

Not enabling Developer Options first – If you skip step 1, the multi-window toggle won’t appear in Developer options.
Forgetting to reboot – The feature may not work until you restart the device after enabling it.
Dragging the app card to the wrong area – You need to drag the app card to the very top or side edge of the screen, not just anywhere. The system highlights a drop zone when you’re in the right spot.
Using an incompatible app – Some apps (especially games or apps with fixed orientation) may not support multi-window. If the app card doesn’t drag, it likely doesn’t support the feature.
Confusing multi-window with split-screen – On Android M preview, multi-window is essentially split-screen; there’s no free-form resizing like on later versions.

Tips

Use landscape mode – Multi-window works best in landscape orientation, as you get more horizontal space for side-by-side apps.
Pair frequently used apps – If you often use two apps together (e.g., email and calendar), open them both in multi-window and then tap the recent apps button – you’ll see a combined card that lets you relaunch both at once.
Drag the divider to the center – For a balanced view, drag the divider to the middle of the screen. Many apps have a minimum width, so you may not be able to go below that.
Use keyboard shortcuts – If you have a Bluetooth keyboard, try Alt+Tab to switch between the two windows quickly.
Check app compatibility – Apps that are not optimized for multi-window may display a warning or simply not resize. Look for apps that are updated for Android M.

Troubleshooting

Multi-window toggle is missing – Make sure you are on the correct Developer Preview build (the feature was added in Preview 2). If you’re on Preview 1, update to the latest preview via OTA or factory image.
Feature enabled but not working – Try rebooting again. If it still doesn’t work, go back to Developer options, toggle multi-window off, reboot, then toggle it on and reboot once more.
Apps won’t drag – Some apps don’t support multi-window. Try with system apps like Settings, Chrome, or Gmail. If those work, the issue is the app, not your setup.
Windows are too small – Adjust the divider to give more space to the app you’re using. If an app has a minimum size, it may not shrink further.
Screen goes black or flickers – This can happen with certain apps or graphics drivers. Restart the device, and if the problem persists, try a different app or check for a system update.
Multi-window works but crashes – This is a developer preview, so bugs are expected. Report the issue via the Android Developer Feedback tool, and consider reverting to a stable Android version if it affects daily use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does multi-window work on all Android M devices?

No, it’s only available on devices running the Android M Developer Preview, and even then, some devices may have hardware or software limitations.

Can I use multi-window with any app?

Most apps work, but apps that are not resizable (like some games) may not. Developers can opt out by setting resizeableActivity="false" in the manifest.

How do I switch between the two windows?

Just tap on the window you want to interact with. The active window is highlighted with a border.

Can I adjust the size of each window?

Yes, drag the divider between the two windows to resize them. You can make one window larger than the other.

Will multi-window be in the final Android M release?

Google did not include multi-window in the final Android 6.0 Marshmallow release; it was later introduced in Android 7.0 Nougat. So this feature is only for the developer preview.

How do I disable multi-window if I don’t like it?

Go to Settings > Developer options and toggle off “Multi-window”. A reboot may be required.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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