How can I use two apps side by side on my tablet?

Look for a multitasking or split-screen option in your tablet’s app switcher or app controls. The names and gestures differ across tablets, so start with the controls your device shows rather than assuming a particular swipe will work.

Choose your document app and notes app when prompted. If you tell me the tablet model and software version, I can help interpret the labels you see, but the general goal is to keep both apps visible at once.

For a Pixel Tablet, Google’s instructions describe opening two apps in split-screen and dragging the divider between them to change their relative sizes. They also describe double-tapping the divider to swap the apps’ positions. These instructions are specific to Pixel Tablet; some steps require Android 15 or later. [S1]

For your example, give the document more room while reading, then move the divider toward the center when you want more space for notes. If the divider does not respond as expected, check the tablet’s version and on-screen guidance.

Possibly, but don’t assume every app combination supports it. Google describes dragging text or images between compatible apps on Pixel Tablet, and notes that app support matters. [S1]

Try a small, nonessential item first. If dragging is unavailable or awkward, use the apps’ ordinary copy-and-paste controls instead: select the text, choose Copy, move to the other app, then choose where to paste. For a picture, use the app’s available copy or share controls. The supplied instructions do not establish that cross-app dragging works in every app, or on every tablet.

Treat that as a limitation of the app or device, not a sign that you missed a universal setting. The Pixel Tablet guide cautions that not every app supports split screen or cross-app dragging on every tablet. [S1]

You can use one app, switch to the other when needed, and copy a short note between them. You could also keep the reference app open and write notes on paper or in a separate session. For a narrow screen, try a short task first—such as copying one paragraph—before deciding whether side-by-side use is comfortable.

A useful test is: open both apps, check whether both stay visible, resize if a divider appears, and try one small copy or drag. If any step is unavailable, use the fallback that preserves your work.

Reusable setup:

1. Open the tablet’s multitasking controls and look for split-screen.
2. Select the reference app and the app where you’ll work.
3. Adjust the divider if available; on Pixel Tablet, Google describes dragging it to resize and double-tapping it to swap sides. [S1]
4. Test a small transfer. On Pixel Tablet, dragging text or images is described for compatible apps, not guaranteed for every app. [S1]
5. If the layout or transfer is unsupported, switch between apps and use copy-and-paste or another available sharing option.

Worked example: Keep a recipe or reading passage in one app and a note in the other. Copy one short item, paste it into the note, and check that it arrived before continuing. This tests the workflow without relying on an unsupported drag gesture.