The quickest way to disable multi window

Multi Window on Samsung tablets lets you run two apps side by side on the same screen. If you want to turn it off so only one app fills the screen at a time, you can disable it in Settings in about 30 seconds. The exact path depends on which version of Android your tablet runs, but the setting lives in the same general area across recent Samsung models.

The most direct route: open Settings, tap Advanced features, then toggle Multi Window to off. On some older tablets, it may be under Settings > Display instead. Once you turn it off, the split-screen button disappears from your navigation bar, and you cannot open two apps at once until you turn the feature back on.

Key Takeaways

  • Multi Window is disabled through Settings > Advanced features > Multi Window on most Samsung tablets running Android 9 or later.
  • Turning off Multi Window removes the split-screen button from your navigation bar and prevents accidental side-by-side app launches.
  • You can also disable it temporarily by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and tapping the Multi Window icon once to turn it off for that session.
  • If you cannot find Advanced features, your tablet may use an older Android version; check Settings > Display or Settings > Apps instead.

Finding Multi Window in Settings on Android 9 and later

On Samsung tablets running Android 9 (Pie) through Android 14, the Multi Window toggle is in the same place. Open the Settings app, scroll down, and look for Advanced features. Tap it, then scroll until you see Multi Window. The toggle should be blue (on) by default. Tap it once to turn it gray (off).

After you disable it, close Settings and return to your home screen. The Multi Window button—usually a rectangle icon split into two sections—will no longer appear in your navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. If you change your mind later, you can turn it back on by following the same steps and toggling it on again.

Where to look if Advanced features is not visible

Some Samsung tablets, especially older models or those running Android 8 or earlier, do not have an Advanced features menu. If you cannot find it after scrolling through Settings, try Settings > Display and look for Multi Window there. On a few models, it may also be under Settings > Apps or Settings > Device maintenance.

If you still cannot locate the setting, your tablet may not have Multi Window as a toggleable feature—some budget Samsung models or very old versions of Android do not include it at all. In that case, the feature is already effectively off, and you do not need to change anything.

Turning off Multi Window without going into Settings

If you want to disable Multi Window just for the moment without diving into Settings, you can do it from the navigation bar. Swipe up from the very bottom of your screen to reveal the full navigation bar. Look for the Multi Window icon (a rectangle split into two halves) and tap it once. This toggles the feature off temporarily.

The next time you restart your tablet or swipe up again, Multi Window will be back on unless you disabled it permanently in Settings. This temporary method is useful if you want to prevent accidental split-screen launches while you are using your tablet, but you plan to turn the feature back on later.

What happens when you disable Multi Window

Once Multi Window is off, you cannot open two apps side by side, even if you try to drag one app to the edge of the screen. The split-screen button vanishes from your navigation bar. If you long-press the recent apps button (the square icon), you will no longer see the option to open an app in a window.

Disabling Multi Window does not delete any apps or change how they work individually—it only prevents them from running at the same time on a split screen. Your tablet will run slightly faster because it is not holding two apps in memory at once, though the difference is usually small on modern devices.

Re-enabling Multi Window if you change your mind

If you turn off Multi Window and later decide you want it back, the process is identical to turning it off. Go to Settings > Advanced features > Multi Window and toggle it back on. The feature will be available again when ready, and the split-screen button will reappear in your navigation bar the next time you swipe up.

There is no penalty for turning Multi Window on and off repeatedly. You can toggle it as many times as you want without affecting your tablet's performance or any of your data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off Multi Window speed up my tablet?

Slightly, because your tablet will not be managing two apps in memory at the same time. On newer Samsung tablets with plenty of RAM, the difference is usually too small to notice. On older or lower-end models, disabling Multi Window may free up enough memory to make the tablet feel a bit more responsive.

Can I turn off Multi Window for just one app?

No. Multi Window is an all-or-nothing setting—you either enable it for all apps or disable it for all apps. You cannot block it for one app while keeping it on for others. If you want to prevent a specific app from being used in split screen, your only option is to disable Multi Window entirely.

What if my tablet does not have an Advanced features menu?

Your tablet may be running an older version of Android or a Samsung model that does not include Multi Window. Check Settings > Display or Settings > Apps for the toggle. If it is not there, your tablet likely does not have the feature, and there is nothing to disable.

Does disabling Multi Window affect my apps or data?

No. Turning off Multi Window only prevents two apps from running side by side. All your apps, files, and settings remain unchanged. You can turn the feature back on at any time without losing anything.