How to Use Split Screen on Your Samsung TV

Split screen on Samsung TVs works through the Picture-by-Picture (PBP) or Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature, depending on your model and input source

Most Samsung TVs made in the last five years support split-screen viewing, but the exact steps and available options depend on whether you're using HDMI inputs, a cable box, a streaming app, or broadcast television. The feature lets you watch two channels or inputs at once, side by side or with one window smaller and overlaid on the other. Not all input types work together — you cannot, for example, split a cable box input with a streaming app on most models.

The fastest way to check if your TV supports split screen is to press the Menu button on your remote, look for "Picture Size" or "PIP/PBP" settings, and see what options appear. If nothing shows up, your model either does not have the feature or it is disabled in the settings menu.

Key Takeaways

Picture-by-Picture (PBP) splits the screen vertically into two equal halves, each showing a different HDMI input or tuner channel.
Picture-in-Picture (PIP) places a smaller window of one input over the main picture, and works with some streaming apps but not all.
You need two separate input sources — two HDMI devices, two tuner channels, or one HDMI and one tuner — to use split screen.
The remote control method varies by Samsung remote model; some use a dedicated PIP button, others require the Menu button and navigation to Picture settings.
Split-screen viewing is not available on all input types at the same time, and some streaming apps do not support PIP or PBP.

How to enable Picture-by-Picture (PBP) with two HDMI inputs

Picture-by-Picture splits your screen vertically down the middle, with one input on the left and one on the right. This works best when you have two devices plugged into separate HDMI ports — for example, a cable box on HDMI 1 and a streaming device on HDMI 2.

Press the Menu button on your Samsung remote. Navigate to Picture, then look for an option called Picture Size, PBP, or Dual View. Select PBP or Picture-by-Picture. The TV will ask you to choose which HDMI input appears on the left and which on the right. Use the arrow buttons to select your inputs, then press Enter. Both pictures should now appear side by side at full height but half width each.

To adjust the volume of each side independently, press Menu again, go to Sound, and look for Speaker Select or Sound Output. You can usually assign the left side to the TV speakers and the right side to mute, or vice versa. On some models, you can only hear one side at a time and must switch between them using the remote.

How to enable Picture-in-Picture (PIP) with one main input and one secondary input

Picture-in-Picture places a smaller window — usually in a corner — showing a second input over your main picture. This is useful if you want to keep watching your main program but glance at a second channel or device without losing half your screen.

Press Menu, go to Picture, and select PIP or Picture-in-Picture. Choose which input you want as the main picture and which as the smaller window. The secondary window typically appears in the bottom-right corner by default. Press Enter to confirm.

To move the PIP window, press Menu, go to Picture, find PIP Position or Window Position, and use the arrow buttons to move it to a corner of your choice — usually top-left, top-right, bottom-left, or bottom-right. To resize the window, look for PIP Size in the same menu and adjust it smaller or larger. You can usually mute the PIP window independently by pressing Menu, going to Sound, and selecting which input plays through the speakers.

Split screen with cable or satellite tuner and HDMI input

Many Samsung TVs let you split the tuner (the built-in receiver for cable or satellite) with an HDMI input. This means you can watch your cable box on one side and a streaming device on the other without needing two separate cable boxes.

Press Menu, go to Picture, and select PBP. When asked to choose inputs, select Tuner for one side and your HDMI input for the other. The TV will display your cable or satellite channel on one half and your HDMI device on the other. Both will play audio simultaneously unless you adjust the Sound settings to mute one side.

If you want to use PIP instead, follow the same steps but select PIP from the Picture menu. The tuner will appear as the main picture with the HDMI input in a smaller window, or vice versa depending on which you select as primary.

Split screen with two tuner channels

If your Samsung TV has a dual tuner — which most models do — you can split the screen between two different cable or satellite channels without needing a second box. This is useful during sports season when two games air at the same time.

Press Menu, go to Picture, and select PBP. When the TV asks which inputs to use, select Tuner for both sides. The left side will show one channel and the right side will show another. Use the remote's number pad or channel buttons to change channels on each side independently. The left side usually responds to channel changes first; if you need to change the right side, press the arrow button to move focus to that window, then use the channel buttons.

Audio will play from both channels at once, which can be confusing. Press Menu, go to Sound, and select Speaker Select to mute one side or route one channel to a different audio output if your TV supports it.

Streaming apps and split-screen limitations

Not all streaming apps support Picture-in-Picture or Picture-by-Picture. Netflix, YouTube, and most major apps do not allow PIP on Samsung TVs, even if the TV hardware supports it. The app itself must be designed to work with the feature.

If you want to watch a streaming app on one side and a cable channel on the other, you will need to use PBP with the streaming device (like a Roku, Apple TV, or Fire Stick) on one HDMI input and your cable box on another. The streaming app runs on the external device, not the TV's built-in apps, so the TV treats it as a regular HDMI input and split-screen works normally.

Built-in Samsung apps like Samsung TV Plus or the Samsung TV app have limited PIP support. Check your specific app's settings to see if it mentions picture-in-picture before assuming it will work.

Troubleshooting split screen that won't turn on

If you cannot find the PBP or PIP option in your Picture menu, the feature may be disabled or your TV model does not support it. Check your TV's model number — usually on a sticker on the back or in Settings > About TV — and search the Samsung support website for your specific model's manual. The manual will list which features are available.

If the option appears but is grayed out, you may be trying to use two inputs that cannot work together. For example, some older Samsung models do not allow two HDMI inputs to split at the same time, or do not allow a streaming app and a tuner to split together. Try switching to a different pair of inputs — for instance, use the tuner and HDMI 1 instead of HDMI 1 and HDMI 2.

If split screen was working and suddenly stopped, check whether you accidentally changed the Picture Size setting back to Full or 16:9. Press Menu, go to Picture, and make sure Picture Size is set to PBP or PIP, not a single-picture mode. Also confirm that both inputs are still connected and active — if one device is off or unplugged, the TV may exit split-screen mode automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use split screen with my Samsung TV's built-in apps?

Built-in apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video do not support split-screen viewing on Samsung TVs, even though the TV hardware can do it. If you want to watch a streaming service on one side and cable on the other, connect an external streaming device (Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick) to an HDMI port and use that instead of the TV's built-in app.

What if I only have one HDMI device and one cable box?

You can split the screen between them using PBP or PIP. Press Menu, go to Picture, select PBP or PIP, and choose Tuner for one side and your HDMI input for the other. Both will display at the same time.

Can I watch two different streaming services at the same time?

Only if you have two separate streaming devices plugged into different HDMI ports. You cannot split between two apps running on the same device or on the TV's built-in apps. If you have a Roku on HDMI 1 and an Apple TV on HDMI 2, you can split between them and run different apps on each.

Why is the audio from both sides playing at the same time?

This is the default behavior on most Samsung TVs. Press Menu, go to Sound, and look for Speaker Select or Sound Output. You can usually mute one side or route one input to a different speaker. Some models only let you hear one side at a time and require you to switch between them.

Does split screen work with my Samsung soundbar?

Yes, but the soundbar will play audio from whichever input is set as the primary sound output. If you want to hear both sides equally, check your soundbar's settings to see if it supports dual audio inputs or if you need to adjust the TV's Speaker Select setting to route both inputs through the soundbar.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.