Native iPad-style Split View, which places two arbitrary apps side by side, is unavailable on iPhone. If your goal is to multitask, the closest built-in options are Picture in Picture, fast app switching, and app-specific layouts.
Use Picture in Picture for Video
Supported video and FaceTime content can continue in a floating window while you open another app. Start the supported video or call, then leave the app or use its Picture in Picture control.
Switch Between Apps Quickly
On Face ID iPhones, swipe horizontally along the bottom edge to move between recent apps. You can also open the App Switcher to choose another app.
Use Features Inside an App
Some apps display panels, floating tools, or multiple columns. Those layouts belong to that single app and are not system-level Split View.
What Third-Party “Split Screen” Apps Can and Cannot Do
Some App Store apps use names such as “split screen,” but they do not create true system-level iPhone Split View. They usually place two web pages, documents, or app-specific panels inside one app. They cannot make two separate iPhone apps run side by side the way iPad Split View does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Safari and Messages appear side by side on iPhone?
Not through a native iPad-style Split View.
Does landscape orientation use native Split View?
No.
Can Picture in Picture show a video while I text?
Yes, when the video/app supports Picture in Picture.
Summary
Native two-app Split View is unavailable on iPhone. Use Picture in Picture and fast app switching for the closest built-in multitasking experience.
Matthew Roberts created this site to help his friends and family with questions that they might have about how to change the settings on their iPhones. It now serves as an archive of iPhone how-to guides to help anyone that stumbles upon this website.