Which Android version introduced split-screen multi-window mode?

Android 7.0 Nougat introduced split-screen multi-window mode.

Released in 2016, Nougat added native multi-window support to Android phones and tablets. Users could place two compatible apps side by side, or stack them vertically, then drag a divider to give one app more screen space. This was a major shift from Android’s earlier single-foreground-app experience.

The feature was especially useful on larger phones and tablets for tasks such as watching video while browsing, comparing documents, or messaging while reading. Developers also received APIs and lifecycle guidance to help apps respond correctly when their available window size changed.

A common mix-up is picture-in-picture mode. Android 7.0 introduced split-screen mode on small-screen devices, while Android 8.0 Oreo expanded picture-in-picture to phones and tablets. Android 7.0 also included picture-in-picture support for selected Android TV devices, but that is a different multi-window experience.