SideScreen: virtual displays for your apps, powered by Shizuku.
SideScreen uses Shizuku to create and control virtual displays on your Android phone. Each virtual display appears as a Space in the app. Open a compatible app on its own display, use your phone for something else, and return to Preview whenever you want to see or control it.
REQUIRES SHIZUKU AND ANDROID 13+
Install and start Shizuku 13 or later, then authorize SideScreen. Shizuku provides the access needed to manage virtual displays, selected app tasks and preview input. Root is not required when Shizuku is started through a supported ADB or wireless-debugging setup. Shizuku must remain available for space controls to work.
VIRTUAL DISPLAYS WITH SHIZUKU
• Create and manage multiple virtual displays for compatible installed apps.
• Launch a fresh app task or move an existing full-screen task when supported.
• Open Preview automatically after creating a virtual display.
• Touch, swipe and use basic live keyboard input through Preview.
• Switch between active displays and keep controls nearby with ongoing notifications.
YOUR DISPLAY, YOUR SETTINGS
• Choose Compact, Balanced, Sharp or Wide display presets.
• Rotate the display and save launch preferences for each app.
• Set an auto-return timer to bring an app back to your phone.
• Keep favorite apps, recent launches and personal compatibility notes handy.
• Choose Follow system, Light or Dark appearance.
• Hide freshly launched single-app tasks from Android Recents when supported. This can remain in effect after returning the task to your phone.
CLEAR CONTROLS
Return moves an app back to your phone. End closes the app tasks on that space and releases its display. Closing a task does not promise to stop every background service belonging to the app.
EXPERIMENTAL ANDROID WORKSPACE
On phones with a compatible secondary-display launcher, try Android's own home screen on a virtual display. Open and switch apps there, or close individual app windows from the Open apps list. Closing the last app keeps the workspace available.
Workspace support and its appearance depend on your phone's software and launcher. Some built-in secondary launchers provide no usable interface. Apps share your phone's existing installation, accounts, files and settings; Workspace is not an isolated Android installation. Android may reuse or move an existing app task between displays.
CAPACITY AND ADS
SideScreen includes free virtual-display capacity and contains ads. Optional rewarded ads can temporarily unlock additional spaces. Available capacity, reward duration and current offers are shown in the app. More active displays use more memory, battery and rendering resources.
BEFORE YOU START
Enable notifications so space controls remain accessible. Shizuku may need starting again after a phone restart. Secondary-display support varies by app and device: apps may pause, restart or refuse to open, and protected video can appear blank. Switching apps within one workspace can put the previous app in the background. Live input has keyboard and character limitations. Displays follow the phone's normal sleep and lock behavior.
SideScreen does not save or upload preview images or typed input. It is an independent utility and is not affiliated with Shizuku or the apps you open.
SideScreen: virtual displays for apps. Requires Shizuku and Android 13+.