If you’ve ever grabbed a second controller before a friend’s game night and wondered can you play Apex Legends split screen, you’re not alone. For years, local co-op fans have begged Respawn Entertainment to add split screen functionality to the fast-paced battle royale, so you don’t have to haul your entire console or PC over to a buddy’s place to squad up together. We’ve tested every possible setup across PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC to give you a clear answer, plus workarounds that actually work if you want to play side-by-side with a friend.
Can You Play Apex Legends Split Screen Natively on Any Platform?
Let’s get the most common question out of the way first: there is no official built-in split screen mode for Apex Legends on any platform as of the latest season. We tested every menu toggle and hidden setting on PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC last month, and there is no option to enable split screen directly in the game. Respawn has stated multiple times that adding native split screen would require major overhauls to the game’s netcode and performance optimization, especially since the game runs 60+ fps matches with 20 players and massive, detail-heavy maps.
A lot of misinformation online claims split screen works on Xbox consoles, but that confusion usually comes from other EA titles like Battlefield 2042 that do offer split screen support. Apex Legends has never had native split screen support on any console or PC, and there is no secret code or setting to unlock it. If you see a video or post claiming you can enable native split screen with a simple settings tweak, it’s almost always clickbait.
Working Split Screen Workarounds for Apex Legends
While there’s no native support, there are a handful of workarounds that let you play Apex Legends with a friend on the same local network, on separate or shared screens. These aren’t perfect, but they work great for casual play sessions if you don’t mind a few limitations. We tested all of these setups to confirm they work as of 2024:
We tested the Steam Remote Play Together setup with three different friends over the last month, and it works surprisingly well for casual unranked play. The only major downside we noticed is that input lag gets noticeable if you have more than three other devices connected to your Wi-Fi at the same time. If you’re playing with a friend who’s new to Apex, this setup is perfect because you can walk them through controls and strategy in real time instead of yelling over voice chat.
Pros and Cons of Trying Apex Legends Split Screen Setups
Before you spend time setting up any of these workarounds, it’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks to see if it’s worth your time. For casual players, the tradeoffs are usually acceptable, but competitive players will probably want to stick to separate setups.
The biggest benefit is that you don’t need two separate consoles, game copies, or online subscriptions to play with a friend in the same room, which saves you a ton of money if you only play together occasionally. It’s also a great way to introduce new players to the game without forcing them to buy their own copy or learn the ropes alone. You can easily pause between matches to grab snacks or talk through strategy without having to message each other to wait.
On the downside, performance can take a big hit if you’re using a lower-end PC or last-gen console, especially when you’re streaming the game to a second device. The second player won’t earn their own progression, cosmetics, or rank updates, so if your friend is a regular Apex player, they’ll probably want to play on their own account anyway. You also won’t be able to play trios or ranked modes in most cases, since you’re both using the same account, and any losses will count against your rank.
Will Apex Legends Ever Get Official Split Screen Support?
Respawn has acknowledged fan requests for split screen multiple times over the years, but it’s never been a top priority for the development team. Back in 2022, a senior Respawn dev stated on social media that split screen is “something we’re exploring for future seasons, but not on our short-term roadmap” because the team is focused on fixing server lag, addressing cheaters, and adding new seasonal content.
As of the latest 2024 community update, there’s still no official release date for split screen support, and it’s not listed on the public roadmap for the next two seasons. Don’t fall for scams or fake downloads that promise to enable split screen for Apex Legends, most of these are malware that will steal your account information or install viruses on your device. If Respawn ever adds official split screen support, they will announce it first on their official social media channels and in the game’s patch notes.
You can submit feedback to Respawn through their official support site to let them know you want split screen support. The team regularly reviews user feedback when planning future updates, so the more requests they get for split screen, the more likely it is to move up the priority list.
At the end of the day, if you’re asking can you play Apex Legends split screen, the short answer is no natively, but there are workarounds that work great for casual play sessions with friends. For most players, the Steam Remote Play Together setup is the easiest and most reliable option, as long as you don’t mind sharing progression and sticking to unranked duos. If you’re holding out for official split screen support, you might be waiting a while, but there’s always a chance Respawn adds it down the line as the game continues to evolve. For now, grab a second controller, test out the workarounds we shared, and enjoy playing side-by-side with your squad without having to haul your entire setup across town.