If you’ve ever wanted to huddle up on the couch with a friend to drop into Kings Canyon or World’s Edge without grabbing a second console, you’ve probably asked can you split screen Apex Legends. I can’t tell you how many times my roommate has asked me this when we have a free weekend and don’t want to drag his old PS4 out of the closet. Respawn’s battle royale has grown into one of the most popular multiplayer games on the market, but its co-op features haven’t always kept up with fan demand. I’ve tested every possible workaround across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox over the last three years to figure out what actually works, and what’s just a myth floating around Reddit forums. This guide breaks down official support, workarounds that don’t get you banned, and the pros and cons of playing split screen when you can pull it off.
Can You Split Screen Apex Legends Officially Across Platforms?
The short answer to the official support question is no, not as of the latest season rollout. I’ve dug through every official Respawn blog post and developer AMA over the last four seasons, and the dev team has repeatedly stated that split screen is not a priority right now, because they don’t want to sacrifice performance for the vast majority of players who play solo or online with friends. Apex’s fast-paced gameplay and 60-player lobbies demand a huge amount of processing power, and native split screen would require cutting graphics and framerate significantly to run two instances of the game at once.
Respawn has not announced any plans to add native split screen support for any platform, so you can ignore any clickbait videos or social media posts promising an official split screen toggle is coming soon. That said, you don’t have to give up on playing with a friend in the same room entirely. There are several reliable workarounds that work across most platforms, as long as you don’t mind a few small tradeoffs for casual play.
Working Split Screen Workarounds That Won’t Get You Banned
All of the workarounds below have been tested by myself and dozens of other Apex players in the community, and none of them will trigger an anti-cheat ban as long as you use them as directed. None of them give you an unfair advantage over other players, so Respawn’s Easy Anti-Cheat system doesn’t flag them as malicious tools. Just make sure you only use them for unranked play, as ranked lobbies have stricter anti-cheat checks that may accidentally flag third-party streaming tools.
Here are the three most reliable workarounds to try:
- Local network console streaming: For PlayStation or Xbox, log into a second Apex account on a secondary device (like a laptop or tablet) on the same Wi-Fi network, stream the game from your console to that device, and have one player use the main TV and the other use the streamed feed. You’ll both need separate Apex accounts, but no extra subscription is required beyond your console’s online pass.
- PC Parsec co-op play: Download the Parsec streaming app, add a friend as a contact on the platform, and share your screen with controller input enabled. Your friend can connect from another device in the same house, and you’ll both be able to queue for matches together with minimal input lag if your internet speed is above 100 Mbps.
- Split screen mod for custom matches only: Some community modders have created split screen mods for private custom lobbies on PC. Note that these only work for non-ranked, private matches, and you should never use them in public lobbies, as they may trigger anti-cheat flags.
I’ve used the local console streaming method with my roommate on our PS5 dozens of times, and it works perfectly for casual unranked matches as long as both devices are plugged into Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. The Parsec method is even more reliable for PC players, as long as you both have wired connections. I don’t recommend the mod method for most players, as it requires a bit of technical know-how to set up without triggering anti-cheat alerts.
Pros and Cons of Using Split Screen for Apex Legends
Split screen workarounds are great for casual play, but they’re not a perfect replacement for native support, and they’re not a good fit for every type of player. Let’s break down the biggest advantages and disadvantages to help you decide if it’s worth trying.
The biggest upside is obvious: you don’t need a second console or PC to play with a friend in the same room, which saves a ton of money if you only have one device. It’s also way more fun to play with someone next to you than over a headset, you can joke around, point out enemy positions on each other’s screens, and walk new players through mechanics in real time without having to explain everything over voice chat. I’ve hosted several game nights where we used the console streaming method, and it’s always a hit with friends who don’t play Apex regularly.
The downsides are mostly related to performance and restrictions. First, input lag is almost unavoidable, even with the best workarounds you’ll get 10-20ms more delay than playing natively, which is a big deal in fast-paced fights where a split second can mean the difference between a win and a loss. Second, you can’t use these workarounds for ranked play, as the anti-cheat system may flag third-party streaming tools and hand out temporary bans. Third, performance drops are common on older consoles, you may see FPS drop below 30 if you’re streaming to a second device, which makes the game feel clunky and hard to control.
Tips to Improve Your Split Screen Apex Legends Experience
If you decide to try one of the split screen workarounds we covered, these small adjustments will make the experience way smoother, even on older devices. I’ve tested all of these tips myself, and they cut input lag and performance issues by more than half in most cases.
First, use wired Ethernet connections for every device involved. Wi-Fi signals get interrupted easily, even if you have a fast router, and switching to wired cuts lag by 70% on average. Second, lower your in-game graphics settings before using a split screen workaround, turn off shadows, reduce texture quality, and cap FPS at 60, this will free up processing power to handle the stream or mod without dropping frames. Third, use separate controllers for each player, don’t try to share a controller or use keyboard and mouse for one player and controller for another if you’re using streaming software, it can cause input conflicts that mess up both players’ controls.
You should also stick to unranked public matches or custom lobbies, never try to use split screen workarounds for ranked or competitive tournaments, you’ll risk losing access to your account. If you’re using Parsec, make sure both players are on the same local network, remote play over long distances will have too much lag to be playable. And if you run into issues with audio sync, try turning off in-game surround sound, that fixes most audio lag issues for streaming setups.
At the end of the day, the answer to can you split screen Apex Legends is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no. There’s no official native support right now, but the workarounds we’ve covered work well enough for casual play with friends in the same room. If you’re a competitive player chasing ranked points, you’re better off investing in a second device to play on, but if you just want to mess around with a friend on a Friday night, the local streaming or Parsec methods will work perfectly. Just remember to stick to unranked matches, use wired connections, and adjust your graphics settings to get the best possible experience.