How do I play multiple audio on my Samsung?

Samsung devices offer various ways to play audio from multiple sources at the same time. This enables multitasking and enhances the user experience. For example, you can listen to music or a podcast while using other apps, play a game with its own audio while listening to your playlist, or join a conference call without having to disconnect from other audio sources.

Some of the main methods of playing multiple audio on a Samsung device include enabling multiple media apps to play audio simultaneously, using split screen or picture-in-picture mode, connecting to a Bluetooth speaker while audio plays through the phone, and ensuring the proper settings for gaming or conference calls. This guide provides an overview of the different options available to play multiple audio sources on your Samsung device.

Enabling Multiple Audio Sources

The key to playing audio from multiple apps simultaneously on a Samsung Galaxy device is enabling the Multi-Stream Audio feature in Settings. This allows your phone to mix together audio streams from different apps instead of only playing audio from one app at a time.

To enable Multi-Stream Audio:

1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung Galaxy device.
2. Scroll down and tap on Sounds and vibration.
3. Tap on Advanced sound settings.
4. Enable the toggle next to Separate app sound.

This Separate app sound setting allows your Samsung device to play multiple media sources at the same time. With this enabled, you can now simultaneously play music on a media app like Spotify while also playing a video with sound on YouTube, for example.

According to Samsung’s support page, this feature is compatible with Galaxy devices running One UI 2.0 or higher based on Android 10 and up (source).

Using Two Media Apps

One of the easiest ways to play multiple audio sources on a Samsung device is to simply use two different media apps at the same time. For example, you could listen to music on a streaming app like Spotify or YouTube Music while watching a video in the YouTube app. The audio from the video will play through the phone’s speakers or headphones, while the music app’s audio plays through a Bluetooth speaker (see the Bluetooth speaker section for more details).

To enable this feature, first open the Settings app on your Samsung device and go to Sounds and Vibration > Separate app sound. Turn on the toggle next to “Separate app sound” to activate it. You’ll see a list of apps – just make sure the apps you want to use separate audio for are enabled.

Now when you open your music app and a video app, each one can play audio independently. You may need to select a specific audio output device in one app or the other depending on your setup. This makes it easy to have a personalized soundtrack while watching videos, listen to music during gameplay, or have sound from a video call while listening to media.

According to Samsung’s support page (https://www.samsung.com/latin_en/support/mobile-devices/useful-audio-settings-on-the-galaxy-phone-including-separate-app-sound/), this feature may not work properly if you use clone apps or apps not downloaded from the Google Play Store. But for most mainstream media apps, it provides an easy way to get multi-audio capability on your Samsung.

Split Screen Mode

One way to play two audio sources simultaneously on your Samsung Galaxy device is by using split screen mode. This feature allows you to view and interact with two apps at the same time in a split screen view.

To enable split screen mode:

1. Open the first audio app you want to use (like Spotify or YouTube) and start playing music or video.
2. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to enter the Recent Apps view.
3. Tap the app icon at the top of the first app preview to open the app options.
4. Select “Open in split screen view.”
5. The first app will now take up the top half of the screen.
6. Select the second audio app you want to use from the recent apps or app drawer. This app will open in the bottom half of the split screen.
7. You can now play audio from both apps simultaneously.

Adjust the slider between the two apps to make one app’s window larger or smaller. You can control and interact with each app independently even while in split screen mode.

This is useful for listening to music while also watching a video, having a video call while playing music, or any other combination of audio apps you want to use at the same time (https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-are-multi-windows-and-how-do-i-use-them/). Just open the two desired apps in split screen and you can enjoy dual audio.

Picture-In-Picture

Picture-in-Picture (PiP) allows you to overlay a small video window on top of another app. This is useful for watching a video while simultaneously listening to music or podcasts from a different app.

To use PiP on your Samsung device:

1. Open the first video app and start playing a video.
2. Tap the PiP icon (a small box with an arrow) to minimize the video into a small overlay window.
3. Open your music app and begin playing audio.
4. Adjust the placement of the PiP window if needed. You can drag it around the screen.

The video’s audio will be muted while using PiP, allowing you to listen to music uninterrupted. You can tap on the PiP window to maximize it again and unmute the video audio.

According to one forum post, PiP mode only handles audio correctly on Panasonic devices. On Samsung and Sony, the PiP window will not play audio.

Using a Bluetooth Speaker

One of the most common ways to play multiple audio on a Samsung device is by streaming music or media audio to a Bluetooth speaker while also having the phone audio play out of the built-in speakers. This allows you to listen to music in a room via the external Bluetooth speaker, while still hearing notification sounds and phone calls from the device’s speakers.

To set this up on your Samsung Galaxy device:¹

1. Go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth and pair your Bluetooth speaker as normal.
2. Start playing music or a video with audio through an app like Spotify or YouTube.
3. Swipe down from the top to access Quick Settings and long press on the Bluetooth icon.
4. Tap “Media audio” under your paired Bluetooth speaker to enable audio streaming.

This routes the media audio to the Bluetooth speaker but keeps call and notification audio through the phone speakers. You can control the volume of each audio stream separately. When done, just tap “Media audio” again to disable Bluetooth streaming.

With this set up, you can conveniently listen to music anywhere in your home while still hearing alerts and calls on your Samsung device. It allows seamless multiple audio without having to constantly reconnect Bluetooth.

Gaming While Listening

One common use case for playing multiple audio sources on a Samsung device is to play music in the background while gaming. By default, when you launch a game it will take over the audio and you won’t be able to listen to music anymore.

There are a couple ways to get around this:

1. Use a Bluetooth speaker or headphones to play your music. The game audio will still come through your phone’s speakers, but you can listen to music through the Bluetooth device. Just make sure you don’t mute the media app that’s playing music.

2. Put the game in split screen or pop-up view and run a music app in the other window. This will allow both the game and music sounds to come through. You may need to adjust the volume in each app.

3. Use a third party app like Sound Assistant to control audio focus and allow simultaneous playback from multiple apps.

If you are having issues getting game audio when listening to music, check your phone’s sound settings and make sure nothing is muted. You can also restart your game or music app to reset the audio output.

Conference Calls

One of the useful capabilities of having multiple audio sources on a Samsung device is the ability to play media in the background while on a conference call. This allows you to multitask and listen to music or other audio while still participating in the call.

To enable background audio during calls on your Samsung Galaxy device:

1. Open the Phone app and tap the 3-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
2. Select “Settings.”
3. Tap “More call settings.”
4. Toggle on “Media volume” to allow media audio to play during calls.

With this enabled, you can now play audio from a music app or video app and it will continue in the background when you answer or make a phone call. The call volume and media volume can be controlled separately.

This is useful if you want to listen to music while on a long conference call, or play a video in the background during a call. Just keep in mind that the other participants may hear your background audio as well.

For more information, see Samsung’s guide on how to make a conference call on your Galaxy phone.

Troubleshooting

If you are running into multiple audio issues on your Samsung device, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the problems:

– Make sure the audio output settings are configured correctly on your TV or phone. You may need to enable multi-output audio in the settings.

– Check for firmware or app updates on your Samsung device. Installing the latest updates can sometimes fix audio issues.

– Try disconnecting and reconnecting your Bluetooth speakers or headphones. This can reset the connection and get the multiple audio sources working again.

– If using multiple apps, close and relaunch the apps to refresh the audio output.

– Factory reset your Samsung device as a last resort if audio issues persist across sources. Make sure your data is backed up before resetting.

– Search Samsung’s support site or contact Samsung Support if you need additional troubleshooting help for multiple audio problems.

Conclusion

In summary, Samsung devices offer various ways to play multiple audio sources simultaneously. You can use split screen mode or picture-in-picture to run two media apps at once. Connecting a Bluetooth speaker in addition to the built-in speakers enables multiple audio streams. While gaming, background audio continues playing, allowing for customizable audio experiences. Conference calls can utilize both the speakerphone and a Bluetooth headset.

When enabling multiple audio on your Samsung device, be aware of potential audio quality or volume issues, and adjust settings as needed. Use compatible apps and features to avoid crashes or glitches. Consider battery usage and network connectivity when streaming high-bandwidth audio. With some creativity and the right accessories, you can achieve an immersive multiple audio setup.