How to do split screen on Fortnite Xbox

Fortnite’s split screen mode for Xbox is a fantastic addition to the game when you have a buddy around to hop into a match with you. The setup process is pretty easy on the Xbox, and you don’t even have to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription on both accounts. Here’s how to get it working quickly, so you can start playing.

Step 1: Make sure you have two Xbox controllers and two accounts

It might sound obvious, but you need two Xbox controllers to play Fortnite split screen. There won’t be any controller sharing here. You also need to have two Xbox accounts. Fortnite needs to treat it like two separate players with proper accounts, so it can’t let you play without one. This can be done either before or during the setup process, but we’d recommend before to get it out of the way. Keep in mind that guest accounts don’t work, so you’ll need a proper Xbox account with an email address and password.

Step 2: Start Fortnite in Duos

Fortnite split screen on Xbox only works in two modes: Duos and Squads. The second player option won’t show up unless you’re in the lobby for one of those modes. All you need to do is select Battle Royale and then select one of the two required modes.

Step 3: Turn on second controller and sign in

We’re almost done. Once the first player is ready to go, the second player needs to turn on their Xbox controller and pair it with the console if they haven’t done so already. At this point, you should see an option on the bottom of the screen that says hold the Y button for “[P2] LOG IN”. Do that, and the system will prompt you with a list of accounts to sign into if you’re not already. You can also create a new account here. Note that sometimes the option on the bottom of the screen can be finicky, so you might need to exit and re-enter Duos or Squads to get it to show up.

Step 4: Drop in!

That's all it takes to play Fortnite split screen on Xbox. From there you can jump into a game and choose where to land. Everything functions the same, except before you pull out your glider, the second player will follow the first wherever they decide to go. If you own a Xbox Series X or S you will be able to play split screen at a full 60 frames per second too.

Fortnite split screen Xbox limitations

You should know that there are some limitations to Fortnite split screen on Xbox. As we said before, the feature is only available in Duos and Squads. That means you can’t enable it in Creative, limited time modes, Save the World, or Solos. It’s unclear if these modes will support split screen in the future, but for the time being you can’t enter them.

Because Fortnite treats the first player as a sort of owner of the session, none of the menus are accessible for the second player. And if any player disconnects or leaves the match, the other one will be forced to exit too.

While it would be nice to see Fortnite split screen on Xbox expanded in the future, it’s a fun feature for people who don’t want to fuss with online multiplayer or having to own two consoles. With a little patience, you can start vying for a win together. Good luck!