Many players launch Black Ops 7, connect a second controller, and suddenly discover that split screen is gone or not working.
The join prompt does not appear, the second controller does nothing, or the option is missing entirely. This creates the impression that BO7 removed split screen from the game.
In reality, Black Ops 7 split screen still exists, but it is limited to specific consoles and modes and can be blocked by account settings or bugs.
Quick Answer: Did Black Ops 7 Remove Split Screen?
- No, split screen is not removed.
- Yes, split screen is restricted.
Black Ops 7 split screen is:
- Available on:
- Xbox Series X|S
- PlayStation 5
- Not available on:
- Xbox One / Xbox One X
- PlayStation 4
- PC
Supported modes:
- Multiplayer – supports local split-screen
- Zombies – supports local split-screen
- Campaign – no local split-screen (online co-op only)
If BO7 split screen is not working, the usual reasons are:
- Playing on an old-gen console
- Attempting split screen in Campaign
- Second profile or Activision account not logged in
- A technical issue or display bug
Black Ops 7 Split Screen Support by Console and Mode
This comparison table lets players quickly check whether BO7 split screen is supported on a specific system.
BO7 Split-Screen Support Overview
| Platform | Multiplayer Split Screen | Zombies Split Screen | Campaign Split Screen | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Full support for local couch co-op |
| Xbox Series S | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Same behavior as Series X |
| PlayStation 5 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Local MP and Zombies only |
| Xbox One / One X | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | No BO7 split screen on old-gen |
| PlayStation 4 | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | No split-screen support |
| PC | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | No local split screen on PC |
What this means:
- If the console is Xbox Series X|S or PS5, BO7 split screen should work in Multiplayer and Zombies.
- If the console is Xbox One, Xbox One X, or PS4, BO7 split screen will not be available at all.
Why Black Ops 7 Split Screen Is Not Working
1. Playing on an Unsupported Console
What:
BO7 split screen is not implemented on Xbox One / One X or PS4.
Why it matters:
Older Call of Duty titles supported split-screen on old-gen consoles, so switching to BO7 can feel like the feature was removed. In practice, it is a next-gen-only feature.
How to check:
- Open console settings and confirm:
- “Xbox Series X|S” or “PS5” → split screen supported
- “Xbox One / One X” or “PS4” → split screen not available
2. Trying Split Screen in Campaign Mode
What:
The BO7 Campaign supports online co-op only and does not include local couch split screen.
Why it matters:
Players who move from Zombies or Multiplayer into Campaign will notice that the “Press button to join” prompt disappears.
How to fix:
- Use Multiplayer or Zombies if local split screen is required.
- Use online co-op only for Campaign.
3. Second Player Not Properly Logged In
What:
Many BO7 split screen not working issues come from incomplete or incorrect account setup.
Requirements for Player 2:
- A separate Xbox / PSN profile (not a guest profile)
- A separate Activision account
- Access to online multiplayer if playing online
Why it matters:
If Player 2 is not logged into both a console profile and an Activision account, the game often refuses to show or respond to the join prompt.
How to fix:
- Sign Controller 2 into a full user profile on the console.
- When prompted in BO7, log into an Activision account for Player 2.
4. Technical Issues and Known Bugs
What:
Even on supported consoles and modes, BO7 split screen can be affected by:
- No “Press A/X to join” prompt
- Controller 2 unable to select options
- Freezes or stutters when Player 2 joins
- Lobby failing to start after adding a second player
Why it matters:
These bugs make it appear that BO7 split-screen has been removed, when the feature is present but unstable.
How to reduce issues:
- Disable 120 Hz output and VRR in console display settings
- Restart the game and perform a full console reboot
- Ensure both profiles are signed in before launching BO7
How to Set Up Split Screen in Black Ops 7
This section explains what to do step by step so BO7 split screen works reliably.
Step 1: Confirm Hardware
- Use Xbox Series X|S or PS5.
- Do not expect split-screen support on Xbox One / One X / PS4 / PC.
Step 2: Connect and Sign In Both Controllers
- Turn on Controller 1 and sign into Profile 1.
- Turn on Controller 2 and sign into Profile 2.
- Avoid guest accounts; use full console profiles.
Step 3: Select a Supported Mode
- From the main menu, select:
- Multiplayer, or
- Zombies
Do not select Campaign for local couch co-op.
Step 4: Add Player 2 in the Lobby
- In the Multiplayer or Zombies lobby, look for:
- “Press A to Join” (Xbox)
- “Press X to Join” (PlayStation)
Press the indicated button on Controller 2.
- If prompted, log into the Activision account for Player 2.
- After a successful login, Player 2 appears in the lobby next to Player 1.
Step 5: Start the Match
- Choose the map and mode.
- Start the game from the lobby.
- Once the match loads, BO7 split screen activates automatically.
Quick Tips: Fixing BO7 Split Screen Issues
These quick tips help resolve most Black Ops 7 split screen not working problems:
- Check console generation
- Split screen only exists on Xbox Series X|S and PS5.
- Use the correct mode
- Choose Multiplayer or Zombies, not Campaign.
- Use full profiles, not guests
- Make sure both controllers are signed into full Xbox / PSN accounts.
- Log into Activision for both players
- Complete Activision login for Player 1 and Player 2 in-game.
- Disable 120 Hz / VRR if unstable
- Turn off 120 Hz and VRR if adding Player 2 causes lag or freezing.
- Reboot game and console
- Fully close BO7 and restart the console to clear stuck lobbies.
- Sign both users in before launching BO7
- Having both profiles active beforehand improves split-screen detection.
FAQ 1: Why is the “Press A/X to Join” prompt missing in Black Ops 7 split screen?
The join prompt disappears when the game detects that Player 2 is not fully authenticated on the console or within the Activision network.
This commonly happens when the second controller is linked to a guest profile, which BO7 does not support for split-screen gameplay.
Another reason the join prompt may not appear is entering a mode that does not support couch co-op.
The Campaign mode removes all split-screen UI elements because BO7 Campaign does not allow local split screen, only online co-op.
Players on next-gen consoles may also encounter UI glitches where the join prompt fails to render due to 120 Hz display output or Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
Disabling these features often restores the prompt.
FAQ 2: Why does Black Ops 7 freeze or lag when adding a second player?
Crashes and input freezes are linked to display mode conflicts, especially when the console is running at 120 Hz, using VRR, or switching between performance modes.
When BO7 attempts to re-render the screen for two players, the engine may fail to adjust the display pipeline, resulting in stutters or full freezes.
Another cause is incomplete profile synchronization, which occurs when Player 2 signs into an Activision account mid-session.
If the game cannot validate both profiles before entering the lobby, it may lock up during split-screen initialization.
Restarting the game, signing both profiles in before launching BO7, and switching to a 60 Hz output are the most reliable fixes.
FAQ 3: Can Black Ops 7 split screen be played offline?
Black Ops 7 requires a constant online connection for all modes, including Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies.
This design choice means that even local split-screen sessions cannot be launched without an active internet connection.
While the gameplay itself may be local, the game engine still needs to authenticate both players’ Activision accounts, progression systems, unlock tracking, and anti-cheat modules.
Because of this, offline couch co-op is not supported.
To use split-screen, ensure both profiles are connected to the internet and signed into their Activision accounts.
FAQ 4: Why doesn’t Black Ops 7 allow split screen on Xbox One or PS4?
Black Ops 7 is developed with next-generation rendering standards, higher memory requirements, and AI/physics systems that exceed old-gen hardware limits.
Split-screen doubles the rendering load, requiring two simultaneous gameplay views, which older consoles cannot maintain at stable performance.
For this reason, BO7 excludes split screen entirely on:
- Xbox One
- Xbox One S
- Xbox One X
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 4 Pro
The feature is restricted to platforms that can reliably support dual-viewport rendering: Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
FAQ 5: Does Player 2 need Xbox Live / PS Plus to join Black Ops 7 split screen?
Player 2 does not require a separate purchase of the game, but account-level access is still required.
On Xbox, Game Pass Core (formerly Xbox Live Gold) must be active on the console to enable multiplayer features.
This subscription can be shared through Home Xbox settings.
On PlayStation, PS Plus is needed to access online components associated with split screen, even if the match being played is local only.
The primary account holder can share PS Plus benefits with secondary profiles on the same console.
Both players must also have active Activision accounts, even when playing local couch co-op.