diff --git a/clients/android/NewsBlur/build.gradle b/clients/android/NewsBlur/build.gradle
index d20d884d5..5efaf13e4 100644
--- a/clients/android/NewsBlur/build.gradle
+++ b/clients/android/NewsBlur/build.gradle
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
 apply plugin: 'kotlin-android'
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation 'androidx.fragment:fragment-ktx:1.4.0'
+    implementation 'androidx.fragment:fragment-ktx:1.4.1'
     implementation 'androidx.recyclerview:recyclerview:1.2.1'
     implementation 'androidx.swiperefreshlayout:swiperefreshlayout:1.1.0'
     implementation 'com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp:4.9.2'
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation "androidx.browser:browser:1.4.0"
     implementation "androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-runtime-ktx:2.4.0"
     implementation 'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-process:2.4.0'
-    implementation 'androidx.core:core-splashscreen:1.0.0-alpha02'
+    implementation 'androidx.core:core-splashscreen:1.0.0-beta01'
 }
 
 android {
diff --git a/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/InitActivity.kt b/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/InitActivity.kt
index d5b6ace22..21ecf2b15 100644
--- a/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/InitActivity.kt
+++ b/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/InitActivity.kt
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class InitActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
     override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
         installSplashScreen().also {
-            it.setKeepVisibleCondition {
+            it.setKeepOnScreenCondition() {
                 // keep showing the splash screen until FeedUtils.offerInitContext(...)
                 // finishes and UI ready to display
                 FeedUtils.dbHelper != null || FeedUtils.thumbnailLoader != null
diff --git a/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/Reading.kt b/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/Reading.kt
index 940e5707e..8210e0660 100644
--- a/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/Reading.kt
+++ b/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/Reading.kt
@@ -59,6 +59,14 @@ abstract class Reading : NbActivity(), OnPageChangeListener, OnSeekBarChangeList
     private var overlayRangeBotPx = 0f
     private var lastVScrollPos = 0
 
+    // enabling multi window mode from recent apps on the device
+    // creates a different activity lifecycle compared to a device rotation
+    // resulting in onPause being called when the app is actually on the screen.
+    // calling onPause sets stopLoading as true and content wouldn't be loaded.
+    // track the multi window mode config change and skip stopLoading in first onPause call.
+    // refactor stopLoading mechanism as a cancellation signal tied to the view lifecycle.
+    private var isMultiWindowModeHack = false
+
     private val pageHistory = mutableListOf<Story>()
 
     private lateinit var volumeKeyNavigation: VolumeKeyNavigation
@@ -143,8 +151,17 @@ abstract class Reading : NbActivity(), OnPageChangeListener, OnSeekBarChangeList
     }
 
     override fun onPause() {
-        stopLoading = true
         super.onPause()
+        if (isMultiWindowModeHack) {
+            isMultiWindowModeHack = false
+        } else {
+            stopLoading = true
+        }
+    }
+
+    override fun onMultiWindowModeChanged(isInMultiWindowMode: Boolean, newConfig: Configuration?) {
+        super.onMultiWindowModeChanged(isInMultiWindowMode, newConfig)
+        isMultiWindowModeHack = isInMultiWindowMode
     }
 
     private fun setupViews() {