diff --git a/libs/WindowManager/Jetpack/src/androidx/window/extensions/embedding/SplitController.java b/libs/WindowManager/Jetpack/src/androidx/window/extensions/embedding/SplitController.java
index be8b35d803269..fc955927f3ed8 100644
--- a/libs/WindowManager/Jetpack/src/androidx/window/extensions/embedding/SplitController.java
+++ b/libs/WindowManager/Jetpack/src/androidx/window/extensions/embedding/SplitController.java
@@ -806,8 +806,8 @@ public class SplitController implements JetpackTaskFragmentOrganizer.TaskFragmen
 
             if (shouldExpand(null, intent, getSplitRules())) {
                 setLaunchingInExpandedContainer(launchingActivity, options);
-            } else if (!setLaunchingToSideContainer(launchingActivity, intent, options)) {
-                setLaunchingInSameContainer(launchingActivity, intent, options);
+            } else if (!splitWithLaunchingActivity(launchingActivity, intent, options)) {
+                setLaunchingInSameSideContainer(launchingActivity, intent, options);
             }
 
             return super.onStartActivity(who, intent, options);
@@ -826,9 +826,9 @@ public class SplitController implements JetpackTaskFragmentOrganizer.TaskFragmen
         /**
          * Returns {@code true} if the activity that is going to be started via the
          * {@code intent} should be paired with the {@code launchingActivity} and is set to be
-         * launched in an empty side container.
+         * launched in the side container.
          */
-        private boolean setLaunchingToSideContainer(Activity launchingActivity, Intent intent,
+        private boolean splitWithLaunchingActivity(Activity launchingActivity, Intent intent,
                 Bundle options) {
             final SplitPairRule splitPairRule = getSplitRule(launchingActivity, intent,
                     getSplitRules());
@@ -836,9 +836,14 @@ public class SplitController implements JetpackTaskFragmentOrganizer.TaskFragmen
                 return false;
             }
 
-            // Create a new split with an empty side container
-            final TaskFragmentContainer secondaryContainer = mPresenter
-                    .createNewSplitWithEmptySideContainer(launchingActivity, splitPairRule);
+            // Check if there is any existing side container to launch into.
+            TaskFragmentContainer secondaryContainer = findSideContainerForNewLaunch(
+                    launchingActivity, splitPairRule);
+            if (secondaryContainer == null) {
+                // Create a new split with an empty side container.
+                secondaryContainer = mPresenter
+                        .createNewSplitWithEmptySideContainer(launchingActivity, splitPairRule);
+            }
 
             // Amend the request to let the WM know that the activity should be placed in the
             // dedicated container.
@@ -847,13 +852,40 @@ public class SplitController implements JetpackTaskFragmentOrganizer.TaskFragmen
             return true;
         }
 
+        /**
+         * Finds if there is an existing split side {@link TaskFragmentContainer} that can be used
+         * for the new rule.
+         */
+        @Nullable
+        private TaskFragmentContainer findSideContainerForNewLaunch(Activity launchingActivity,
+                SplitPairRule splitPairRule) {
+            final TaskFragmentContainer launchingContainer = getContainerWithActivity(
+                    launchingActivity.getActivityToken());
+            if (launchingContainer == null) {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            // We only check if the launching activity is the primary of the split. We will check
+            // if the launching activity is the secondary in #setLaunchingInSameSideContainer.
+            final SplitContainer splitContainer = getActiveSplitForContainer(launchingContainer);
+            if (splitContainer == null
+                    || splitContainer.getPrimaryContainer() != launchingContainer) {
+                return null;
+            }
+
+            if (canReuseContainer(splitPairRule, splitContainer.getSplitRule())) {
+                return splitContainer.getSecondaryContainer();
+            }
+            return null;
+        }
+
         /**
          * Checks if the activity that is going to be started via the {@code intent} should be
          * paired with the existing top activity which is currently paired with the
-         * {@code launchingActivity}. If so, set the activity to be launched in the same
+         * {@code launchingActivity}. If so, set the activity to be launched in the same side
          * container of the {@code launchingActivity}.
          */
-        private void setLaunchingInSameContainer(Activity launchingActivity, Intent intent,
+        private void setLaunchingInSameSideContainer(Activity launchingActivity, Intent intent,
                 Bundle options) {
             final TaskFragmentContainer launchingContainer = getContainerWithActivity(
                     launchingActivity.getActivityToken());
@@ -884,6 +916,11 @@ public class SplitController implements JetpackTaskFragmentOrganizer.TaskFragmen
                 return;
             }
 
+            // Can only launch in the same container if the rules share the same presentation.
+            if (!canReuseContainer(splitPairRule, splitContainer.getSplitRule())) {
+                return;
+            }
+
             // Amend the request to let the WM know that the activity should be placed in the
             // dedicated container. This is necessary for the case that the activity is started
             // into a new Task, or new Task will be escaped from the current host Task and be
@@ -900,4 +937,31 @@ public class SplitController implements JetpackTaskFragmentOrganizer.TaskFragmen
     public boolean isActivityEmbedded(@NonNull Activity activity) {
         return mPresenter.isActivityEmbedded(activity.getActivityToken());
     }
+
+    /**
+     * If the two rules have the same presentation, we can reuse the same {@link SplitContainer} if
+     * there is any.
+     */
+    private static boolean canReuseContainer(SplitRule rule1, SplitRule rule2) {
+        if (!isContainerReusableRule(rule1) || !isContainerReusableRule(rule2)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        return rule1.getSplitRatio() == rule2.getSplitRatio()
+                && rule1.getLayoutDirection() == rule2.getLayoutDirection();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Whether it is ok for other rule to reuse the {@link TaskFragmentContainer} of the given
+     * rule.
+     */
+    private static boolean isContainerReusableRule(SplitRule rule) {
+        // We don't expect to reuse the placeholder rule.
+        if (!(rule instanceof SplitPairRule)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final SplitPairRule pairRule = (SplitPairRule) rule;
+
+        // Not reuse if it needs to destroy the existing.
+        return !pairRule.shouldClearTop();
+    }
 }