Windows has built-in tools to split your screen without extra software
Snap Layouts and Snap Groups are Windows features that let you arrange two, three, or four windows side by side on one monitor. You don't need to read anything — the tools are already in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The fastest way is to drag a window to the edge of your screen, and Windows will show you layout options. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to snap windows into place in seconds.
If you have an older version of Windows or want more control over how windows divide the screen, you can resize windows manually by dragging their edges. The method you choose depends on whether you want speed (use Snap) or precision (drag the edges yourself).
Key Takeaways
- Drag any window to the left or right edge of your screen, and Windows will snap it to fill half the screen automatically.
- Hover over the maximize button (top right of a window) to see layout options for splitting the screen into two, three, or four sections.
- Use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + left arrow or Windows key + right arrow to snap the active window to the left or right half.
- Snap Groups remembers which windows you had open together, so you can switch between different screen layouts with one click.
- If Snap is not working, check Settings > System > Multitasking to make sure the feature is turned on.
Snap a window by dragging it to the screen edge
The simplest way to split your screen is to grab the title bar of any open window and drag it all the way to the left edge of your monitor. When the window reaches the edge, Windows will highlight the left half of the screen. Release the mouse, and the window will snap to fill that half. The other half of your screen is now empty and ready for a second window.
Open a second window or click on another program in your taskbar. Drag that window to the right edge of your screen. It will snap to fill the right half. You now have two windows side by side, each taking up exactly half the screen. To undo the snap, drag the window away from the edge or double-click its title bar.
This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. On Windows 11, you can also drag a window to a corner to snap it into a quarter of the screen, letting you fit four windows at once.
Use the maximize button to see layout options
In Windows 11, hover your mouse over the maximize button (the square icon in the top right corner of any window). A menu will appear showing different layout options — two windows side by side, three windows (one large and two stacked), or four windows in a grid. Click the layout you want, and Windows will show you which windows to place in each section.
This method is faster than dragging if you know exactly how you want to arrange your windows. It also works if your screen is too cluttered to drag windows safely. On Windows 10, this feature is not available, so use the drag method instead.
Snap windows using keyboard shortcuts
If you prefer not to use the mouse, Windows keyboard shortcuts can snap windows when ready. Press Windows key + left arrow to snap the active window to the left half of your screen. Press Windows key + right arrow to snap it to the right half. The active window is the one you are currently using — the one with the highlighted title bar.
On Windows 11, you can also press Windows key + Z to open the layout menu without hovering over the maximize button. Use the arrow keys to select a layout, then press Enter. This is useful if you are working entirely from the keyboard and want to avoid the mouse.
These shortcuts work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. If a shortcut does not work, check that Snap is turned on in your Settings (see the troubleshooting section below).
Resize windows manually by dragging the edges
If you want more control over how much space each window takes up, you can resize them manually. Move your mouse to the edge or corner where two windows meet. The cursor will change to a resize arrow (a double-headed line). Click and drag the edge left or right to make one window wider and the other narrower.
Manual resizing is useful when you want one window to take up 60 percent of the screen and another to take up 40 percent, rather than the 50-50 split that Snap creates. It also works if you want to arrange three or more windows without using the layout menu. The downside is that it takes longer than using Snap, and you have to adjust the windows every time you open them.
Use Snap Groups to save and switch between layouts
Snap Groups is a Windows 11 feature that remembers which windows you had snapped together. If you regularly work with the same set of programs — for example, a web browser on the left and a text editor on the right — Windows will remember that layout. When you click on one of those windows in your taskbar, Windows will restore all the windows in that group to their snapped positions.
To use Snap Groups, snap your windows into a layout as described above. Then click on one of the snapped windows in your taskbar. Windows will show a preview of the entire group. Click the preview to restore the whole group at once. This saves time if you switch between different projects or tasks that each use a different set of windows.
Snap Groups are not available on Windows 10. If you are using Windows 10, you can achieve a similar effect by opening all the windows you need, arranging them, and then using the taskbar to switch between them — but Windows will not automatically restore the layout.
Turn Snap on or off if it is not working
If dragging a window to the edge does not snap it, or if the keyboard shortcuts do not work, Snap may be turned off. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I. Go to System > Multitasking. Look for the section called "Snap windows" or "Snap layouts." Make sure the toggle is switched on (it should be blue).
If Snap is already on, try restarting your computer. Sometimes the feature stops responding until you restart. If it still does not work, check that you are using Windows 10 or later. Snap does not work on Windows 7 or earlier versions. You can find your Windows version by pressing Windows key + Pause, or by going to Settings > System > About.
On some computers with multiple monitors, Snap may behave differently on the second monitor. If Snap works on one monitor but not the other, the second monitor may have different settings. Check the Multitasking settings again and look for any options specific to multiple displays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I split my screen into more than two windows?
Yes. On Windows 11, you can snap up to four windows at once using the layout menu. On Windows 10, you can snap two windows side by side, then snap a third window into the remaining space by dragging it to a corner. For more than four windows, you will need to resize them manually by dragging the edges.
Does split screen work on two monitors?
Yes. Each monitor has its own snap layouts. You can snap windows on your first monitor and different windows on your second monitor at the same time. Snap treats each monitor as a separate screen, so the left-edge snap on monitor one is different from the left-edge snap on monitor two.
What if I want one window to stay on top while I work in another?
Right-click the title bar of the window you want to keep visible, and look for an option like "Always on top" or "Pin to top." Not all programs have this feature, but many do. If your program does not have it, you can use a third-party tool, but the built-in Snap feature is usually enough for most tasks.
Can I save a split-screen layout and open it again later?
On Windows 11, Snap Groups does this automatically — Windows remembers which windows you snapped together and restores them when you click the group in the taskbar. On Windows 10, you will need to manually arrange your windows each time, or use a third-party window manager tool.
Why does my window not snap when I drag it to the edge?
Snap may be turned off in your Settings, or the window may be in fullscreen mode. Check that Snap is on in Settings > System > Multitasking. If the window is fullscreen, press F11 or click the fullscreen button to exit fullscreen mode, then try snapping again.