Split your screen by dragging a window to the edge

The fastest way to split your screen is to grab the title bar of any open window and drag it to the left or right edge of your monitor until it snaps into place. On Windows 10 and 11, the window will automatically resize to fill half the screen. On a Mac, drag the window to a corner and hold until the snap zones appear, then release.

Once one window fills half the screen, click on another open window or open a new one. That second window will fill the remaining half. You now have two programs side by side, each using exactly half your screen space. This method works on Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops.

If the snap doesn't work, your window might be maximized. Click the restore button (the small square icon in the top right on Windows, or the yellow button on Mac) to unmaximize it first, then try dragging again.

Key Takeaways

  • Drag any window to the left or right edge of your screen to snap it into half-screen mode on Windows 10, 11, or Mac.
  • Windows 10 and 11 also offer keyboard shortcuts: Windows key + Left arrow or Windows key + Right arrow to snap the active window.
  • You can split your screen into four quarters by snapping windows to each corner, or use virtual desktops to organize more than two programs at once.
  • If snap-to-edge isn't working, unmaximize your window first or check that your display settings aren't set to a very low resolution.
  • Some programs like web browsers and text editors work better in split-screen mode than others; media players and full-screen apps may not resize properly.

Use keyboard shortcuts on Windows for faster splitting

Windows 10 and 11 include built-in keyboard shortcuts that snap a window without dragging. 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 window you were just using will move to the other side automatically.

These shortcuts work when ready and are more reliable than dragging, especially on laptops with touchpads. After snapping the first window, click on a second program in your taskbar or open a new one, and it will fill the remaining space. You can also press Windows key + Up arrow or Windows key + Down arrow to snap windows to the top or bottom half instead.

Snap windows to corners for a four-way split

If you want to see four programs at once, you can snap windows to each corner of your screen. On Windows 10 and 11, drag a window to a corner until it snaps into a quarter of the screen. Repeat with three more windows, one in each corner. Each window will resize to fill exactly one quarter of your display.

On a Mac, you can achieve a similar layout by using Mission Control and dragging windows manually, but macOS does not have automatic corner-snap like Windows. Instead, you can resize windows by dragging their edges to create a four-way layout, though it requires more manual adjustment. Some Mac users prefer using a third-party app like Rectangle or Magnet to automate corner snapping.

Use virtual desktops to organize more than two windows

If you need more than two or four programs visible at once, virtual desktops let you create separate workspaces on the same monitor. On Windows 10 and 11, press Windows key + Tab to open Task View, then click "New desktop" in the bottom left. You now have a second desktop. Switch between desktops by pressing Windows key + Tab again and clicking the one you want, or use Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow to move forward and Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow to move backward.

On a Mac, open Mission Control by pressing F3 or swiping up with three fingers on your trackpad. Click the "+" button in the top right to add a new desktop. Switch between desktops by pressing Control + Right arrow or Control + Left arrow, or by swiping left and right with three fingers. Virtual desktops are useful when you want to keep different projects organized without cluttering a single screen.

Adjust window size manually if snap doesn't work

If dragging to the edge or using keyboard shortcuts doesn't snap your window, you can resize it manually. Position your cursor on the edge or corner of the window until it changes to a resize cursor (a double-headed arrow). Click and drag to resize the window to the width you want. Then move the window to the left or right side of the screen by dragging its title bar.

Check that your window is not maximized before trying to resize. On Windows, the maximize button is the square icon in the top right corner of the window. On a Mac, it is the green button. Click it once to unmaximize, and the window will become resizable. If your monitor resolution is set very low (below 1024 × 768), snap-to-edge may not work properly because there is not enough space to display two windows side by side.

Programs that work best in split-screen mode

Most desktop programs resize smoothly when snapped to half the screen: web browsers, text editors, spreadsheets, email clients, and file managers all work well. However, some programs are designed to run full-screen and may not resize properly. Video players, games, and some design software often ignore snap commands or display incorrectly when forced into half-screen mode.

If a program does not snap or resize correctly, try opening it in windowed mode instead of full-screen. Look in the program's settings or View menu for a "Windowed mode" or "Borderless window" option. If that is not available, you can still use the program in split-screen by manually resizing its window, though it may not fill the space evenly.

Troubleshooting split-screen problems

If snap-to-edge is not working on Windows, open Settings, go to System, then Multitasking, and make sure "Snap windows" is turned on. If it is already on, try turning it off and back on. On a Mac, snap-to-edge is not a built-in feature, so you may need to install a third-party app like Rectangle, Magnet, or BetterSnapTool to get automatic snapping.

If windows are snapping but not resizing to exactly half the screen, your display scaling might be set incorrectly. On Windows, right-click your desktop, select Display settings, and check that the scaling is set to 100% or 125%. On a Mac, go to System Preferences, Displays, and make sure the resolution is set to the default recommended setting. Restarting your computer also fixes many snap-related issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I split my screen into more than two windows?

Yes. You can snap windows to all four corners of your screen to display four programs at once, each using a quarter of the space. You can also use virtual desktops to create multiple workspaces, though only one is visible at a time. Some third-party apps let you snap windows to custom grid layouts with more than four sections.

Does split-screen work on a laptop?

Yes, split-screen works the same way on a laptop as on a desktop. On Windows, use the keyboard shortcuts (Windows key + Left or Right arrow) since dragging can be awkward on a touchpad. On a Mac, you can drag windows to the edges or use a third-party snapping app. The smaller screen size means each window will be narrower, but the feature works fine.

What if I want to split my screen between two monitors?

If you have two monitors connected, each monitor is treated as a separate screen. You can snap windows to the edges of each monitor independently. Snap a window to the right edge of your left monitor, and it will fill the right half of that monitor only. Your second monitor remains separate. To move a window from one monitor to another, drag it across the gap between the screens.

Can I save a split-screen layout so it opens the same way next time?

Windows does not save split-screen layouts automatically, but some third-party apps like DisplayFusion or Actual Multiple Monitors can save and restore custom window arrangements. On a Mac, you can use apps like Moom or Magnet to save layouts. Otherwise, you will need to manually snap your windows each time you start your computer or reopen programs.

Why does my window snap to the wrong size?

This usually happens when your display scaling is not set to 100%. On Windows, check Settings > System > Display and set scaling to 100% or the recommended default. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Displays and select the default resolution. If you are using an external monitor, make sure it is set to its native resolution in your display settings.