How to Split Screen on Windows 10/11?

Rick Akura
Want to split your screen and work on multiple tasks at the same time? In this guide, we will show you how to split screens on Windows 10/11 computers.

Splitting your screen can come in handy if you want to work on two different tasks simultaneously. For example, if you are working on a document and need to reference another document or website, split-screen in Windows can help make this process easier.

If you are looking for a way to split your screen in Windows 10 or Windows 11, you've come to the right place. 

In this guide, we will show you several different methods that you can use to easily split your screen and view multiple windows at the same time.

Let's get started!

split screen in Windows 11/10

Table of contents 

Why Should I Use Split Screen on Windows?

Split screen Windows 10

 

There are a few different reasons why you might want to split your screen on Windows. For example, if you're working on a research project, you may want to have one window open to your research material and another window open to a word processing program so that you can easily take notes.

Or, perhaps you're an online shopper who wants to compare prices on two different websites. Splitting your screen can make it much easier to see everything at once without having to constantly switch back and forth between tabs or windows.

There are many other potential uses for screen splitting, but these are just a few examples. No matter what your reason is, we'll show you how to do it in the sections below.

What Are the Benefits of Split-Screen in Windows?

There are many benefits to splitting your screen on Windows 10 or 11, including:

  • Easier multitasking. Splitting your screen allows you to view multiple windows or applications at the same time, making it easier to work on multiple projects or tasks simultaneously.
  • Greater productivity. Being able to easily see everything that you need at once can significantly boost your productivity and efficiency.
  • Improved organization. When used effectively, split-screen allows you to stay organized and streamline your workflow by giving you easy access to all of your resources in one place.

Whether you are a professional user, student, or simply someone looking for a more efficient way to view and manage multiple windows, split-screen on Windows 10 and 11 can help you get the job done faster and more efficiently. So why not give it a try today?

Split screen in Windows 10 vs. Windows 11

Before we proceed, we want to mention that we'll be talking about split screen multitasking in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Both operating systems let you use Snap Assist - multitasking, a feature for split screen in Windows.

Snap Assist is a Windows feature, which suggests ways for you to group your open apps together when you use a (specific) keyboard shortcut.

Just know that anything you snap through Snap Assist in Windows 10 won't "save." If you exit an app (windows) you're working on, you'll need to manually trigger that split screen again. You'll also need to do this if you opt to open another app or minimize the Taskbar.

But in Windows 11, Microsoft improved this feature. Windows 11 expanded on Snap Assist with a new feature called Snap Layouts. You can still use Snap Assist keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11, but compared to Windows 10, Snap Layouts in Windows 11 gives you expanded ways of using split screen. How?

It has ways of grouping and saving your open apps so that if you minimize your apps to the taskbar, Windows will remember them as a Snap Group. This means they won't lose their place. There's also a visual suggestion (with up to six ways) for how you can split screen via Snap Layouts with a pop-up when you hover over the maximize button — which you don't get in Windows 10.

Now, all that aside, let us dive in deeper.

How To Split Screen in Windows 10 and Windows 11

There are a few different ways that you can split your screen on Windows 10 or 11. In the sections below, we'll show you how to do it using the built-in split-screen feature, third-party software, and even a keyboard shortcut.

Prerequisite: Enable Snap Windows in Settings

Before you begin, make sure that you have enabled the Snap Windows feature. This is a built-in function on newer versions of Windows that allows you to snap your windows together and use split-screen mode easily.

In order for this to work, you must first enable it in your settings. Here's how:

  1. Open Windows Settings. To do this, press the Windows key on your keyboard and select Settings (gear icon) or open the Settings window by using the Windows + I keyboard shortcut.
  2. In Windows Settings, select System from the available menus. You'll be redirected to another page.
  3. Switch to the Multitasking tab in the left pane. Make sure that Snap Windows is enabled under the Work with multiple windows section.
  4. If Snap Windows isn't enabled on your Windows PC, toggle it On.
    Multitasking
  5. By default, some features of Snap Windows, like resizing the current window automatically might be disabled. Make sure that the boxes beside the appropriate options are checked so that you may use them.

Now that you've enabled Snap Windows on your PC, you're ready to start using split-screen mode.

Split Screen Manually in Windows 10 in 2 Ways

After you've enabled Snap Windows, you can split your screen manually using the built-in controls.

If you want to split your screen manually in Windows, there are a few different ways that you can do it. 

Method #1: Using Snap Assist in Windows 10

Snap Assist, a Windows 10 multitasking feature make it easy to select an open application window when you are choosing which app to rearrange ona split screen. To use Snap Assist:

  1. Choose a window you'd like to snap to one halpf of your screen, then drag it to the edge. You can drag it using the application's title bar. For example, if you want to split your screen between two web browsers, you can click on the first browser's title bar and drag it to the left half or right half of the screen.
  2. If there are other windows open after you've snapped the selected window, you'll see a number of options that can fill the second half of your screen.
  3. Click on one, and it will automatically snap into the opposite of the first window.
    split screen with snap assist
  4. If it you don't click and the selection grid disappears, just drag the second window to the edge onto an empty screen side.
  5. Once both windows are in place, you'll notice that a dividing line has been placed between them. This line allows you to adjust how much space each window takes up on your screen. To do this, simply hover your mouse over the line until you see a double-headed arrow icon appear. Then, drag your cursor to adjust the two windows.
    Split screen windows 10

    Credit: Digital Trends

Note: If the Snap Assist refuses to work or is acting strangely, check your startup programs. Sometimes these can interfere with Snap Assist, and disabling them will fix the problem. Our guide on managing startup programs is a great place to start.

Method #2. Use the keyboard shortcut to split your screen on Windows 10 and Windows 11 

f you want a faster way to split your screen on Windows 10 and Windows 11, it's on your keyboard. Spliit screen in Windows has a useful shortcut as long as you have active windows. Here's how:

  1. In an active window, press and hold the Windows key and then press either the Left or Right arrow key.
  2. This should automatically snap the active window to the left or right.

    Split screen using keyboard shortcut
  3. Select another window to fill the second empty space, then adjust it to fit the screen in an order you want.
  4. If you want to expand a window to the full screen again, just press the Windows key and the Up arrow key together.
  5. If you accidentally make a quarter window instead of a half window, you can use the Windows and Up or Down arrow keys to expand it as well - or just maximize it.

Split-screen more than two windows in Windows 10

Perhaps unknow to many, you can split your Windows 10 screen up to 4 ways iif you have a large or high-resolution display to take advantage of the screen real estate.

You can snap up to three or four windows on a single screen using the Wiindows Corner Snap. This essentially opens up a way to quadruple your productivity. The process is similar to the two-way split screen but slightly different.

Split your Windows 10 screen into three or four parts.

  1. Drag and drop your first window into any corner. To use the keyboard shortcut, press and hold the Windows key followed by the Left or Right Arrow key to snap the active window to the left or right. Then, press and hold the Windows key followed by the Up or Down Arrow key to move the snapped window into the top or bottom corner. 
    Split screen more then 2 Windows in Windows 10
  2. Drag and drop your second window into any other available corner. You are not required to pick a specific corner of your computer.
  3. Repeat Step 2 to fill in the other two corners.

Note that a 2020 update to Windows 10 updated this four-window design and made all the snapped windows act as a single window. This may not sound important, but it’s really handy when you have to do something else, like open an additional app or file while working with your snapped windows — they will now stay together, waiting for you to get back.

Turn off Snap Assist and adjust settings in Windows 10

You can easily disable Snap Assist if it becomes troublesome. Here’s how:

  1. Open Windows settings. Press Windows Key and click Settings (the gear icon on the start menu) or press Windows Key + I.
  2. Select system.
  3. Select multitasking on the left pane.
  4. Click the Toggle display under Snap Windows to toggle Snap Assist off.
  5. You can disable three settings if you'd rather disable a specific Snap Assist feature instead of toggling it off completely. First ignore step 4 (above) then uncheck the boxes next to each setting as you need (shown below):
    Turn off snap assist

How to split your screen in Windows 11

Windows 11 has a new multitasking split screen feature called Snap Layouts that helps increase productivity and split your screen in different window categories It's a lot like Windows 10's Snap Assist but offers up to six different ways to tile your windows.

Microsoft tailored Snap Layouts to the current desktop and PC screen sizes and orientation, including support for three side-by-side windows on large landscape screens and top/bottom, stacked windows on portrait screens.

Here' how to use Snap Layouts in Windows 11:

  1. Hit the Windows Key and Z on your keyboard. You'll see a box pop up at the top right of the open window. (You also can hover over the maximize button to see the various ways to use split-screen.)
  2. Choose one of the ways to split-screen your screens/window. You'll see six ways to choose from. Windows will open the task switcher and suggest another of your open windows to select. Once you choose an open window, it will snap in place.
    Split screen Windws 11

    Credit: Digital Trends
  3. If you can't seem to get Snap Layouts to work, just hit the Windows Key and Left or Windows Key and Right arrows on your keyboard. Or, use the Windows 10 steps to split the screen. 

Split Screen Into Two Sections on Windows 11

Windows 11 has a bit more split-screen functionality than Windows 10. You can display up to four windows on the screen with many layout options. If you simply want to split the screen in Windows 11 to show two windows next to each other, you can use Snap Assist.

Snap Assist allows you to fill the screen area with different windows, simultaneously resize open apps, and use different snap layouts for easily splitting the screen. If you only want to use two windows side-by-side, follow these steps:

  1. Open the application window you want to snap to the left or right side of the screen.
  2. Hover your mouse cursor over the Restore down button. You'll see different options to split screen on Windows 11. Select the first choice to separate the screen into two sections.
  3. The current window will snap to the selected half of the screen. In the other half, Windows 11 will show thumbnails of every other app window you have open.
    split screen into two sections on windows 11
  4. Select the app window you want to display on the other half of the screen by clicking on its thumbnail. Windows 11 will automatically split the screen in half.
  5. To resize the windows, hover your mouse pointer over the dark thick line separating the two windows. Press the left mouse button and move the line towards the left half or right half. This will simultaneously resize any adjacent snapped window.

Method 3. Split Screen Into Three Sections on Windows 11

If you have a large monitor, or just want to take up even more of your screen space, splitting the screen into three sections can come in handy. Windows 11 includes the snap windows feature to make this easier. Here's how to do it:

  1. Hover the cursor over the Restore down button. You'll be able to see the snap layouts integrated into the desired window. Select the third option to divide your screen into three sections.
  2. Every other active window will be displayed as thumbnails on the other half of the screen, while the selected window will fit in the portion of the screen that you just selected.
    split screen into 3 sections on Windows 11
  3. Select another one of the open app windows to snap it into one of the multiple sections. It'll fit right next to the current app window.
  4. The remaining open windows will now be shown in the last empty section. Choose which one you'd like to work on. The apps simultaneously adjust to your screen size.

The same method we described above can also be used to resize these windows. Just drag the dark thick line that separates the app windows to adjust each in size.

Method 4. Split Screen Into Four Sections on Windows 11

You can use the snap windows feature and snap layouts to display up to four app windows on Windows 11. To use Windows 11's snap windows feature and split the screen into four sections, follow these steps:

  1. Open all the apps you want to work with and arrange them however you like on your desktop.
  2. Select a window to fill one half of the screen by dragging its title bar towards either the left or right side of your display.
  3. The other three windows will now be displayed as thumbnails on the other half of your screen, and this window will fit in the portion of the screen that you just selected.
    split screen into 4 sections on Windows 11
  4. Select one of those three windows by hovering your mouse over its thumbnails until a blue outline appears around it, then click it once to select.
  5. Windows 11 will automatically split the screen into four sections so that you can view all four open applications simultaneously.
  6. You can resize any of the windows by dragging one of their borders towards an adjacent corner to change how much space it takes up on your screen.

There are a few things to remember when using split screens on Windows 11. First, only applications that can be resized can be used in split-screen mode. So, if you're trying to use an app like File Explorer or the Microsoft Store, you won't be able to snap it into place. Second, not all apps.

Customize grids and split screen with a third-party app in Windows 10

The native Windows 10 split screen option are impressive. But there are a variety of third-party apps that give you a bit more. These apps can make you enjoy more definitive, grid-like changes to your windows so you can obtain all the tools you love so much (in the perfect size) and place them wherever you desire.

We recommend 2:

  • AquaSnap
  • PowerToys

AquaSnap

AquaSnap lets its users develop and change as many split windows as you can with a neat snap function. The app operates similarly to Windows 10, but slightly more flexible. It also consists of a few cool, extra tools such as snapping small windows together and other sweet gimmicks.

 Split screen with FancyZones in PowerToys

The last method is to use the FancyZones feature in PowerToys.

Microsoft PowerToys is a collection of freeware system utilities that allow users to customize their operating systems. This program allows you to delve even deeper into Windows 10's snapping features, unlocking a slew of additional customization options geared toward power users.

  1. Download PowerToys from Microsoft. The file should be run as administrator when the download process is complete. If your account doesn’t have permission, learn how to convert a local account into an administrator.
  2. Launch PowerToys after the installation is complete. Select Launch layout editor from the FancyZones menu in the left pane.
    use fancyzones to split screen
  3. You can now choose how to split the screen based on your preferences.
  4. Hold down the Shift key while dragging windows to use your custom FancyZones.

Final Thoughts

Split-screening can be a great solution if you are looking for a way to improve your multitasking skills. We've shown you several methods to do this.

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide has helped you learn how to split screen in Windows 10 or 11. If you found it helpful, feel free to share it with your friends and family so that they can benefit from it too!

One More Thing

Looking for more tips on managing your windows in Windows 10 or 11? Check out our other guides in our Blog or visit our Help Center for a wealth of information on how to troubleshoot various issues.

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Tags: Tips and Tricks