How to Split Screen on Windows?

Windows has been a great environment for multitasking since the beginning, as it has the ability to run several applications at once and to switch between them with relative ease. However, one of the many Windows hidden features that most users are not aware of is split-screen.

Split screen in Windows 10 versus Windows 11

Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 allow the option of using split screens, and both will let you use a feature known as Snap Assist.

So, what is Snap Assist? Snap Assist in simple terms is a Windows feature that suggests ways for you to group your open apps if you use a specific keyboard shortcut

Whatever you snap through Snap Assist will not “save.” Say you exit one app; you will have to manually trigger the split screen once more. The same applies if you choose to open another app or minimize the Taskbar.

However, in Windows 11, Microsoft improved on the feature, it expanded on Snap Assist and added a new feature known as Snap Layouts. The Snap Assist keyboard shortcuts can still be used in Windows 11, however, compared to Windows 10, Snap Layouts in Windows 11 provides you with better ways of using split screen.

The newest version provides ways of grouping as well as saving the open apps so that if you minimize your apps to the taskbar, Windows will remember them as a Snap Group. There is a visual suggestion (with up to six ways) for how you can split screen using the Snap Layouts. It provides with a pop-up when you hover over the maximize button — which you do not get for the Windows 10 tool.

How to Use Snap Assist in Windows 10?

Before we begin you need to make sure to turn on the Snap windows feature in settings:

Navigate to Settings > Multi-tasking and make sure that the Snap windows toggle is turned on.

Step 1: Select the window you wish to snap to one half of the screen, then proceed to drag it to the edge.

Step 2: If you have other windows or applications open when you snap your chosen window, you will be able to see several options that can fill the second half. Select any one, it will then automatically snap into place opposite the first window. If you do not the selection grid will disappear. Drag the selected second window to the edge of the space.

Step 3: You have the ability to resize the two windows. To do so, just hover the cursor over the dividing line until it becomes two arrows, and click and hold on to the divider to adjust. Note – There exists a limit to how narrow a window can be.

A shortcut to Split-Screen in Windows 10 & 11

There is a keyboard shortcut to split windows. In an active window, press, then hold the Windows along with either the Left or Right arrow key. This will automatically snap the active window to either the left or right, depending on the key you press. Then, all that’s left to do is select another window to fill the second space.

If you wish to expand a window to the full screen again, press the Windows key along with the Up-arrow key. Say you accidentally split into a quarter window instead of a half window, you can change it by pressing the Windows and Up or Down arrow keys to expand it.

How to split your screen in Windows 11?

Snap Layouts in Windows 11 is a new addition, it helps increase productivity and split the screen. It is similar to Snap Assist in Windows 10; however, it offers up to six different ways to tile a window. Snap Layouts are tailored to the current screen size as well as orientation. These include support for three side-by-side windows on large landscape screens & top/bottom and stacked windows on portrait screens.

Step 1: Press the Windows Key along with the Z key on the keyboard. A box will pop up at the top right-hand side, you can hover over the maximize button to take a look at the various ways to use split-screen.

Step 2: Select one of the ways you wish to split-screen the window. There are a total of six ways you can select from. Windows will open the task switcher; it will also suggest another one of the open windows choose from. After you choose an open window, they will be snapped in place.

Step 3: If you are having trouble with setting up Snap Layouts, just hit the Windows Key along with the Left key. Or press the Windows and the Right key on your keyboard. If not, you can just follow the steps above for Windows 10. It is essentially the same across the two operating systems.

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