To split screen on Windows, drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen until an outline appears, then let go and pick a second window from the thumbnails on the other side. Or press the Windows key and the Left or Right arrow. This works on Windows 11 and 10.
Microsoft calls split screen Snap, and it's one of the most useful things Windows does. Two documents side by side, a video call beside your notes, four windows in quarters on a big monitor: all a drag or a keypress away. Windows 11 adds ready-made layouts on top. Here's every way to do it, and the settings to check when it misbehaves.
Split screen with the mouse
- Click and hold the title bar at the top of a window.
- Drag it to the left or right edge of the screen until a see-through outline appears.
- Let go. The window fills that half.
- Thumbnails of your other open windows appear on the other half. Click one to fill it.
That last step is Snap Assist, and it'll save you dragging the second window yourself. If you don't want a second window yet, click anywhere else and the space stays empty.
Split screen with the keyboard
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Windows key + Left arrow | Snap the window to the left half |
| Windows key + Right arrow | Snap the window to the right half |
| Windows key + Up or Down (after snapping) | Move it into a top or bottom quarter |
| Windows key + Z | Open the Snap layouts menu (Windows 11) |
| Windows key + Shift + Left arrow | Move the window to the monitor on the left |
Hold the Windows key and you can keep tapping arrows to move a window around until it's where you want it, then let go. For quarters, snap left or right first, then press Up or Down with the Windows key still held.
Snap layouts in Windows 11
Hover over the maximise button (the square) at the top right of any window, or press Windows key + Z. A small panel of layouts appears: halves, thirds, a big window with two small ones, and quarters. Click the zone where you want the current window and Snap Assist helps you fill the rest. Microsoft notes that the layouts you see depend on your screen size, so a laptop may offer fewer than a wide monitor.
Windows 11 also has a Snap bar: start dragging a window and move it to the top centre of the screen, and the same layouts drop down for you to drop the window into.
Resize the two sides
Point at the line between two snapped windows until the pointer becomes a double arrow, then drag. Microsoft designed it so the window on the other side resizes to fit, leaving no gap. It's the easy way to give your main document two thirds and your reference one third.
Snap groups: get the pair back later
When you snap windows together, Windows 11 remembers them as a group. Hover over one of the apps in the taskbar and you'll see the group; click it and both windows come back in the same layout. It's handy when you switch away to check email and want your side-by-side set-up back in one click.
When split screen isn't working
- Snap is switched off: open Settings, System, Multitasking and turn on Snap windows. Expand it to choose whether Snap Assist and layouts appear.
- The app won't resize: some apps have a minimum width or a fixed-size window. They won't snap to a narrow column.
- Layouts are missing: on a small or low-resolution screen Windows offers fewer layouts.
- Dragging maximises instead: you dropped it at the top edge. Aim for the left or right edge.
Two monitors
Snap works on each monitor separately, so you can have two windows side by side on each. To move a window to the other screen without dragging, press Windows key, Shift and the Left or Right arrow. If you're recording or sharing your screen while you work this way, my guide to screen recording on Windows shows how to pick just one window or one screen.
Good ways to use it
- Writing in one window with the research in the other.
- A video call on one side and notes on the other.
- Comparing two versions of a document line by line.
- File Explorer on both sides to drag files between folders.
There are more small habits like these in my round-up of office productivity hacks.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Split screen in a browser
If you only want two web pages side by side, snapping two browser windows works well: drag a tab out of the browser to make it its own window, then snap each window to a side. That's often easier than juggling tabs when you're comparing products, filling in a form from an email or copying details from one site to another. It's also how I check a new page against the old one before I'm happy with it.
Turn off the parts you don't like
If the layouts panel pops up every time you hover over the maximise button and it annoys you, you don't have to lose Snap altogether. In Settings, System, Multitasking, expand Snap windows and untick only the options you don't want, such as showing layouts when you hover over the maximise button. Dragging to the edges and the keyboard shortcuts keep working.
My verdict
Drag a window to the edge, or press the Windows key and an arrow, and let Snap Assist fill the other half. On Windows 11, Windows key and Z opens layouts for three or four windows. If none of it works, the Snap windows switch in Settings, System, Multitasking is the first thing to check.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split my screen on Windows 11?
Drag a window to the side of the screen, or press Windows key and Left or Right arrow, then pick a second window.
What is the shortcut for split screen on Windows?
Windows key plus the Left or Right arrow. Windows key plus Z opens layouts on Windows 11.
How do I split my screen into 4 on Windows?
Drag windows into the corners, or snap left or right and then press Windows key and Up or Down.
Why is split screen not working?
Snap may be off. Turn on Snap windows in Settings, System, Multitasking.
Can I change the size of each side?
Yes. Drag the dividing line between the windows.
