At one time or another, every Windows user will face a situation where they need to split the screen. For example, you might be working on a document and need quick access to your research material, comparing files, or learning online and taking notes simultaneously. Whatever the reason, Windows 11 makes it easy to split your screen for multitasking, thanks to the built-in Snap Assist and Snap Layouts features. You don’t need to install any third-party software. In this tutorial, I will show you four methods to split the screen in Windows 11. Let’s get started.
Using Snap Assist to Split Screen in Windows 11
First introduced in Windows 10, Snap Assist is a built-in feature that allows you to split the screen using keyboard shortcuts and by dragging open windows to the edges of the screen.
Method 1: Split Screen with Drag & Drop
First, click and hold the title bar of a window, then drag it to the left or right edge of the screen until you see a transparent outline. Release the mouse button to snap it to that edge. By default, this window will occupy half of the screen.
Next, the Snap Assist feature will automatically display thumbnails of all the other open windows. Select the one you want, and it will snap to the other half of the screen.
That’s it! You are now using Windows 11 in split screen mode.
Method 2: Snap Assist Split Screen Keyboard Shortcuts
Along with drag & drop, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to snap windows to the left and right edges.
Select the window you want to snap and use the following shortcuts:
- Press “Windows Key + Left Arrow” to snap the window to the left half of the screen.
- Press “Windows Key + Right Arrow” to snap the window to the right half of the screen.
Snap Assist will automatically show thumbnails of all other open windows. Select the thumbnail of the window you want to snap to the other half of the screen.
Using Snap Layouts to Split Screen in Windows 11
Snap Layouts is a Windows 11 feature built on top of Snap Assist. This feature allows you to split the screen by snapping windows to predefined layouts. For example, depending on your multitasking needs, there might be times when you want to split the screen into two, three, or four parts. In those cases, rather than manually arranging the windows, you can simply select a snap layout, and Windows 11 will automatically split the screen according to the selected layout.
Method 1: Using Click and Drag with Snap Layouts
First, click and hold the title bar of a window and drag it to the Snap Layout bar at the top of the screen.
Important Note: You will only see the Snap Layout bar once you start dragging the window.
You will see the snap layouts appear. Drop the window into one of the sections of your chosen layout to snap it to that section.
Next, choose the other windows to snap them to the remaining section.
Method 2: Using the Maximize Button
First, open the window you want to snap. Next, move your cursor to the maximize button in the top-right corner of the window. You will see a menu with layout options. Click on a section of your preferred layout.
The window will snap to the chosen section, and you’ll be prompted to select other windows for the remaining sections.
Method 3: Snap Layouts Split Screen Keyboard Shortcut
You can also use Snap Layouts with keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how.
First, open a window of your choice and press the “Windows key + Z” shortcut to open the snap layout. Next, use your arrow keys to select a section of a layout of your choice and press “Enter”.
The window will snap to the chosen section, allowing you to fill other sections with additional windows.
Wrapping — Split Screen on Windows 11
Splitting the screen in Windows 11 is easier than you might think, thanks to the Snap Assist and Snap Layouts features. If you just want to split your screen in half, drag one window to the left or right side of the screen and select another one to fill the other half. On the other hand, if you want to split the screen into three, four, or more sections, use the Snap Layout features. These predefined layouts make the entire process much easier.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below, and I will assist you.
