Switching between open tabs to find the right one can be a frustrating waste of time, especially if you’re working from home on a laptop. Instead of clicking through dozens of tabs to find the one you’re looking for, you can use this simple Mac hack to navigate your windows more efficiently.
Split-screen mode on Mac lets you stick two apps (or two separate browser windows) on different sides of your screen. This way, you can easily navigate between windows without having to click or use the Command + Tab shortcut to switch between windows. Split-screen viewing on Mac is ideal for viewing data while writing a report, playing a video while you multitask, or keeping a chat window open while you work.
Here’s how to set up split-screen mode on Mac to improve your productivity.
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How to Access Split View on a Mac
1. Make sure none of the windows you want to use are in full screen mode.
2. In one of the windows you want to use, place your cursor on the green button at the top left. Instead of clicking to maximize the window, hover until you see a drop-down menu.
3. Select Tiled window on left of screen Or Tiled window on the right of the screen. Your Mac will automatically enter split-screen mode.
4. From there, other open windows will be displayed on the opposite side of the screen. Click on the desired window on the rest of your screen and it will fill the remaining half.
5. If you want to adjust the window size, use the slider in the center of the screen.
In Split View, you can view both windows simultaneously. Multitask!
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How to Exit Split Screen on Mac
If you’re done using the split-screen layout, here’s how to exit it:
1. Move your cursor to the top of the screen until you see the sizing buttons at the top left of each window.
2. Click the red button to close this window or the green button to exit split screen.
3. Don’t panic! Your other window is still open – it’s just hidden in full screen mode. To access it again, press the Mission Control button (F3) on the top row of your keyboard.
4. You should see two options at the top of the screen: the desktop and the window you had in split-screen mode. Click on the other window and use the green resize button at the top left if you want to exit full screen mode.
If you’re the type of person (like me) who may need to have more than two windows open, you can always manually resize the windows to display three or four on your screen at once. The experience just won’t be as visually clear as using tiled windows.
What is the keyboard shortcut for split screen on Mac?
Mac keyboard shortcuts are numerous and practical, including one for split screen. Start by using control+command+F to switch to full screen mode. From there you can hit F3 to display Mission Control, then drag and drop the second app you want into your split screen next to your original window. It should show a preview of what the split screen will look like, along with a “+” (plus sign) next to it. Click on the newly tiled apps again and you will be in split view.
If you want to access Split View even faster, you can create your own keyboard shortcut. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Application Shortcuts. You can click on the + to add a command named “Tile window on left of screen” using the desired shortcut. Once you activate the shortcut, your active window will display on the left side of the screen and you can simply select a second window to add to your split screen.
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Why doesn’t my Mac work in split screen?
First, make sure you’re not currently in full-screen mode. Split screen only works from the normal window view. If this is not the problem, go to System Preferences > Desktop & Dock and scroll down to see if Screens have separate spaces activated. Otherwise, enable it.
If you don’t see this option in the Mission Control menu, make sure you’ve updated to MacOS 10.11 or later. You can check the current version of your operating system by clicking the Apple icon in the top left menu and then selecting About this Mac. If you are using an older version, you will need to update it by clicking the button Software update button on this screen.
Keep in mind that not all apps support split screens. If you’ve tried everything and the app still doesn’t work in split-screen mode, the app probably doesn’t offer split-screen mode.
How to split screens on a Mac without full screen?
The official split-screen feature on Mac (called “Split View”) automatically splits two windows into full screen. If you don’t want the full-screen view (perhaps because you want to be able to quickly navigate between browser tabs), you can manually drag your windows to fit the space you want. This option gives you a little more customization than Split View.
To learn more, learn the best new MacOS features that improve Mac-iPhone connectivity and how to unlock your Mac if you’ve forgotten your password.