What split screen actually means
Split screen means dividing your monitor or device display into two or more sections, each showing a different window or app at the same time. Instead of switching back and forth between full windows, you see them side by side, one on the left half and one on the right half of your screen. You can resize the sections to give more space to whichever window matters more in that moment.
The feature exists on Windows computers, Macs, tablets, and phones. The method changes depending on what device you use, but the result is the same: two things visible at once instead of one.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows 10 and 11, drag a window to the left or right edge of your screen and it will snap to fill half the screen automatically.
- On Mac, hold the full-screen button in the top-left corner of any window and choose which app fills the other half.
- On iPad and Android tablets, swipe from the edge of the screen or use the app switcher to open a second app alongside the first.
- You can resize the dividing line between the two windows by clicking and dragging it left or right to give one app more space.
- Not every app works in split screen mode, especially older or simpler apps that were not built to handle a narrow window.
Split screen on Windows computers
Windows 10 and 11 have built-in snap features that make split screen straightforward. Open the first app or window you want to use. Then grab the title bar at the top of the second window and drag it all the way to the left edge of your screen until you see a preview showing it will fill the left half. Release the mouse, and the window snaps into place on the left side.
The right half of your screen now shows your desktop or other open windows. Click on the app you want in the right half, and it fills that side. If you want to adjust how much space each window gets, move your cursor to the dividing line between them until it becomes a resize cursor (a double-headed arrow), then click and drag left or right.
Windows also lets you snap windows to quarters of the screen. Drag a window to a corner instead of an edge, and it fills one quarter. You can then fill the other three quarters with different windows, giving you four apps visible at once.
Split screen on Mac
Macs use a feature called Split View. Open the first app you want to use. Move your cursor to the green full-screen button in the top-left corner of that window (next to the red and yellow buttons) and hold it there. A menu appears asking which app should fill the other side of the screen.
Click the app you want, and both windows expand to fill the screen side by side. The dividing line between them can be dragged to resize, just like on Windows. To exit split view, move your cursor to the top of the screen, click the green button again, and choose to exit full screen.
Split screen on tablets and phones
iPad split screen works differently depending on your iPad model and iOS version. On newer iPads, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the dock, then drag an app from the dock to the left or right edge of the screen. The app opens in a split view next to your current app. You can also open an app normally, then swipe from the right edge of the screen to reveal the app switcher and tap an app to open it alongside the first one.
Android tablets vary by manufacturer, but most let you swipe down from the top to access recent apps, long-press an app, and select "Open in split screen" or a similar option. Some Android devices let you drag an app from the app switcher to the edge of the screen, similar to iPad.
iPhones and most Android phones do not support true split screen because their screens are too narrow. Instead, they offer Picture-in-Picture mode, where a video or second app appears in a small floating window over your main app.
When split screen does not work
Not every app supports split screen. Older apps, straightforward utilities, and some games were built to run full screen only. If you try to snap an app to half your screen and it refuses to resize or shows a black area, that app does not support the feature. You can still use split screen with other apps on the same device.
Some apps work in split screen but behave strangely because they were not designed for a narrow window. A video player might crop the image, or a document editor might hide buttons. This is not a problem with your device — it is a limitation of how that particular app was built.
Why you might want split screen
Split screen is useful when you need to reference one window while working in another. You might write an email while reading a document, follow a recipe while cooking, take notes during a video call, or compare two spreadsheets side by side. Without split screen, you would have to switch back and forth, which breaks your focus and slows you down.
Split screen also saves time when you are copying information between windows. Instead of opening one window, finding the data, closing it, opening another window, and pasting, you can see both windows at once and drag or copy between them directly.
Resizing and adjusting your split
Once you have two windows in split screen, you can adjust the dividing line to give one window more space. Find the line between the two windows and move your cursor over it until it changes to a resize cursor. Click and drag toward whichever window you want to shrink. You can make one window take up 70 percent of the screen and the other 30 percent, or any split you prefer.
If you want to close one side of the split, click the X button in the top corner of that window, or drag the dividing line all the way to the edge. The remaining window expands to fill the full screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than two windows in split screen at once?
On Windows, yes — you can snap windows to quarters of the screen and have four apps visible. On Mac, Split View officially supports only two apps at a time, though you can use other tools to add more. On tablets, it depends on the device and app support, but most tablets let you have two or three windows visible.
Why does my app look weird or cut off in split screen?
The app was not designed to work in a narrow window. This is common with older apps or apps built for phones. You can still use split screen with other apps, or resize the window to give that app more space if you do not mind shrinking the other one.
How do I get out of split screen?
On Windows, drag one window back to the center of the screen or click and drag the dividing line all the way to an edge. On Mac, move your cursor to the top, click the green button, and select exit full screen. On tablets, swipe from the edge or use the app switcher to close one app.
Does split screen use more battery on my tablet or phone?
Yes, slightly. Running two apps at once uses more processing power and battery than running one. The difference is usually small unless both apps are demanding, like video streaming and gaming at the same time.
Can I save a split screen setup so it opens the same way next time?
On Mac, if you save a document while in Split View, macOS remembers the layout and reopens it the same way. On Windows and tablets, split screen is temporary — when you close the apps, the setup does not save automatically, though some apps let you create custom workspaces.