How to use split screen on Mac with Split View

Tired of switching back and forth between two app windows on your Mac? Split View in macOS makes multitasking a whole lot easier. Read on to learn how to split your screen on your Mac and use two apps at once.

What is Split View in macOS?

Split View is one of those useful macOS features that makes your life easier. It lets you view two windows on your Mac at the same time without overlapping or getting cluttered with other open windows.

If you don't have a second display, Split View is a great option when you need to use two apps side by side on your Mac. With Split View, for example, you can scroll through a document on one side of your Mac screen and type information into Numbers on the other side.

This feature is a lifesaver for people who frequently multitask on their computers. However, there is a small drawback - you can't use more than two apps in Split View at the same time.

How to split screen on Mac

You can split your screen on your Mac using the Enter Full Screen button or Mission Control . We'll show you both methods below.

Enter Split View on Mac using the Enter Full Screen button

Most app windows on macOS have an Enter Full Screen button that lets you put them in full screen view or snap them to the left or right half of the screen. You can use that to put an app in Split View using the following steps:

1. Open the two apps you want to use side by side.

2. Hover your cursor over the green button in the upper left corner of either application's window.

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3. Click on the second or third option from the context menu depending on your preference (left or right).

4. Once the app is tiled, click the second app window that appears on the other half of the screen to tile it.

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Enter Split View on Mac using Mission Control

Mission Control is a macOS feature that shows you all the open apps and spaces on your screen to make it easy to access them. Here's how to use it to put two apps side by side:

1. Open the two apps you want to use in Split View.

2. Open Missing Control. You can do this by pressing the Mission Control (F3) key on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can swipe up with three fingers on your trackpad or double-tap your Magic Mouse with two fingers.

3. Click on the application window and hover your mouse over the left or right side of the active space at the top of the screen. When you see a window with a plus (+) button, drop the application window onto it.

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4. Now, click and drag the second app window over to the new space and drop it there to place it next to the other app in Split View.

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How to adjust windows in Split View

Once you've placed two apps in Split View on your Mac, here are some actions that can help you multitask more efficiently.

Adjust split screen area

If you want a larger window on either side of the screen, click and drag the vertical divider between the two windows to the left or right, depending on your preference. Keep in mind that there are limits to how much you can resize windows in Split View.

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Switch window position

Sometimes you find it more convenient to view one of your apps on the left side of the screen instead of the right (or vice versa), you can easily switch the position of the windows without leaving Split View.

To do this, move your cursor to the top of the screen. This will reveal the window title bar. Click on the title bar of the app you want to move and drag it to the other side of your Mac's screen.

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Also, don't worry if you can't see your Mac's Dock—it's temporarily hidden when you're in Split View. If you want the Dock to show up, just move your cursor to the bottom of the screen.

Replace a window in Split View

Finally, if you want to use an app other than the two currently open in Split View, you can replace the adjacent app window with another window.

To do this, go back to the screen space where you have two apps open side by side. Hover over the green button on the app window you want to replace and select Replace Tiled Window .

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When macOS shows you all the open apps on your desktop, click on the one you want to use and it will be stacked next to the existing app in split screen mode.

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How to Exit Split View in macOS

There are four ways to exit Split View on your Mac. The quickest way is to press the Esc key. This will take the app out of Split View and put the other app in full screen mode. However, this method won't work for apps that use the Esc key for other actions.

Alternatively, you can exit Split View using the green button. With this method, you can choose what happens to the app window when you exit Split View by hovering over the green button and selecting Move Window to Desktop or Make Window Full Screen . If you don't see the green button, move your cursor to the top edge of the screen.

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If you're done working with one of the apps from the Split View screen, click the X button in the top left corner of the window to close it. When you do this, the remaining app will open in full screen mode.

Finally, you can also exit Split View using Mission Control. To do this, press the Mission Control key (F3) on your keyboard or swipe up with three fingers on your trackpad. Then, hover your cursor over the screen space showing the windows in Split View and click the inward arrow to split them.

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Other ways to split the screen on Mac

While Split View is a great and efficient way to multitask on your Mac, another way to split the screen on your Mac is to use a third-party window manager for macOS.

One such tool is Magnet. With it, you can view up to 4 windows at once on a standard monitor and up to 6 windows when using an ultrawide monitor. It's easy to enable; you choose how you want to view everything on your screen by dragging open windows or using a keyboard shortcut. Magnet isn't free, but it's worth it.

Download Magnet ($4.99)

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If you don't want to spend money on a third-party app, consider using Rectangle instead. Its free option includes all the necessary window management features and supports multiple layouts. It has keyboard shortcuts for different layouts, making it super easy to quickly snap apps. It also offers a number of other useful features that help you multitask efficiently.

Download Rectangle (Free, premium version available)

Split View is the easiest way to view and use two apps side by side on your Mac. Sure, it lacks some features, but not everyone needs more than the basics. For those who do, full-fledged window managers are a better way to go.

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Jessica Tanner

Update 20 December 2024