How to split screen on a Mac
There are three ways to put two apps side by side on a Mac. Here's each one, and which to use when.
Updated
1. Split View (full screen)
Split View puts two apps in their own full-screen space, with the menu bar and Dock hidden. It's good for focusing on two things on a laptop.
- Hover over the green button. Move the pointer over the green button at the top left of the first window.
- Pick a side. Choose "Tile Window to Left of Screen" (or Right) under Full Screen.
- Pick the second window. Click another window on the other side to fill it.
- Resize the split. Drag the divider between the two windows. Press Esc or move the pointer to the top to leave.
2. Window tiling (macOS Sequoia and later)
Tiling keeps your desktop, Dock and other windows where they are:
- Click the first window and press fn ⌃ ←. Click the second and press fn ⌃ →.
- Or press fn ⌃ ⇧ ← to do both at once: the front window goes left, the one behind it goes right.
- Or drag each window to the left or right edge of the screen.
Our guide to tiling windows on a Mac lists every shortcut.
3. A window manager
A window manager gives you more than two halves. With Kumiko, hold ⌃⌥ and press ← or →. Press the same arrow again and the window goes from ½ to ⅔ to ⅓, so you can give the main app more room. Two arrows in a row make a corner.
Kumiko can also split the whole screen at once. ⌃⌥ 2 is Halves (main window left, everything else stacked right), and ⌃⌥ 6 is Columns, up to six side by side on an ultrawide. Or press ⌥ Space and type "put the editor and terminal side by side".
Which one should you use?
| Split View | Tiling | Kumiko | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps the Dock and menu bar | No | Yes | Yes |
| More than two windows | No | Up to four | Up to six |
| Thirds and two-thirds | No | No | Yes |
| Remembers your layout | No | No | Yes |
| Cost | Free | Free | Paid, one time |
Kumiko is €30 once for 2 Macs, and the first 25 launch licences are €9. It works on macOS 14 or later.
Questions
How do I split screen on a Mac without going full screen?
Use window tiling: on macOS 15 and later press fn⌃← on one window and fn⌃→ on the other, or drag them to the left and right edges. A window manager such as Kumiko does the same with ⌃⌥ and the arrows on any recent macOS.
What is the shortcut for split screen on a Mac?
There is no single key for Split View, but fn⌃⇧← tiles the front window on the left and the window behind it on the right, which is split screen without the full-screen space.
Why can I not split screen with some apps?
Some apps do not support full-screen Split View or have a minimum window size. Tiling or a window manager still works with most of them.
Can I split my Mac screen into three?
Not with Split View. Kumiko does thirds with the arrow keys, and its Thirds and Focus centre layouts put three windows side by side in one shortcut.