Split Screen on Mac

Running two apps side by side is one of the simplest ways to boost your productivity on a Mac. Whether you are referencing notes while writing, comparing two documents, or watching a tutorial while following along in an app, split screen lets you do it all without constantly switching windows.

What Is Split Screen on Mac?

Split screen — officially called Split View in macOS — divides your display into two halves, each occupied by a full-height application window. The two apps fill the entire screen, hiding the menu bar and Dock to eliminate distractions.

How to Enter Split View

Method 1: Green Button (macOS Catalina and Later)

  1. Open two apps that you want to use side by side
  2. Hover your cursor over the green full-screen button in the top-left corner of the first app
  3. From the dropdown menu, select "Tile Window to Left of Screen" or "Tile Window to Right of Screen"
  4. The other half of the screen will show thumbnails of your other open windows — click the one you want to fill the second half
Tip: Not all apps support Split View. If the green button dropdown only shows "Enter Full Screen," that app cannot be used in Split View. Finder, Safari, Mail, and most first-party apps support it.

Method 2: Mission Control

  1. Enter Mission Control by swiping up with three or four fingers on the trackpad, or press Ctrl + Up Arrow
  2. Drag a window thumbnail to the top of the screen to create a new full-screen space
  3. Then drag a second window on top of the first to combine them into a Split View space

Method 3: macOS Sequoia Drag Tiling

In macOS Sequoia and later, simply drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen. A translucent preview will appear showing where the window will be placed. Release to snap it into position, then repeat with a second window on the opposite side.

Adjusting the Split

  • Resize: Drag the vertical divider between the two windows to give more space to either side
  • Swap sides: Click and drag one app's title bar to the other side
  • Exit Split View: Move your cursor to the top of the screen to reveal the title bar, then click the green button or press Esc

Split Screen Limitations

While Split View is useful, it has some limitations:

  • You can only split the screen into two halves — no thirds or quarters natively
  • Both apps must support full-screen mode
  • You cannot have more than two apps in one Split View space
  • iPad apps on Apple Silicon Macs may not support Split View

Going Beyond Split View

If you need more flexibility — three-way splits, quarter tiling, or custom layouts — a third-party window manager is the answer. Tools like Rectangle, Magnet, and Amethyst let you divide your screen into any arrangement you want.

Read our Best Window Managers for Mac comparison to find the right tool for your workflow.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Split Screen

  • Fn + Ctrl + Left — Snap to left half (macOS Sequoia)
  • Fn + Ctrl + Right — Snap to right half (macOS Sequoia)
  • Ctrl + Up Arrow — Open Mission Control
  • Esc — Exit Split View from either window

For a complete shortcut reference, check out our Keyboard Shortcuts Guide.