Windows is designed for multitasking. Yes, that means you can open and switch between different apps and windows. But it also means that you can arrange these windows so that they all appear on the screen together.
The trick to this maneuver is to position your open windows so that each takes up some space without obscuring each other.
Windows 10 and 11 both offer a feature called Snap Assist to help you set up multiple windows on the screen and snap each one.
The process is more flexible and versatile in Windows 11, as you can split your screen using specific layouts and areas.
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Let’s see how it goes in both versions.
How to Split Your Screen in Windows
Before we get to Snap Assist in Windows 10, let’s look at a few other ways to organize your open windows.
Launch a few different apps first. Don’t worry about how they are laid out on the screen. One way to organize open windows is to stack them, which places them in columns with one window placed vertically above another. The layout varies depending on the number of open windows and the size of your monitor. Right-click on the taskbar and select the entry for Show stacked windows. All windows are arranged on top of each other.
Then you can display your windows side by side. This is like stacking them, but here the windows are more organized in rows. The layout varies depending on how many apps you have open and the size of your monitor, so you may see little to no difference between the stacked view and the side-by-side view. Right-click on the taskbar and select Show windows side by side. Your open windows appear in rows next to each other.
Show windows side by side. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
Snap Assist is potentially more efficient. With Snap Assist, you can precisely arrange your open windows, so that they each occupy a specific area on the screen. For example, Snap Assist is a useful way to display two windows side-by-side, especially if your screen is cluttered with multiple windows.
First, make sure Snap Assist is enabled. Go to Settings > System > Multitasking. Check that the switch for Snap windows is enabled. Leave all options under the setting checked.
Choose one of the two windows you want to arrange on the screen. To align this to the right, hold it down by the title bar and move it to the right until you see a faint vertical bar in the middle of the screen. Then release your mouse. You can also select the window, then press Win + Right Arrow to align it to the right. You can also snap it to the left by dragging it or selecting it and pressing Win + Left Arrow.
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The other side of the screen will show thumbnails for all of your other open windows. Simply click on the application window you want to display side by side with the first window.
You can break three and four windows or even more, depending on your monitor size and screen resolution. To break three windows, choose the first one you want to arrange. Swipe it to the right or press Win + right arrow. Select the second app and it appears on the left side.
Go back to the first app and press Win + up arrow to align it to the top right. Go back to the second app and press Win + down arrow to align it bottom left, then Win + right arrow to align it bottom right. In the thumbnails on the left, click the app you want to see on the left side.
To now break a fourth window, select the window on the left and press Win + Up Arrow Key. Then select the fourth window thumbnail and it snaps to the bottom left.
Multitasking in Windows 11
Windows 11 is better at multitasking and splitting your screen thanks to visual and convenient improvements in Snap Assist. To confirm that Snap Assist is enabled, go to Settings > System > Multitasking. Make sure the switch is enabled for Snap windows. Leave all options below checked.
Open four different apps in Windows 11. Choose any window and hover your mouse pointer over its Maximize icon. When you hover over the icon, you’ll see previews for four or more different layouts. The number of layouts varies depending on your screen resolution and monitor size. On my 13-inch laptop, for example, I get four layouts.
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Suppose you want to align two of the open windows so that they appear side by side. The first layout will position them side by side, with each window taking the same width. Hover your mouse over this layout, then click on one of the two areas of this layout. Clicking on the left box will position your current window on the left side of the screen, while clicking on the right box will position it on the right side of the screen.
You will now see large thumbnails for the other three windows on the other side of the screen. Click on the window you want to see side by side with the first window.
Next, hover your mouse pointer over the Maximize button for either open window. This time choose the second layout and select the larger area. This gives your current window more width and places it on the left side of the screen. Then click on the thumbnail of the app you want to display on the other side of the screen.
Choose a different layout. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
Next, let’s try to break three windows. Again, hover your mouse pointer over the Maximize button for one of the two displayed windows. Hover over the third layout and select one of the three areas depending on where you want to place the current window.
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The thumbnails of the other three windows appear in one of the two remaining locations. Click on the window you want to see there.
The remaining two thumbnails appear in the third free space. Click the thumbnail of the window you want to see there.
Then you can smash all four open windows. Again, hover over the Maximize icon for any open window. Hover over the fourth layout and click on one of the four areas.
Choose a different layout. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
The other three windows appear in a different location. Click on one of these windows to align it there. The other two windows then appear in a third location. Click on one of them to snap it to that spot.
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The remaining window appears in the fourth place. Click on this window to display it there.
Finally, another way to multitask and split your screen in Windows 10 and 11 is to use the PowerToys tool called Fancy Zones. With this tool, you can create and apply specific types of layouts to display all your open applications and windows.
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