Working on a single screen can be frustrating when you constantly have to flip back and forth between a web browser and a document. If you want to maximise your productivity and keep your digital workspace organised, learning how to use Split View on a Mac is an essential skill that transforms how you multitask.
Instead of manually dragging and resizing windows to fit side-by-side, macOS includes a built-in feature that automatically snaps two applications perfectly into a seamless, distraction-free full-screen layout.
How to Activate Split View
Before you begin, ensure you have both the applications you wish to use open on your desktop. Note that not all third-party applications support this feature, but all native Apple apps (like Safari, Pages, and Notes) do.
- Hover your mouse cursor over the green full-screen button in the top-left corner of your first application’s window. Do not click it; simply let your cursor rest there for a second.
- A drop-down menu will appear. Select either Tile Window to Left of Screen or Tile Window to Right of Screen.
- The selected window will instantly snap to fill exactly one half of your screen.
- On the other half of your screen, your Mac will display all your other open windows as smaller thumbnails. Click on the second application you want to use.
- The two applications will now sit perfectly side-by-side in full-screen mode.
How to Adjust the Split Layout
Once you are in Split View, you are not locked into a strict 50/50 division. You can easily adjust the workspace to favour one application over the other.
- Look for the thick black vertical line separating the two applications in the centre of your screen.
- Click and hold this black separator, then drag it to the left or right to resize the windows to your liking.
How to Exit Split View
When you have finished your task and want to return your Mac to its normal desktop environment, exiting is just as straightforward.
- Move your mouse pointer to the very top edge of the screen. This will reveal the hidden menu bar and the window controls.
- Click the green button in the top-left corner of either application.
- That specific application will shrink back to its original windowed size on your standard desktop, while the other application will remain in full-screen mode on a separate space.
By mastering how to use Split View on a Mac, you can stop wasting time wrestling with messy, overlapping windows. It allows you to focus entirely on the two tasks at hand, resulting in a significantly more streamlined workflow.
