Microsoft Edge includes a built-in split screen feature that lets you view two web pages side by side within a single browser window. Instead of opening two separate windows and manually resizing them, or relying on the operating system’s window snapping, Edge’s split screen divides a single tab into two independent browsing panes, each with its own URL bar and navigation controls.
This is particularly useful for comparing information, referencing a document while filling in a form, watching a video while reading related content, or any workflow where you need two pages visible simultaneously.
How to Enable Split Screen in Microsoft Edge
Split screen is built into Microsoft Edge and does not require any extensions or flags on recent versions. If the feature is not visible, ensure your Edge browser is updated to the latest version.
There are several ways to activate split screen:
Method 1: Using the Keyboard Shortcut
Press Ctrl + Shift + 2 to split the current tab into two panes. The left pane retains the current page, and the right pane opens as a blank page or new tab page where you can navigate to any URL.
Method 2: Using the Split Screen Button
- Look for the Split screen button in the Edge toolbar. It appears as two overlapping rectangles (similar to a window split icon).
- Click it to split the current tab into two panes.
If the button is not visible in your toolbar, right-click the toolbar, select Customise toolbar, and add the split screen button.
Method 3: Right-Click a Link
- Right-click any link on a webpage.
- Select Open link in split window.
The current page stays in the left pane, and the linked page opens in the right pane. This is the most natural way to split — you see something you want to reference and open it alongside the original page without losing your place.
Navigating in Split Screen Mode
Each pane in split screen mode operates as an independent browser tab:
- Independent navigation: Each pane has its own address bar (visible when you click within the pane). You can navigate to completely different websites in each pane.
- Independent scrolling: Scrolling in one pane does not affect the other. You can read a long article in one pane while keeping a reference page stationary in the other.
- Back and forward buttons: Each pane maintains its own navigation history. Clicking back or forward in one pane does not affect the other.
- Focus indicator: The active pane has a subtle border highlight indicating which pane will receive keyboard input and scrolling.
Resizing the Split
By default, Edge splits the window into two equal halves. To adjust the proportion:
- Hover your cursor over the vertical divider between the two panes. The cursor changes to a resize handle.
- Click and drag the divider left or right to make one pane wider and the other narrower.
This is useful when one page needs more horizontal space — for example, giving a spreadsheet or wide document 70% of the width while keeping a narrow reference page in the remaining 30%.
Linking and Unlinking Panes
Edge offers a link panes option that synchronises navigation between the two panes:
- Linked panes: When you click a link in one pane, the other pane navigates to the linked page. This is useful for side-by-side comparison workflows where one pane acts as a navigation menu and the other displays the selected content.
- Unlinked panes: (default) Each pane navigates independently. Clicking a link in one pane opens it within that same pane.
To toggle linking, look for the link icon near the divider between the panes.
Practical Use Cases
Research and Note-Taking
Open a research article in the left pane and a Google Docs or Notion document in the right pane. Read the source material on one side while writing notes on the other, without switching between tabs.
Shopping and Price Comparison
Open the same product on two different retailer websites to compare prices, specifications, reviews and shipping options side by side.
Coding and Documentation
Open API documentation in one pane and a web-based code editor (like GitHub or CodeSandbox) in the other. Reference the documentation without losing your place in the code.
Video and Reading
Play a YouTube tutorial in one pane while reading the related documentation or following along with written instructions in the other pane.
Email and Calendar
Open Outlook Web in one pane and your calendar in the other. Read an email about a meeting while checking your availability, all within a single browser tab.
Closing Split Screen Mode
To exit split screen mode:
- Click the split screen button in the toolbar again to close the split and return to a single-pane view.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + 2 again to toggle off the split.
- Hover over the top of either pane and click the X button that appears to close that specific pane, returning to a single-pane view with the remaining page.
Split Screen vs Opening Two Windows
| Feature | Edge Split Screen | Two Separate Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Number of taskbar entries | One (single window) | Two (two windows) |
| Alt + Tab switching | Both pages in one entry | Separate entries for each window |
| Shared browser session | Yes — same profile and cookies | Yes (if same profile) |
| Resizing | Internal divider — no OS window management needed | Requires OS snapping or manual resizing |
| Linked navigation | Available | Not available |
| Opens from a right-click | Yes | Requires “Open in new window” |
Edge’s split screen is a cleaner, more integrated approach when both pages are part of the same task. Using two separate windows is better when the two browsing sessions are genuinely independent.
Split screen in Microsoft Edge is a simple but powerful feature for anyone who routinely needs two pages visible at the same time. By keeping both panes within a single tab, it reduces desktop clutter and makes side-by-side browsing faster than any OS-level window management alternative.