Windows 11 introduced Snap Layouts, a feature designed to make split-screen multitasking incredibly simple and intuitive. Instead of manually resizing and dragging windows to fit your screen, Snap Layouts allows you to arrange multiple applications into perfectly proportioned grids with just a few clicks. Here are the best ways to use it.
Method 1: Using the Mouse (The Easiest Way)
The most straightforward way to use Snap Layouts is right from a window’s title bar:
- Move your mouse cursor and hover over the Maximize/Restore button (the square icon) located in the top-right corner of any active window.
- A pop-up menu will appear displaying various grid layouts (like side-by-side, a three-way split, or a four-quadrant grid). The available layouts depend on the size of your monitor.
- Click the specific zone in the layout where you want to place your current window.
- Once the first window is snapped into place, Windows will activate “Snap Assist.” The remaining empty zones will display thumbnails of your other open apps. Click a thumbnail to snap that app into the next section.
Method 2: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
If you prefer keeping your hands on the keyboard, Windows 11 offers quick shortcuts for window snapping:
- Trigger the Layout Menu: Press Windows Key + Z to instantly open the Snap Layouts menu on your active window. You can then use your arrow keys and the Enter key, or number keys, to select a position.
- Quick Snap to Sides: Press Windows Key + Left Arrow or Right Arrow to immediately snap the active window to either side of your screen.
- Move Snapped Windows: After snapping a window, you can continue to hold the Windows Key and press the arrow keys to move it between different corners or sides of the screen.
Method 3: Drag and Drop
You can still use the traditional drag-and-drop method to snap windows:
- To the Side: Click and hold a window’s title bar, then drag it entirely to the left or right edge of your screen until you see a transparent overlay appear. Release the mouse button to snap it.
- To a Corner: Drag a window into one of the four corners of your screen to snap it into a perfect quarter of the display.
- Maximize Vertically: Drag a window straight to the top edge of your screen to expand it to the full height of the display without maximizing it entirely.
Pro-Tip: Snap Groups
Once you have arranged multiple windows together, Windows 11 treats them as a single entity called a Snap Group. If you minimize the windows or open a different app over them, you don’t need to rebuild the layout. Simply hover your mouse over the taskbar icon of any app that is part of the group. You will see a thumbnail for the individual app and another thumbnail for the entire Snap Group. Click the group thumbnail to restore all the windows in their exact layout with one click.