# How to split a screen in Windows 11 Usually, displaying a single program on a screen in full size suffices. But what if you need to switch back and forth between two or more applications? In that case, you can use the **Windows 11 split-screen function** to split the screen. We'll show you how to use the feature via mouse click, Snap Assist or using keyboard shortcuts. ## Windows 11: how to split the screen via mouse click Displaying **multiple windows at the same time** can be useful. Suppose you want to view a Word document at the same time as a web browser. You could **align** the two applications on the screen **side by side**, but it’s much easier to **split the screen into four equal sections**. Splitting your Windows 11 screen is easily done using your mouse. Just follow the steps below. ### Step 1: Align the window of the active application First, align the active window so that it forms the basis for either the two-split or the four-split screen view. For this purpose, click the left mouse button **in the title bar of the active program and click the button**. To split the screen into two sections, simply drag the window to the **right or left edge** of the screen until you get a corresponding preview for the split screen with a gray background. Release the left mouse button. [![Image: Windows 11: split screen (two windows)](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/2/csm_win11_splitscreen01_en_056fc021d6.webp "Windows 11: split screen (two windows)")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/win11_splitscreen01_en.png) Windows 11: split screen (two windows) If you want to divide your screen into four sections, drag the window of the active application to any corner of the screen. A suitable preview with a gray background will launch: [![Image: Windows 11: split screen (four windows)](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/e/csm_win11_splitscreen02_en_2000a47975.webp "Windows 11: split screen (four windows)")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/win11_splitscreen02_en.png) Windows 11: split screen (four windows) --- ### Tip Want to create your own videos and pictures from Word, Firefox, etc.? Read our guide on how to create [screen recordings in Windows 11](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/configuration/screen-capture-windows-11/) conveniently and without additional software. --- ### Step 2: Add windows for splitting the screen in Windows 11 Once you assigned the active window to the left or right side of the screen, Windows 11 automatically presents a **thumbnail preview of all other open applications or windows**. By left-clicking on the preview of an image, you can rearrange them in second, third, or fourth position. [![Image: Windows 11 split screen: preview](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/8/e/csm_win11_splitscreen03_en_3a09edd65e.webp "Windows 11 split screen: preview")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/win11_splitscreen03_en.png) Windows 11 split screen: preview Once you’ve made a selection, you can work in both applications without having to switch back and forth across the taskbar. [![Image: Windows 11: Word and Firefox in split-screen mode](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/0/csm_win11_splitscreen04_en_84e1eb86d0.webp "Windows 11: Word and Firefox in split-screen mode")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/win11_splitscreen04_en.png) Windows 11: Word and Firefox in split-screen mode --- ### Tip Using an Apple device instead of Windows? [Splitting your screen on a Mac](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/configuration/how-to-split-your-screen-on-mac/) is just as simple. --- ## Windows 11: split the screen using a key combination When using a mouse to split a screen in Windows 11, dragging the active window to the desired location to **trigger the split-screen function** can be a bit tedious. For greater convenience use keyboard shortcuts instead. ### Step 1: Align the window of the active application First position the window of the active application in the desired position. The table summarizes the **relevant shortcuts**, all of which are based on a combination of the [Windows key](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/windows-button/) and arrow keys:
Position of active window Key combination
left half of screen Windows key + left arrow
right half of screen Windows key + right arrow
upper left corner Windows key + left arrow, then Windows key + up arrow
lower left corner Windows key + left arrow, then Windows key + down arrow
upper right corner Windows key + right arrow, then Windows key + up arrow
lower right corner Windows key + right arrow, then Windows key + down arrow
### Step 2: Add windows Once you’ve set the initial position of the window of your active application, the images of available programs for splitting are previewed. Make a selection using the keyboard **arrow keys**. The selected window will be **framed with a black border** – press **Enter** to move it to second, third, or fourth position on the screen. [![Image: Windows 11 split screen: preview with colored window border](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/e/csm_win11_splitscreen05_en_174ff18e13.webp "Windows 11 split screen: preview with colored window border")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/win11_splitscreen05_en.png) Windows 11 split screen: preview with colored window border ## Split screen in Windows 11 with Snap Assist **Snap Assist** is a third option in Windows 11 to split the screen. The feature is not available for [screen-splitting in Windows 10](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/configuration/windows-10-split-screen/ "Windows 10 split screen"). Once activated, you can **choose from six different split-screen variants** activated in a single click. To split the Windows 11 screen using Snap Assist, move the mouse pointer across the “**Maximize/Minimize**” icon in the title bar of the active window. The system then automatically displays the available layouts for screen splitting. Simply **left-click** on your selection and choose the second, third, or fourth window in the usual manner. [![Image: Windows 11: split screen using Snap Assist](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/3/csm_win11_splitscreen06_en_6045657f87.webp "Windows 11: split screen using Snap Assist")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/win11_splitscreen06_en.png) Windows 11: split screen using Snap Assist In case Windows 11 doesn’t display the Split Screen layout menu when you hover over the window’s maximization/minimization icon, **Snap Assist is likely disabled**. Simply enable the feature from the system settings: 1. Launch the Settings from the Start menu or using the key combination **\[Windows\] + \[i\].** 2. Select the “**Multitasking**” menu item in the “System” section. 3. Expand the “**Snap windows**” menu. 4. Activate the option “**Show snap layouts when I hover over a window’s maximize button**”. 5. You can enable the “**Snap windows**” options by moving the slider to “On”. [![Image: Windows 11: Snap Assist in “Multitasking” menu](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/3/4/csm_win11_splitscreen07_en_d149f45161.webp "Windows 11: Snap Assist in “Multitasking” menu")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/win11_splitscreen07_en.png) Windows 11: Snap Assist in “Multitasking” menu This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/configuration/split-screen-windows-11/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/configuration/split-screen-windows-11/) for AI/LLM consumption.