What’s the secret to increasing productivity on a Mac? It all depends on how well you can automate tasks and multitask using time-saving techniques. Moving from one app to another as quickly as possible will help you complete your tasks more quickly. And for that reason, especially when using multiple apps at once, we advise you to use Mac’s Split View feature. So let’s check out how to split screens on a Mac or MacBook without wasting any more time.
How to Use Split Screen Feature on Mac
So what conditions must be met in order to use Split View on a Mac? The process to use split screen is different in macOS Catalina and higher, including the most recent macOS Monterey, even though it supports OS X El Capitan or later. Check out all the different ways the split screen function on macOS devices can be used.
Use Split View on Mac Running macOS Catalina or Later
- To get started, launch an app on your Mac. After that, leave the window of the first app open and launch another app that you want to use side by side on your Mac. For demonstration, I m going to use the Apple Shortcuts and Apple Maps app.
2. Next, look at the green (full-screen) and red (close) buttons located in the top left corner of the window. To view the Split Screen options on your Mac, click and hold the green button or move your mouse pointer over it.
Please take note that if the green button is greyed out, it means that the specific Mac app does not support Split View.
3. To move the app window to the left or right, select theTile Window to Left of Screen or Tile Window to Right of Screen option.
4. Next, choose the additional app you want to use in addition to the one you just moved to the right or left. To make choosing an app and splitting the screen a bit easier, macOS will automatically display the other app windows.
5. After choosing the second app, the Mac’s split screen feature will be successfully enabled. You may control how much screen space each app takes up on your device by holding down on the black dividing line and dragging it to the left or right.
Note:If you pick Tile Window to Left/Right of Screen and then receive the warning “No available apps,” it means the window for the second programme you wish to utilise in Split View is not open.
Enter Split View on Mac Running Older macOS Versions
Just as simple is the process for turning on Split View in macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, macOS Sierra, and OS X El Capitan. But let’s look at how it works since it differs significantly on earlier macOS versions:
- To get started, open the two apps you want to use side by side on your macOS device.
2. Next, click and hold the green full-screen button located in the window’s upper left corner. You can move the window to the left or right side of your Mac screen as the window shrinks as you continue to hold down the full-screen button.
3. Then, let go of the button. After that, you can use both windows simultaneously simply clicking on an app window on the other side of the screen. That’s it; you can now effectively take use of the productivity benefits of split-screen mode.
Enable Split View on Mac Using Mission Control
On a Mac, using Mission Control to activate Split View seems incredibly seamless. However, it requires more steps than the earlier methods. So let’s look at how it functions:
- First, open any app window in full-screen view on your macOS device. For this demo, I m going to open Google Chrome.
2. Next, open Mission Control by using three or four fingers to swipe up on your Mac. Alternatively, you can launch Mission Control on your Mac by double-tapping with two fingers on the Magic Mouse or by pressing Control and the Up arrow at the same time.
3. Drag an app window over the app thumbnail that is now displayed in full-screen mode.
4. And presto! Both applications will immediately switch to Split View on your Mac. To use the two apps simultaneously, click the Split View thumbnail at this time.
Access Other Apps in Split View on Mac
Multitasking and mission control go hand in hand. On a Mac, you can open additional apps in split-screen mode using Mission Control. Here’s how to go about it:
- First, activate Mission Control. Simply swipe up with three/ four fingers on the trackpad or double-tap with two fingers on Magic Mouse.
2. All that’s left to do is click on the thumbnail of the app you wish to use to transition between Split View and other windows. You can access the desired app from the Dock or Launchpad if none is already running in the background.
To go to other open programmes, you may also perform a cool multi-touch gesture like swiping left/right with four fingers on your trackpad.
Can t Split Screen on a Mac? Here is the Fix!
Make sure this functionality is turned on if you are unable to use Split View on your Mac. The steps are below. It’s buried deep in the Mission Control settings.
1. Go to the Apple menu, which is located in the upper-left corner of the screen. Then select the box next to “Displays have different Spaces” under System Preferences -> Mission Control.
2. In addition, confirm that the application you intend to utilise supports Split View. When an app’s full-screen button is greyed out, it is incompatible.
Tips to Get the Most Out of Split View on Mac
You can change the window width and window location to work comfortably when using apps in split screen mode on a Mac, depending on your needs.
- Adjust window width: Drag the vertical back divider line between the app windows to the left and right.
- Swap window positions: Simply hold and drag a window to the other side.
- Access Dock in Split View: Move the cursor to the bottom of the window to access the Dock.
- Show the menu bar: Move the pointer to the top of the screen.
How to Exit Split View on Mac
You wish to end your use of Split View on Mac after utilising two apps simultaneously, but how do you achieve that? It is actually quite easy and only needs one click.
- Move the pointer to the top of the screen to access window buttons.
2. To quit Split Screen mode on a Mac, click the green (full-screen) button in either window.
Best Third-Party Split Screen Apps for Mac
On macOS, there are a lot of well-designed third-party split-screen apps available if you want additional customization and capability. Check out these two significant possibilities in case you’re not satisfied with the built-in split-screen feature or want to experiment with more potent alternatives.
1. Magnet
For Mac and MacBook power users, Magnet is one of the split-screen programmes with the greatest features. It allows snapping to the left, right, top, and bottom halves to make it easier for you to multitask with several apps. You may resize a window to fill half the screen on a Mac by simply dragging it to the edge of the display. Compared to the official technique, which involves holding down the full-screen button while selecting the option to enable Split View, this feels more fluid.
Additionally, Magnet lets you group your windows into sixths, which is useful on an ultra-wide panel. Notably, it provides a number of totally programmable keyboard shortcuts for quick app switching in split screen mode on a Mac. Regarding compatibility, OS X Yosemite or later is supported by Magnet. Although it is a touch pricey at $8, power users will find the top-notch multitasking features to be well worth the cost.
Magnet instal: $7.99
2. Moom
For Mac devices, Moom is a comprehensive split screen window manager. It provides five pre-set size/location options, giving you the freedom you need to move and zoom windows on your Mac. You can also create your own custom controls to manage windows according to your workflow.
The ability to tie custom controls together, which makes window management on macOS considerably simpler, especially when using many apps at once, has captured my eye. To duplicate a particular window arrangement, Moom also lets you save window layouts. It automatically invokes saved window layouts to expedite your process so that you can get to work right away. And since you always have a keyboard mode available, you can snap windows more quickly without a mouse.
Moom (needs macOS 10.9 or later; costs $10) is similarly expensive to Magnet. But it will meet your needs if you want a full-featured window manager for your Mac.
Install:$9.99
Use Two Mac Apps Side By Side in Split Screen Mode
Consequently, that is how Split View functions on Mac and MacBook. Once you’ve mastered this key productivity feature, you may use split-screen apps to maximise its use and accelerate your work. Other productivity-focused features in macOS include Spotlight Search, Apple Shortcuts, Automation, Quick Notes for Mac, and the incredibly useful Tab Groups feature in Safari on macOS Monterey. Please share your ideas and questions about Split View in the comments section below.