How to Split Screen in Windows 10

To split the screen in Windows 10, drag a window by its title bar to the left or right edge of the screen until an outline appears, then let go. Windows shows your other open windows on the empty side. Select one to fill it.

With the keyboard, press Windows key + Left arrow or Windows key + Right arrow.

Applies to: Windows 10 on any laptop or desktop, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 10, 2026.

Split the screen with the mouse

1. Drag a window by its title bar to the left or right edge of the screen.
2. When a see-through outline fills that half, let go.
3. Snap Assist shows your other open windows on the empty half. Select the one you want there.

To resize both windows at once, drag the line between them.

Split the screen with the keyboard

1. Select the window you want to move.
2. Press Windows key + Left arrow to snap it to the left half, or Windows key + Right arrow for the right half.
3. Pick a window from Snap Assist for the other half, or use the arrow keys and Enter.

Split the screen into four

1. Drag a window to a corner of the screen until the outline fills that quarter. Or snap it left or right, then press Windows key + Up arrow or Windows key + Down arrow.
2. Do the same for up to four windows, one in each corner.

Other Windows key shortcuts that help: Windows key + Up arrow maximizes the window, Windows key + Down arrow restores or minimizes it, and Windows key + Shift + Up arrow stretches it to the full height of the screen without changing its width.

Split screen on two monitors

Each monitor has its own left and right halves. Drag a window to the edge of either screen, or press Windows key + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow to move a window to the other monitor first. See how to set up dual monitors in Windows 10.

If Snap doesn’t work

1. Select Start > Settings > System > Multitasking.
2. Turn on Snap windows, and the options under it, such as When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it.

• The window won’t resize: some apps have a minimum width and can’t fill half the screen.
• Tablet mode is on: apps open full screen. Turn tablet mode off in the Action Center.
• A game or video is full screen: press Esc or F11 first.

Under Snap windows in Multitasking settings, three checkboxes change how Snap behaves. Clear any you find annoying:

• When I snap a window, automatically size it to fill available space.
• When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it. Clear this if you don’t want Snap Assist offering the other windows.
• When I resize a snapped window, simultaneously resize any adjacent snapped window.

Change the size of each side

Snapped windows don’t have to be 50/50. Point at the line between the two windows until the pointer becomes a double arrow, then drag left or right. Both windows resize together, so you can give a document two-thirds of the screen and keep a chat app in the rest.

Split the screen into three equal columns

Snap can’t make three side-by-side columns of the same width. On a wide monitor, Microsoft’s free PowerToys app can: its FancyZones tool works on Windows 10 too.

1. Install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or Microsoft’s GitHub page.
2. Open PowerToys, select FancyZones, and make sure it’s turned on.
3. Press Windows key + Shift + ` (the key above Tab) to open the layout editor, choose Columns, and set it to three zones.
4. Hold Shift while you drag a window, and drop it on a highlighted zone.

Use virtual desktops when one screen isn’t enough

If you’re squeezing too many windows onto one screen, put some on a second virtual desktop instead. Each desktop has its own set of open windows, and you can split the screen differently on each one.

• Windows + Ctrl + D creates a new desktop.
• Windows + Ctrl + Left arrow or Right arrow switches between desktops.
• Windows + Tab shows all your desktops, and you can drag a window from one to another.
• Windows + Ctrl + F4 closes the current desktop. Its windows move to the next one, so nothing closes.

Frequently asked questions

Is split screen the same on Dell, HP, and Lenovo laptops?

Yes. Snap is part of Windows 10, so it works the same on any brand.

Can I split the screen into three?

Yes. Snap one window to a full half, then two windows into the corners on the other side.

How do I undo split screen?

Drag the window away from the edge, or press Windows key + Up arrow to maximize it.

Can I keep one window on top of the others?

Windows 10 doesn’t have a built-in option. Microsoft’s free PowerToys app adds Always On Top: once it’s installed, select a window and press Windows + Ctrl + T to pin it above everything else.

To keep one window above the others instead of side by side, see how to keep a window on top in Windows 10.

To move between windows without snapping them, see how to toggle between windows in Windows 10.

To capture both windows in one picture, see how to take a screenshot on Windows 10. Microsoft’s guide is Snap your windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

For more ways to work with several apps at once, see how to multitask on Windows 10.

On Windows 11, see what replaced Cascade windows.