--- title: "Split Screen on Mac: Native Tiling, Shortcuts & More" description: "Put two windows side by side on a Mac with Split View or macOS window tiling, learn the Fn-Control shortcuts, and see when thirds or an app make sense." url: https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/guides/mac-split-screen lang: en --- # Split screen on a Mac, the built-in way first macOS has two ways to put windows side by side, and you may not need anything else. Here's how each works, how to get thirds, and when a window manager adds something. ## The short answer - **Window tiling (macOS 15 or later):** drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen, or press **Fn-Control-Left Arrow** or **Fn-Control-Right Arrow**. **Fn-Control-Shift-Left Arrow** puts the two front windows side by side. - **Split View:** hold the pointer over the green button at the top left of a window, choose **Full Screen → Left of Screen**, then click a second window. Both fill a full-screen Space of their own. - **Thirds** aren't built in to macOS. Use a custom size in a window manager. ## Split View or tiling | | Split View | Window tiling | | --- | --- | --- | | Where | A new full-screen Space | Your normal desktop | | Windows | Two, side by side | Halves, quarters or fill | | macOS | Earlier versions too | macOS 15 or later | | Menu bar and Dock | Hidden until you point at them | Shown as usual | Choose **Split View** to focus on two apps with nothing else on screen. Choose **tiling** to keep your desktop, the Dock and other windows around. ## Use Split View 1. Hold the pointer over the green button at the top left of a window. 2. Choose **Full Screen → Left of Screen** or **Right of Screen**. 3. On the other side, click the second window you want. Drag the divider between the two windows to resize them; double-click it to go back to the original sizes. To swap sides, drag a window by its title bar to the other side. To leave, hold the pointer over the green button again and choose **Move Window to Desktop**. Not every app supports Split View. To use it on a second display, turn on **Displays have separate Spaces** in **System Settings → Desktop & Dock**. Apple's steps are in [Use apps in Split View on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-apps-in-split-view-mchl4fbe2921/mac). ## Tile windows on your desktop On macOS 15 or later you can tile windows without leaving the desktop: - **Drag** a window to the left or right edge of the screen to fill that half, or to a corner for a quarter. You can also hold **Option** while dragging a window toward an edge. - **Drag** a window to the menu bar to fill the screen. - **Use the menu:** choose **Window → Move & Resize**, then a layout under **Halves** or **Quarters**, or **Fill** or **Center**. | Shortcut | What it does | | --- | --- | | Fn-Control-Left Arrow or Right Arrow | Left or right half | | Fn-Control-Up Arrow or Down Arrow | Top or bottom half | | Fn-Control-Shift-Left Arrow | Two windows, left and right | | Fn-Control-F | Fill the screen | | Fn-Control-R | Return to the previous size | On newer keyboards, Fn is the key with the globe. The full list is in Apple's [window tiling icons and keyboard shortcuts](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mac-window-tiling-icons-keyboard-shortcuts-mchl9674d0b0/mac). To change how tiling behaves, open **System Settings → Desktop & Dock** and look under **Windows**: **Drag windows to screen edges to tile**, **Drag windows to menu bar to fill screen**, **Hold ⌥ key while dragging windows to tile** and **Tiled windows have margins**. Apple explains them in [Change window tiling settings](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-window-tiling-settings-on-mac-mchl118087b0/mac). ## Stage Manager, briefly Stage Manager isn't split screen. It keeps the app you're using in the middle and your recent apps in a strip at the side. You can drag apps into the middle to group them, then arrange those windows yourself. Turn it on in **Control Center**. See [Organize your Mac desktop with Stage Manager](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-stage-manager-mchl534ba392/mac). ## Split the screen into thirds macOS tiling has halves and quarters, but no thirds. On a wide monitor, thirds are often more useful. Some window managers include them as ready-made commands: Magnet and the free Rectangle both document thirds, as listed on their websites on 3 November 2026. In Universal Display Magnet, a third is a custom size you draw once. It isn't a built-in command: 1. Open **Window Snapping** and click **+** to add a command with your own size and position. 2. Under **Intended window size and position**, set **Columns: 3** and **Rows: 1**. 3. Drag across one cell for a third, or two cells for two thirds. 4. Name the command, record a **Keyboard shortcut**, and turn on **Show in the menu bar menu** if you want it there. Repeat for each third you use. ## When an app is worth it The built-in tools are enough if you work with a few windows on one screen and have macOS 15 or later. A window manager adds value when you want: - **Sizes macOS doesn't have,** such as thirds or a centered two thirds. - **One shortcut to send a window to the next display.** - **Tiling on macOS 14,** which has no built-in tiling. - **Your whole layout back** after you reconnect a monitor, not just one window at a time. Universal Display Magnet's [window snapping](https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/features/window-snapping) covers halves, quarters, maximize, center, restore and the next or previous display, on Magnet's default shortcuts (⌃⌥ with the arrow keys, for example). You can drag a window to an edge, draw your own sizes, and see a warning when another app already uses a shortcut. It is independent software, not made by Magnet's developer. It also arranges your displays and saves workspaces, for $9.99 as a one-time purchase. Snapping pauses while its optional Scrolling Windows is on. If snapping is all you need, Magnet and Rectangle are good choices. Compare them with [Universal Display Magnet vs Magnet](https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/compare/magnet) and [Universal Display Magnet vs Rectangle](https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/compare/rectangle). Every default shortcut is on the [shortcuts page](https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/shortcuts). ## Questions, answered ### How do I put two windows side by side on a Mac? On macOS 15 or later, press **Fn-Control-Shift-Left Arrow** to tile the two front windows, or drag each window to the left or right edge of the screen. On any recent version, Split View does it in full screen from the green button. ### Can a Mac split the screen into thirds? Not with the built-in tools, which offer halves and quarters. A window manager can add thirds; in Universal Display Magnet you draw them as custom sizes. ### Why don't I see the tiling options? Window tiling needs macOS 15 or later. If you have it, check the settings under **System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Windows**. ### Can I use Split View on my second monitor? Yes, with **Displays have separate Spaces** turned on in **System Settings → Desktop & Dock**. ### Do I need a window manager for split screen? No. For two windows side by side, Split View and macOS tiling are enough. An app helps with thirds, custom sizes, moving windows between displays and restoring whole layouts. ## Read next - [Window snapping](https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/features/window-snapping) - [Universal Display Magnet vs Magnet](https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/compare/magnet) - [Universal Display Magnet vs Rectangle](https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/compare/rectangle) - [Mac window and workspace shortcuts](https://universaldisplaymagnet.app/shortcuts) **Buy for $9.99:** https://buy.polar.sh/polar_cl_Eun4k8w0lqOhFoU3xI4NvwdweeUAlVw0lkte145VZ95 --- Universal Display Magnet is independent software by [Clever Mechanisms](https://clevermechanisms.dev). It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Apple Inc. Apple, Mac, macOS, Mac Studio, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, Safari and Finder are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. Email support: support@clevermechanisms.dev