Quick Answer
Drag a window’s title bar to the left or right edge of the screen until it snaps into place, then click a second window to fill the other half. Or select a window and press Alt + [ to snap it left, or Alt + ] to snap it right.
How to Split the Screen
Method 1: Keyboard shortcut
Click the window you want on one side, then press Alt + [ for the left half or Alt + ] for the right half. The window instantly resizes to fill exactly half the screen. Repeat with a second window and the opposite shortcut to fill the other side.
Method 2: Drag and drop
Click and hold a window’s title bar, then drag it to the far left or right edge of the screen. A shaded outline shows where it will snap — release to lock it into place. Do the same with another window on the opposite side.
Method 3: Tablet mode
In tablet mode, swipe up from the bottom to see open apps, then drag one app to the left edge and another to the right edge to snap them into a split view. Drag the divider in the middle to adjust how much space each app gets.
Method 4: Resize the split
Once two windows are snapped, hover over the border between them until the cursor changes, then click and drag to adjust the ratio — useful if one app needs more room than the other.
Still Not Working?
Split screen requires each window to support resizing; some Android apps open in a fixed size and won’t snap. If windows freeze or won’t respond while dragging, your Chromebook may be running slow from too many open tabs — close unused ones and try again. If the screen is stuck in an unexpected orientation while trying to split, see our guide on ChromeOS stuck in tablet mode.
FAQ
Can I split the screen into more than two windows?
No, ChromeOS’s native split view supports exactly two windows side by side. For more windows at once, resize and arrange them manually instead.
Does split screen work with Android or Linux apps?
Most Android apps that support resizable windows will snap normally. Some older apps built for phones only open at a fixed size and can’t be split.
How do I get out of split screen?
Click and drag a window’s title bar away from the edge, or click the maximize button on either window to return it to full screen.
