Welcome Challenger: Everything You Need to Know About Split Screen on Mac
Greetings Challenger! We are delighted to provide you with a complete guide on how to split screen on Mac. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, this article will help you easily split and arrange your windows on your Mac without running into issues. Now, let’s get started!
Introduction
A split screen is when you are working with two different applications, and you can have them updated side by side. It’s the perfect way to multitask on one screen without minimizing or switching between applications. The split screen feature on Mac is straightforward and easy to use. There are two ways to split-screen on Mac. One way is to use Mission Control, and the other is to use the full-screen mode.
Before we dive into the different ways of splitting your screen, let’s take a quick look at the different sections that make up the screen on your Mac. There are many sections on a screen that you might be familiar with, such as the menu bar, dock, and status bar. You can move, resize these sections to suit your needs. Additionally, understanding these sections will help you work efficiently and effectively when using split screen.
The Different Sections on a Mac Screen
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Menu Bar | A horizontal bar that runs along the top of the screen that displays the Apple menu, application menu, and system status items. |
| Dock | A bar of icons that resides at the bottom of the screen that grants you quick access to your favorite apps, files, and folders. You can customize this section to your liking. |
| Desktop | The area covered by the wallpaper image that displays files, folders, and icons. |
| Window | This section contains the active window that is currently selected. |
| Status Bar | A horizontal bar that is located at the bottom of the screen that shows you the status of your battery, Wi-Fi, and other system icons. |
How to Split Screen on Mac Using Mission Control
Mission Control allows you to arrange your application windows neatly on a single desktop space. It gives you an overview of all your open windows, desktops, and spaces.
Step 1: Invoke Mission Control
The first thing you need to do is invoke Mission Control using any of the two methods below:
- Swipe up on your trackpad with three or four fingers (depending on your settings).
- Press the Mission Control key or F3 key on your keyboard.
Step 2: Open the First Application to Split
Once Mission Control is open, select the first application window you want to split-screen with by clicking on it.
Step 3: Use the Drag & Drop Method
Click, hold and drag the application window to the 1/2 tiles that appear on the screen to the right or left of the selected window.
Step 4: Add the Second Application to Split
Next, you can add the second application to the vacant slot on your screen either by opening it from the dock or using Mission Control.
Step 5: Resize and Customize Your Screen
You can always adjust the allocation of the screen space for both windows by dragging and dropping the border between them right, left, up or down. Additionally, if you would like to have full access to either of the application windows, click on the green maximize button on the top left of the window to switch between full screen and split screen modes.
How to Split Screen on Mac Using Full-Screen Mode
The full-screen mode takes on the app, removes all distractions, and fills your screen with the app window allowing you a focused view of the work you are doing. This mode is perfect for tasks that require your full attention such as photo and video editing or coding.
Step 1: Open the Application to Full-Screen Mode
Navigate to the upper left of the application window and click the green full-screen button to scale the application window until it covers your entire screen.
Step 2: Add the Second Application to Full-Screen Mode
Next, click and hold down the green full-screen button till a menu appears, and then click and drag the window to the left or right of your screen. You should now see a split-screen view of both applications
Step 3: Resize and Customize Your Screen
You can adjust the percentage of the screen space for both windows by dragging the border until you achieve a desired balance between the two applications. You can also exit the full screen mode by clicking the green exit button or swipe down with three fingers on the trackpad.
FAQs
What are the keyboard shortcuts for split screen on a Mac?
There are certain keyboard shortcuts available for split-screen mode on Mac. They include the following:
| Method | Shortcut Key Combination |
|---|---|
| Mission Control | CTRL + Up Arrow |
| Full Screen | CTRL+CMD+F or Command + F3 |
| Split Screen | Press and hold the green maximize button |
What if I have more than two windows I want to split?
If you need more than two windows to work together, you can create additional desktop spaces and place the windows accordingly. It can be achieved by creating an additional desktop using Mission Control and then dragging a window to it, or swiping with four fingers to move between the spaces available.
Why can’t I resize my split screen?
If you cannot resize your split screen, it is because you have enabled “Displays have separate Spaces” in the System Preferences Mission Control settings. Turn it off, and you’ll be able to resize the split screen by dragging the border.
Conclusion
In this guide, we have covered how to split screen on Mac using two different methods, and we have also looked at the keyboard shortcuts and different sections that make up the screen of your Mac. We encourage you to try out these methods to see which works best for you. With our detailed guide, we hope that you can quickly and easily use the split-screen feature on your Mac. If you have any questions, feel free to explore our FAQs or reach out to our support team for help.
Actionable steps to use the split screen feature:
- Experiment with the split-screen feature on your Mac to find the best fit for your workflow.
- Create additional desktop spaces to manage multiple windows at once.
- Use the keyboard shortcuts to make split screen work even more efficiently.
Closing Statement with Disclaimer
Splitting your screen on your Mac is a great way to multitask, but it’s important to note that you need to focus and monitor your screen time to prevent eye strain and other related problems. Split screen modes could impact your performance and reduce battery life on your device, so it’s always advisable to monitor how you use it. We hope this guide was helpful, and we welcome you to experiment with different window arrangements to find what works best for you!