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Split Screen With Keyboard Shortcuts
The fastest way to snap windows side by side:
- Click on the window you want on the left side.
- Press Alt + [ (left bracket) to snap it to the left half of the screen.
- Click on the second window.
- Press Alt + ] (right bracket) to snap it to the right half.
Both windows now fill exactly half the screen each. You can work in both simultaneously – take notes in Google Docs on one side while reading a webpage on the other, or compare two documents side by side.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt + [ | Snap window to left half |
| Alt + ] | Snap window to right half |
| Alt + = | Maximize window (full screen) |
| Alt + – (minus) | Minimize window |
Split Screen by Dragging
- Click and hold the title bar of a window.
- Drag it to the left or right edge of the screen.
- A semi-transparent outline appears showing where the window will snap.
- Release the mouse button. The window fills that half of the screen.
- Repeat with a second window, dragging it to the opposite edge.
This works the same way as dragging windows in Windows 10/11. The preview outline helps you see exactly where the window will end up before you release.
Split Screen From Overview Mode
- Press the Show windows key (the rectangle with two lines, located above the 6 key) or swipe up with three fingers on the touchpad to enter Overview mode.
- All open windows appear as thumbnails.
- Drag a window thumbnail to the left or right side of the screen.
- The remaining open windows appear on the other side. Click one to fill the other half.
Overview mode is especially useful when you have many windows open and want to pick which two to display side by side.
Resize Split Screen Windows
After snapping two windows side by side, you can adjust how much space each one gets.
- Hover your cursor over the border between the two windows. The cursor changes to a resize arrow.
- Click and drag the border left or right to give one window more space.
The split doesn’t have to be 50/50. You can give 70% to a document you’re working on and 30% to a reference webpage. The windows remember their sizes until you un-snap them.
Split Screen With a Touchscreen
On Chromebooks with touchscreens:
- Long-press (tap and hold) the maximize button in a window’s title bar (the square icon between minimize and close).
- An arrow appears on each side. Drag toward the left or right arrow to snap the window to that half.
- Repeat with another window for the other half.
You can also use the three-finger swipe up gesture to enter Overview mode, then drag window thumbnails with your finger to split the screen.
Split Screen With Android Apps
Android apps installed from the Google Play Store work with Chrome OS split screen. Snap them the same way as browser windows – drag to an edge or use Alt + [ / Alt + ].
Some Android apps don’t resize well because they were designed for phone screens. If an Android app looks stretched or doesn’t display properly in split screen, try using the web version of that service in Chrome instead.
Exit Split Screen
To return a window to normal size, double-click its title bar, press Alt + = to maximize it, or drag it away from the screen edge. Either window can be maximized independently – the other stays snapped in its half.
Troubleshooting
Window won’t snap to the edge. Make sure you’re dragging the window by its title bar (the very top of the window). Dragging from other parts of the window moves it without snapping. If the snap preview doesn’t appear, try dragging more firmly against the screen edge. Some full-screen apps need to be windowed first (press Alt + = to toggle between full screen and windowed mode) before they can be snapped.
Split screen looks cramped on a small screen. Chromebooks with 11-inch screens make split screen tight for some tasks. Try using the resize handle between windows to give more space to whichever app needs it. For a larger effective workspace, connect an external monitor – Chrome OS supports extended desktop across multiple displays.
Alt + [ or Alt + ] not working. Make sure the Chrome browser window or app window is active (click on it first). These shortcuts don’t work on the Chrome OS login screen or in certain full-screen modes. If they still don’t work, check Settings, then “Keyboard,” to make sure the bracket keys are mapped correctly.
Touchpad gestures not working. The three-finger swipe up for Overview mode needs to be enabled. Go to Settings, then “Touchpad,” and make sure “Enable touchpad” and gesture settings are turned on. The three-finger gesture opens Overview; from there you can drag windows to split.
Can I have more than two windows on screen?
Chrome OS split screen is limited to two windows side by side. You can’t natively tile three or four windows on a single Chromebook screen. For more windows, use virtual desks: press Search + Shift + = to create a new desk, then split two different windows on each desk. Switch between desks with Search + ] and Search + [.
Does split screen work in tablet mode?
Yes. On convertible Chromebooks in tablet mode, swipe up from the bottom to see your recent apps, then drag an app to the left or right side of the screen. Tap another app to fill the other half. The experience is similar to split screen on an iPad or Android tablet.
Can I split screen with browser tabs?
Not directly – you can’t snap two tabs from the same Chrome window side by side. First drag one tab out of the window to create a separate window (click and drag the tab downward), then snap each window to one side. Each Chrome window can have its own set of tabs.
See also: How to Copy and Paste on a Chromebook, How to Rotate Screen on Chromebook
Sources
Google – Split Screen on Chromebook | Google – Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts
