If you like to multitask or make full use of your screen's real-estate, splitting the screen on your new Mac is an easy thing to do. Your iPad can already be used as an additional display through Sidecar. However, sometimes that can be a hassle. So, instead, you can open up multiple browser windows or apps on your Mac screen by using Split View. This handy offering was introduced with the El Capitan version of macOS several years ago. It certainly is simpler than using Sidecar on macOS Sonoma in some cases.

Why should you split your Mac screen?

When you use Split View, the Menu Bar and the Dock get tucked out of sight. You can then open two windows or apps and push them side by side. This way you do not have to click back and forth between windows anymore. If you're comparing two documents or doing price comparisons on two web pages, Split View will certainly come in handy.

How to enable Split View on a Mac

Let's say you are planning a trip and want to have Apple Maps open on the left of the screen, and Safari open on the right.

1. First, launch Maps and Safari individually.
2. Then, in the Maps app, simply hover over the green circle near the top left-hand corner of the window (without clicking it).
3. When the dropdown menu appears, click Tile Window to Left of Screen.
4. The top Menu Bar and Dock will now jump away, and the window will bounce to the left side of the split Mac screen, taking up half of the space.
5. On the right side, macOS will show you all the other app windows. Tap on Safari, and it'll occupy the right half of the screen.

Now you can use the apps side-by-side, and you can also swipe up with three fingers on the trackpad or hit the Mission Control button on your keyboard to switch between different windows or working spaces. You can alternatively use the above instructions to lock the first app to the right side of the screen — just click "Tile Window to Right of screen" on step 3 in this case.

Changing the window width in Split View

You'll notice in the middle of the screen a black bar with a smaller gray dash in the middle. You can use this to resize one window or the other. This way, you can decide how much space you want that window to take up, it doesn't have to be a fifty-fifty split.

Maybe the map doesn't need to take up half the screen, so you can use your cursor and drag the gray dash to resize the window accordingly. This allows you to customize the split Mac screen as needed.

How to exit Split View on a Mac

When you're done with Split View, there are a couple of ways to close it down and put things back to normal. The easiest is simply to close the windows by clicking on the red circle button on the top of the window (the one with the "X"). Once you close one of the windows, the other window will immediately go back to its original size. If you want to exit Split View without closing either of the apps or windows, just click on the green circle button you used to enter Split View in the first place. This will revert both windows back to their normal sizes and still keep them open too.

Split View requirements

Although it is doubtful that any Mac users are now using anything older than El Capitan, it is worth mentioning that you need at least El Capitan to take advantage of Split View. If splitting the screen is not working, that's the first troubleshooting step. Try upgrading your operating system if it may be out of date.

Assuming you do have at least El Capitan installed on your Mac, it's also worth pointing out that only certain apps are supported in Split View. These (for obvious reasons) tend to be Apple programs, such as Safari, Pages, TextEdit, and so on. If an app you want to use in Split View doesn't work, it's probably best to contact the developer. Ask them if they have any plans to support the Split View function on macOS.

Splitting screens for a more productive workspace

The uses for Mac's Split View feature are potentially limitless. You can compare two items side-by-side while shopping, watch your favorite podcast or Twitch streamer while working, or take down notes while researching. Since the technology is baked into the macOS workspace, it's easy to use. All it takes is the literal press of a button — technically two, but that's just semantics. If you're not using Split View, you're not making the most of what your Mac can offer.