How to Split Screen on a Chromebook
Chromebooks have been on top of their window management game. From the overview feature to virtual desks and easy window snapping, Chrome OS is designed to help you maximize your productivity with more than one window at a time.
Out of all the great functions, the split-screen feature is something you’d want to fully master if you want to multitask for added convenience and increased efficiency. A split-screen setup will enable you to get more work done on your Chromebook, saving you plenty of time that you otherwise would have spent going back and forth between windows and apps.
Lucky for you, we have explained how to split screen on a Chromebook in this article.
How to Split Screen on a Chromebook in Desktop Mode
Setting up the split-screen mode on a Chromebook in desktop mode is super easy. When done right, the device will window resizing task on auto-pilot for you.
There are a couple of uncomplicated ways to split screen on a Chromebook. They don’t require any extensions or downloads.
Let’s find out how to do it!
Method 1: Use a Keyboard Shortcut
You can go into the split-screen mode using an easy-to-remember keyboard shortcut whenever you have a tab open on Google Chrome.
Step 1
Press Alt + [ or ].
The square brackets represent the direction you want the opened window to go in. [ will move it to the left side, while ] will take it to the right.
The best thing about Chromebook’s split-screen mode is that it keeps your window at your desired side nicely while automatically resizing the content within.
Step 2
The next step is to click on another app on your device. It will automatically split and show up on the right side of the display. The choice of the app is yours!
That’s it!
This simple command will flawlessly split your screen on a Chromebook, making it easier for you to multitask and get done with your work faster.
Method 2: Use the Maximize/Restore Button
In addition to changing the size of the window, this button can help you position apps into a split-screen setup on a Chromebook.
Follow the steps below.
Step 1
Open the first app’s window and tap and hold the maximize/restore button.
Step 2
You’ll see arrows on the left and right sides of the maximize/restore button. While holding the icon, move the cursor to the right-facing arrow. This will move the app to the right half of the screen. If you want it to be on the left side, you can simply move the cursor to the left-facing arrow.
Step 3
Open the second app and repeat these steps to dock it to the vacant side of the screen.
Method 3: Try the Drag Technique
This method is ideal for scenarios that require you to open two Chrome tabs side by side. Needless to say, it provides optimal convenience for users looking to tick off several tasks in one go.
The drag technique involves the following steps.
Step 1
Open two different tabs on Google Chrome.
Step 2
Double tap on the window to be able to move it freely across the screen.
Step 3
Drag the window to the far left on the screen until a white box appears. Release the window.
Step 4
Now, you’ll have a lot of space on the right side. You need to drag the second tab opened on the browser to the far right and wait for it to adjust perfectly on the screen.
Good job!
You’ve successfully opened two different tabs side by side on your screen.
Here’s a quick video tutorial to help you understand this method more clearly.
Step 4
If you want to close one of the tabs and replace it with a new one, you can simply drag the opened tab alongside the first one to go back to the single-window mode. You can then open the second tab of your choice on the browser and repeat the second and third steps.
How to Split Screen on a Chromebook in Tablet Mode
You must learn a few tricks to master the art of splitting the screen on a Chromebook in tablet mode. For starters, you must have a clear understanding of going from full-screen view to overview.
Activating the overview mode is quite simple. From there, snapping into split-screen mode is also straightforward.
Let’s discover how it’s done.
Step 1
To go into overview mode, all you have to do is swipe the window down and hold or swipe up from the bottom and hold.
Step 2
Continue the gesture of dragging down the now-diminished window to one side to activate the split-screen mode. Alternatively, you can drop the window with other small windows in overview mode.
Step 3
You can then press and drag any small window from the overview screen to either side of the display. This will snap it in place.
Step 4
Once you have your desired window open on one side of the screen, the other side will show you all other open windows. You can select one of your choices to fill up the other side of the screen.
Once you’ve split the screen of your Chromebook, you can go back to the overview mode by swiping the window up or down from the edges. You can then select a replacement window or an app from the shelf.
If the app you want to open isn’t present there, you’ll have to swipe up to go home. Then, start the process again after opening the apps you need.
How to Resize the Split-Screen Apps in Tablet Mode
For resizing your apps in split-screen mode, you’ll have to touch the divider bar and wait until it becomes visibly wider. This is when you can drag it to divide the screen into two halves or a one-quarter or three-quarter layout.
Please bear in mind that you won’t have full control over the ratio of your split screens in tablet mode.
Our Final Thoughts
Knowing how to split screen on a Chromebook is essential if you tend to multitask on a meeting and want to save time while working long hours. By practicing the techniques mentioned herein, you can become a master of Chromebook split-screen setups.
Whether you prefer the desktop mode or tablet version, you can rest assured that the split-screen feature will enhance your productivity and efficiency while eliminating undue stress and frustration from the equation.
