How to use Split View (split screen) on Mac

macOS has had built-in split-screen window tiling since El Capitan — called Split View. It puts two windows side by side, each taking exactly half the display, without you having to drag and resize anything by hand. Here's how to use it, and what's changed in recent macOS versions.

Method 1: Hover the green traffic-light button (easiest)

1. Move your pointer over the green button in the top-left corner of any window — don't click yet, just hover.
2. After a moment, a menu appears with tiling options: Tile Window to Left of Screen and Tile Window to Right of Screen.
3. Click the side you want this window to occupy.
4. The window slides into place and fills that half. The other side shows your remaining open windows — click one to fill the right half.

Both windows are now in a shared full-screen Space. To exit, move your pointer to the top of the screen to reveal the menu bar, then click the green button on either window and choose Exit Full Screen. Or press Escape if both apps support it.

Method 2: Mission Control drag

If one window is already full-screen, you can tile a second window alongside it from Mission Control:

1. Open Mission Control (swipe up with three fingers on a trackpad, or press F3 or Control + Up).
2. At the top of the screen you'll see your Spaces and any full-screen apps.
3. Drag any window from the main area up onto an existing full-screen Space thumbnail.
4. Release — macOS turns that Space into a Split View pair.

This approach is handy when you already have an app maximised and want to add a second window to it without starting over.

What changed in macOS Sequoia

macOS Sequoia (15) significantly expanded macOS's built-in window tiling beyond Split View. You can now drag a window to the left, right, top, or corners of the screen and it snaps to a tiled position — similar to what third-party tools like Magnet or Rectangle have offered for years. This is separate from Split View: Sequoia tiling keeps windows in your current Space without entering full-screen mode.

If you're on Sequoia, try holding a window by the title bar and dragging it firmly toward the left or right edge of your display. A translucent preview shows you where it will land. Release to snap it there. The rest of your desktop remains accessible — no separate Space is created.

See also: how to snap windows in macOS Sequoia for a full guide to the new tiling gestures and keyboard shortcuts.

Adjusting the split

In Split View, the two windows don't have to be exactly 50/50. Drag the black divider in the middle left or right to give more space to one side. Some apps have a minimum width and will resist being dragged too narrow.

Switching the app on one side

You can swap out either window without breaking the Split View pair. Just bring up Mission Control while in the Split Space and drag a different window onto it — the one you drag replaces the side it lands on.

Apps that don't support Split View

A small number of older or non-standard apps don't support Split View — they'll have the tile options greyed out in the green button menu. This usually affects apps that use custom title bars or non-resizable windows. In those cases, Sequoia's drag-to-edge tiling (if you're on macOS 15) or manual window placement is your best option.