Multitasking is known to be productive for many of us. Not brushing-your-teeth-and-reading-news productive; I am referring to doing two tasks successfully at once.
Writing an article while listening to podcasts or listening to an audiobook while working out. These are very generic examples, but this article is about a feature found on most modern devices.
Noting down something, searching for information on a website, and compiling it in a spreadsheet. This is the typical modern-day multitasking which, believe it or not, doesn’t need two devices or more.
Sorting app windows on an M1 MacBook will give you multiple windows floating around on the same screen, eliminating the need to use two devices.
There is a lot of research that suggests multitasking is productive. But if you are into that, I have listed a step-by-step process on splitting-screen on M1 Mac.
| Related: How to Delete Apps on the Mac M1 |
What is a split-screen?
The word-by-word meaning of a split-screen is virtually splitting (or dividing) the screen in two or more windows horizontally or vertically.
With split-screen, users can view various files at once or many sections of the same document. In simpler terms, once you split your computer screen, you can run multiple applications simultaneously.
Here is how to split-screen on M1 Mac.
How to split screen on M1 Mac
With split-screen, you can use two programs/apps side by side, without manually resizing and moving windows. I have listed splitting the screen for macOS Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Catalina, and later.
1. Start working in split view
For macOS Catalina or later
Step 1: Hover your mouse pointer over the full-screen button in the upper-left corner of a window. You can also click and hold the button.
Step 2: Select ‘Tile Window to Left of Screen‘ or ‘Tile Window to Right of Screen‘ from the menu, depending on which side of the window you want to fill.
Step 3: Now, click on a window on the other side of the screen to start using both windows side by side.
For macOS Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, or El Capitan
Step 1: You’ll have to click and hold the full-screen button in the upper-left corner of a window.
Step 2: When you keep holding the button, the window will shrink. You’ll need to drag it to the left or right side of the screen.
Step 3: Now, simply release the button.
Step 4: Click a window on the other side of the screen to begin using both windows in split-screen view.
If, in case, you are unable to use split-screen, you’ll have to tweak a setting –
Step 1: Click on the Apple menu.
Step 2: Look for System Preferences.
Step 3: Click on Mission Control. Here, you’ll have to ensure that ‘Displays have separate Spaces‘ is selected.
2. Exit split view
To exit the split-view mode, you’ll have to move the pointer to the top of the screen to reveal the window buttons. Next, click the full-screen button in either window.
That window will now exit the split view. Now, the other window will switch to a full-screen view.
You can also switch to the full-screen window by swiping left or right with four fingers on your trackpad or with Mission Control.
FAQs
What is the keyboard shortcut for split-screen on M1 Mac?
To split-screen on an M1 MacBook, hit the Control + Command + F. Now, enter Mission Control and drag another app’s window to the top of the desktop spaces area.
How do you split the screen on a MacBook Pro M1?
Swipe up with three or four fingers or Press the Control-Up arrow to enter Mission Control.
Now drag a window from Mission Control onto the thumbnail of the full-screen app in the spaces bar, and then click on the Split View thumbnail. Alternatively, you can also drag an app thumbnail onto another in the spaces bar.
Can you do the top and bottom split screen on Mac?
Yes, you can. To do so, you’ll have to drag a window into a corner, which will take up 25% of your screen.
Now, drag it to the top portion of either the left or right side of the screen, and it’ll fill the top half of the display. Next, repeat the steps for the bottom portion of the left or right side, and it will fill the bottom half of your screen.
How do I split my screen into 4 on an M1 Mac?
To split your screen into four virtual screens on an M1 Mac, you can swipe left or right with four fingers as a shortcut or go through Mission Control. In addition, you can change the portion of the screen used by each app by dragging the divider in the center to any side you want.
Conclusion
This is how you can split-screen on M1 MacBooks. macOS makes split-screen view distinct and simpler.
The floating windows can have a maximum of four divisions at a time that will fill your entire screen.
As a result, you can do a lot of stuff with a split-screen, otherwise known as multitasking.
What are your thoughts on using a split-screen for productivity? Have you ever used more than two windows in tandem? Let us know in the comments below.
