When you split the screen of your Chromebook, you can access two windows on it at the same time. The split-screen feature is specially developed to increase the efficiency of the computer. As much as the efficiency of the computer increases, the efficiency of your work increases as well. This is because you will have to waste a lot of time switching between the apps and windows on your computer. With the split-screen feature, you can reduce this loss of time. With a Chromebook, it is easy to split the screen and is comfortable to work.
How to Split Screen on Chromebook
We have more than just one single way to split the screen of a Chromebook. In this section, let’s discuss different ways for the same.
Keyboard Shortcut
1. Initially, open any two apps that you would like to use on your screen simultaneously.
2. Open the first app that you would like to use on the left side of your screen and press the Alt + [ buttons.
3. With that, the app occupies the left half of your screen.
4. Now, open the second app that you would like to have on the right side of your screen.
5. Now press the Alt + ] buttons and the app occupies the other half of your screen.
Note: You can start by opening the app that you would like to have on the right side as well. If you do so, use the Alt + ] shortcut first.
Using Show Windows Button
1. Start by opening the apps that you would like to use on the split-screen.
2. On the Chromebook keyboard, click on the Show Windows button. You can find it in the F5 spot on your keyboard.
3. On the screen, you can see a message, Drag here to use Split Screen. You can also see the card of active applications.
4. Drag any active application to the side of the screen with the Drag Here to Use Split Screen message.
5. Next, drag a second application to the other side of your Chromebook.
Using Touchpad
1. Firstly, open the applications that you would like to use on the split-screen.
2. With the help of three fingers on your hand, swipe up the touchpad. This will show all the active applications on your screen.
3. Drag any of the active applications to the side of your screen where you can see the Drag here to use the Split Screen option.
4. From the active apps list, drag another application that you would like to use on the split-screen to the other side.
Drag and Drop Method
1. Click on the title bar of an app on your device and drag it to the left or right edge of your Chromebook screen.
2. When a transparent highlight covers 50% of the screen, remove the app.
3. With that, the app occupies that half of your screen where you have dragged it to.
4. Now, launch the second app and click on its title bar. Drag the title bar of this application to the other half of the screen.
Note: In case the app occupies the complete screen, tap the Minimize icon and resize the app window.
5. When the transparent highlight covers the other section on your screen, you can release the app.
Use the Maximize Button
1. Initially, open the first app that you would like to have on your screen.
2. From the top right corner of this app, select the Restore or Maximize button.
3. Now, you can see arrows to the left and right of the icon. While holding the Maximize icon, select either the left arrow on the right arrow to move the app to the left side or the right side of the screen respectively.
4. Next, open the second app that you would like on the screen and select the Maximize button.
5. Using the arrow button that shows the free space on your screen, move this app to the free side.
Modify the Size of an App Window on Screen
If you wish to have one of the apps on your screen occupy more space of your screen, then you can resize it.
1. Initially, split the screen with any of the above-mentioned methods.
2. Using your cursor, point to the space on your screen between the two apps.
3. Now, a tiny icon appears on your screen with arrows pointing towards the left and the right.
4. You can adjust this icon to either side as much as you want to resize the apps.
Related: Best Parental Control Apps for Chromebook [Updated 2021]
Exit Split Screen Mode on Chromebook
It is easy to exit the split-screen mode on your Chromebook. You can minimize either of the two apps on your screen, making the screen exit the split-screen mode. Alternatively, you can use the Maximize or Restore icon on either of the app so that it will occupy the whole screen.
Apps that don’t Support Split Screen
Not all the apps on your Chromebook support the split-screen feature. So, once you try accessing the split-screen mode with an unsupported app, you get an error message saying that the App Doesn’t Support Split Screen. To identify an app that doesn’t support split-screen, check if it has a Maximize or Restore icon. Apps that don’t support split-screen don’t have this icon in the title bar.
FAQ
1. Using Keyboard Shortcut
2. Using the Show Windows button
3. Using the Drag and Drop method
4. Using the Touchpad
5. Using the Maximize button
There is a simple trick to split the screen on Chromebook using keyboard shortcuts. Launch the first app and click on the Alt + [ buttons. Next, launch the second app and click on the Alt + ] buttons. This will send the first app to the left side of your screen and the second app to the right side of your screen.
You can remove the split-screen on your Chromebook by either minimizing an app on your screen or maximizing it.