I. Introduction
If you’re someone who constantly has multiple windows open on your MacBook, the split screen feature is a game-changer. With this feature, you can easily divide your screen to show two windows side-by-side, which is perfect for everything from research to presentations. This article will guide you through how to split your MacBook screen, list shortcuts to make things even easier, and explore the pros and cons of using this feature.
II. Step-by-Step Guide
First thing’s first, accessing the split screen feature is easy. Once you have your windows open, click and hold on the green full-screen button in the top left of the window. This will give you the option to choose which side of the screen you want your current window to occupy. Alternatively, you can press and hold “Command + Control” while pressing either the left or right arrow key to choose which window goes where.
You can also choose to have three windows open at once by dragging a window to any edge or corner of your screen. A third option is to open Mission Control, which can be accessed by swiping up with three fingers on your trackpad. From here, you can drag and drop windows into different desktops or split-screen views.
To get a visual guide of these steps, check out the screenshots below:
When it comes to aligning your windows, you’ll want to make sure everything is even and easy to read. To do this, click and drag on the edge of the window to adjust the size. You can also hover your mouse over the green full-screen button to get options for sizing your window evenly or filling the screen. For added convenience, use the keyboard shortcut “Control + Command + F” to make a window full-screen, or “Control + Command + D” to show or hide the Dock to make room for your windows.
III. Keyboard Shortcuts
If you want to speed up the process even more, there are various keyboard shortcuts you can use to split your screen. These include:
- “Control + Up Arrow” to show all windows in Mission Control
- “Control + Down Arrow” to show all windows for the current app
- “Control + Left Arrow” to move the current window to the left
- “Control + Right Arrow” to move the current window to the right
To use these shortcuts, make sure your keyboard input is set to “All Controls” in your system preferences keyboard settings. You can also customize these shortcuts to your liking in the keyboard shortcuts section of System Preferences.
IV. Pros and Cons
Like any feature, the split screen has its pros and cons. On the positive side, it’s excellent for multitasking and improving productivity. Suppose you’re working on a paper and need to take notes from a reference website. In that case, having both windows open side-by-side allows you to switch back and forth without losing focus or disrupting your workflow. Additionally, the split screen feature is particularly helpful for presentations. It eliminates the need for constantly switching between slides and notes and makes it easy to reference both simultaneously.
On the other hand, the split screen feature may not work for everyone. Some people find it too constricting or distracting to have their screen divided into two sections. Additionally, it’s not always possible to have both windows be at the optimal size for your needs. In these cases, using two separate desktops may be a better option.
V. Best Use Cases
While split screen works well for various situations, some use cases excel above the rest. For example, it’s great for research-heavy projects, as having two windows open side-by-side makes it easy to reference articles or your notes while writing your paper. It’s also ideal for note-taking, whether you’re in a meeting or class and need to jot down information while simultaneously looking at a presentation or other materials. Finally, it’s perfect for creating presentations, as mentioned earlier. By having both slides and notes open at once, you can give a more polished and professional presentation.
To maximize your productivity while using the split screen feature, consider using apps that work well side-by-side. Word processing and note-taking apps, like Pages and Notes, are great examples. Additionally, if you often use multiple windows at once, consider purchasing an external monitor to give yourself even more screen real estate
VI. Troubleshooting
Although the split screen feature is relatively straightforward, there are some common problems you may encounter. One issue that may arise is that your windows won’t align correctly. If this happens, try resizing both windows individually to see if that helps. You can also try removing one of the apps from the split screen and re-adding it, which can fix alignment issues.
Another prevalent issue is that the split screen feature may not work on an external display. If that’s the case, make sure the external display is correctly set up in your display preferences. Also, ensure that the resolution settings on the external display match those of your MacBook.
VII. Customizing the Split Screen
Finally, you may want to customize the split screen feature to better suit your needs. For example, you can adjust the size and position of windows to your liking. In Mission Control, you can click and hold on the window to make it bigger or smaller, or drag it to a different location. You can also take advantage of the option to have three windows open at once and position them to fit your needs.
VIII. Conclusion
To sum up, the split screen feature is a fantastic tool for improving productivity on your MacBook. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it. Remember to consider the pros and cons, use the keyboard shortcuts, and customize the feature to fit your needs.
