The multi snap feature allows you to easily snap multiple windows side by side on your desktop for improved multitasking. This handy feature is available in Windows 11 and can be enabled with just a few simple steps.
What is the Multi Snap Feature?
The multi snap feature, also sometimes referred to as snap layouts or snap groups, allows you to snap two or more app windows side by side, in customized layouts across your desktop. With multi snap, you can neatly organize your open windows and quickly switch between them for enhanced productivity.
Here are some of the benefits of using multi snap:
- Snap up to 4 app windows side by side in customized layouts
- Easily compare between documents or apps
- Multitask more efficiently with multiple windows open
- Quickly switch focus between snapped windows
- Customize layouts for different workflows
Multi snap builds upon the basic snap feature that lets you dock windows to the left or right side of your screen. With multi snap, you can now snap windows in more configurations across the desktop and switch between groups of apps with ease.
Requirements for Using Multi Snap
To use the multi snap feature, you need to have the following:
- Windows 11 operating system
- A monitor resolution of 1920 x 1080 or higher
- At least two app windows open to snap
The multi snap experience works best on larger monitors with high resolutions. It can support snapping up to 4 windows, in a variety of configurations.
On smaller laptop screens or lower resolutions, you may only be able to snap two windows side by side horizontally.
How to Enable Multi Snap in Windows 11
Enabling the multi snap feature is simple and requires just a few steps:
- Open two or more app windows that you want to multi snap.
- Hover over the maximize button of one window and hold down the mouse button.
- While holding down, drag the window to the side or corner of the screen and then release.
- Repeat this process for additional windows to snap up to 4 apps side by side.
As you drag the window to the screen edge, you’ll see an outline preview of how the windows will be arranged. Release the mouse to snap them into place.
That’s all there is to it! Windows 11 will now allow you to easily multi snap using this method. No further configuration is required.
Customizing Multi Snap Layouts
When you first start using multi snap, Windows 11 will choose a default layout to best fit the number of windows you have open. But you can also customize the configurations to suit your preferences and workflow.
Here are some examples of the different layouts you can create:
| Layout | Description |
|---|---|
| Two 50/50 columns | Two vertical windows splitting the screen equally |
| Three columns | Three vertical windows in unequal sizes |
| Three rows | Three horizontal windows splitting the screen |
| Four quadrants | Four windows splitting the desktop into four sections |
To customize a layout, simply drag the dividers between the snapped windows to resize them as needed. You can also drag and drop to rearrange the configuration.
Get creative with different mixes of horizontal and vertical windows to make multi snap work for your particular workflow.
Snapping Multiple Desktops
You can even use multi snap across multiple virtual desktops in Windows 11. This allows you to group relevant apps and windows into different desktops for improved organization.
To multi snap across desktops:
- Enable virtual desktops in Windows 11 Settings > Multitasking
- Switch between desktops and multi snap different sets of windows
- The layouts will persist as you change desktops
This creates dedicated workspaces where you can easily pick up on specific tasks. You can customize the layout on each desktop and snap relevant apps for each activity.
Quickly Switching Between Snap Groups
Once you have multiple snap groups set up, you can quickly switch between them to change tasks using the following methods:
- Hover over the minimized app thumbnails in the taskbar and select a different snap group
- Use the Alt + Tab shortcut to cycle between groups
- Click the snap group thumbnail in the taskbar to switch to it
This allows you to maintain context as you move between different workflows. The last active window will come into focus when selecting a different group.
Closing and Unpinning Snap Groups
When you’re finished using a particular snap group, you can easily close or unpin the group:
- Close the group: Clicking the “Close group” icon in the center of the group thumbnail will close all the snapped windows.
- Unpin the group: Hovering over the group thumbnail and selecting “Unpin group” will unsnap the windows while keeping them open.
You can also simply drag a window out of a snap group to unsnap it without affecting other windows.
Troubleshooting Multi Snap Issues
If you are having issues getting multi snap to work properly, try the following troubleshooting steps:
- Make sure you have Windows 11 version 21H2 or higher
- Check display resolution is 1920 x 1080 or higher
- Update Windows and graphics drivers to latest versions
- Disable any third party window manager software
- Restart File Explorer in Task Manager
Multi snap requires recent versions of Windows 11 to work correctly. Keeping your operating system, apps, and hardware drivers updated can prevent or resolve issues.
You can also try resetting File Explorer if you are having trouble snapping windows. Multi snap is tightly integrated with the Windows Explorer process.
Conclusion
The multi snap feature in Windows 11 makes it quick and easy to organize your desktop into productive workspaces. With a few simple mouse drags, you can neatly arrange multiple windows side by side in customizable layouts.
Multi snap improves multitasking efficiency, helps reduce clutter, and enables you to manage sets of apps for different tasks. Combined with virtual desktops, you can create dedicated workspaces tailored to your workflows.
Enable multi snapping on your Windows 11 desktop to boost productivity and take advantage of the enhanced desktop management capabilities.