Snapping windows is a useful way to organize and view multiple windows side-by-side in Windows 11. When you snap a window, it locks into place on the left or right side of your screen, allowing you to easily compare or transfer information between windows.
What is snapping windows in Windows 11?
Snapping windows is a feature in Windows 11 that allows you to quickly arrange and organize windows by “snapping” them into place on the left or right side of your screen. This splits your screen into separate resizable segments, with a window filling each snapped section.
Some key things to know about snapping windows in Windows 11:
- Snapped windows fill half the screen by default, but you can adjust their size.
- You can snap up to two windows side-by-side.
- Snapped windows won’t cover or get covered by other windows.
- You can easily switch between snapped windows or maximize them back to full screen.
Overall, snapping makes it simpler to work with multiple windows open at the same time, like when comparing documents or reading from one window while writing in another.
How to snap a window left in Windows 11
Snapping a window left is very easy to do in Windows 11 using your mouse:
- Open the window you want to snap.
- Hover over the window’s maximize button.
- While holding the left mouse button down, drag the window to the left edge of the screen until you see a snap overlay appear.
- Release the mouse button to snap the window into place.
The window will now fill the left half of your screen. You can then open another window and repeat the process to snap it to the right side.
Snapping a window left with keyboard shortcuts
You can also quickly snap windows left using these keyboard shortcuts:
| Snap window left | Win + Left Arrow |
| Snap window right | Win + Right Arrow |
Just open the window you want to snap, press Win + Left Arrow, and the window will instantly snap to the left side of the screen.
Adjusting snapped window sizes
By default, snapped windows will take up exactly half the screen space. But you can easily adjust their sizes if needed:
- Hover over the vertical divider between the snapped windows until your cursor changes to a resize icon.
- Drag the divider left or right to adjust the space allotted to each window.
This way you can customize the layout to give more screen space to the more important window, or quickly resize either snap section.
Un-snapping windows
There are a couple ways to un-snap a window and restore it to full screen or reposition it:
- Drag the window away from the screen edge and release to un-snap it.
- Double click the window’s title bar to make it fill the screen again.
- Right-click the window’s title bar and select “Maximize” to undo the snap.
The window will revert back to a regular movable, resizable window. You can then reposition or resize it however you need.
Tips for snapping windows effectively
Here are some helpful tips for mastering window snapping in Windows 11:
- Compare files side-by-side: Snap two File Explorer or document windows to quickly compare files.
- Snap similar programs together: Group related apps like web browser windows for efficient comparison.
- Keep snaps organized: Avoid too many snaps. Stick to two snapped windows maximum for clear focus.
- Try keyboard shortcuts: Win + Left/Right Arrow lets you instantly snap windows.
- Adjust snap sizes: Don’t hesitate to resize the windows by dragging their divider.
Other window management features
Along with window snapping, Windows 11 offers other handy window management tools:
Cascade windows
Automatically arranges all open windows in an overlapping cascaded layout. Useful for quickly glancing at all open windows.
Show open windows
Displays thumbnails of all open windows on the screen. Lets you easily switch between windows by selecting a thumbnail.
Virtual desktops
Lets you create multiple virtual workspaces with their own open windows. Useful for keeping windows from different tasks organized.
Conclusion
Snapping windows side-by-side makes it much easier to multitask and be productive in Windows 11. With a simple drag and release, you can quickly arrange and compare windows, boosting your efficiency and focus when working with multiple apps and documents open.
Mastering snapping shortcuts like Win + Left/Right Arrow lets you swiftly organize your windows exactly how you need them. And features like resizing snapped windows and virtual desktops give you even more flexibility to manage your screen real estate.
So if you haven’t already incorporated window snapping into your workflow, give it a try. It’s an indispensable tool for any PC user who likes to multitask!.