You can tile windows on a Mac by dragging a window to a screen edge, using the Window menu, or pressing a keyboard shortcut. macOS can place windows side by side, in full-screen layouts, or—when supported by your Mac and macOS version—in quarter-screen positions and other tiling arrangements.
Quick Answer
To tile two windows side by side:
- Open both windows.
- Drag one window to the left or right edge of the screen.
- Release it when the tiling outline appears.
- Select the second window for the remaining space, if macOS asks you to choose one.
You can also select a window and choose an option from the Window menu, such as Move & Resize or a side-by-side arrangement. Available menu names and keyboard shortcuts can vary depending on your Mac and macOS version.
What Window Tiling Does
Window tiling arranges open app windows so they occupy defined areas of the screen instead of overlapping. Common layouts include:
- Two windows side by side
- Two windows stacked vertically
- A window occupying the left or right half of the display
- Four windows in quarter-screen positions
- A window filling the entire screen
Tiling is useful when you need to compare documents, follow instructions while working in another app, or keep a communication app visible while using a larger application.
Tiling does not normally close your apps or delete documents. However, resizing or moving a window can make controls harder to see, and entering or leaving some full-screen arrangements can change how you switch between apps. Save important work before making major layout changes.
Tile Windows by Dragging Them to an Edge
Edge dragging is the most direct way to arrange windows on a Mac.
Place a window on the left or right half
- Open the apps or documents you want to use.
- Click the title bar of the first window and hold the pointer down.
- Drag the window to the left or right edge of the display.
- Keep dragging until a highlighted outline or preview shows where the window will be placed.
- Release the window.
- Select another open window for the remaining area if macOS displays a window-selection view.
The window should occupy approximately half of the display. The other window fills the remaining space.
Move a window to the top edge
Drag a window to the top edge of the screen and wait for the tiling preview. Depending on the available features and your current settings, macOS may maximize the window, place it into a full-screen arrangement, or show another layout option.
If the window does not tile when you reach the top edge, move the pointer slowly and wait briefly for the preview. Some windows also have minimum-size requirements and cannot fit every available layout.
Tile a window in a corner
On Macs that support quarter-screen tiling, drag a window toward a corner instead of the center of an edge. Release it when the corner preview appears.
For example:
- Top-left corner: roughly one quarter of the screen
- Top-right corner: roughly one quarter of the screen
- Bottom-left corner: roughly one quarter of the screen
- Bottom-right corner: roughly one quarter of the screen
You can repeat the process with up to four windows. Some apps may not work well at quarter-screen sizes because their controls require more space.
Resize tiled windows
After placing windows side by side, move the pointer over the dividing line between them. When the pointer changes to a resize indicator, drag the divider left or right.
This lets you give one app more space than the other. For example, you might make a web browser narrower while giving a document editor most of the display.
Use the Window Menu to Arrange Windows
If you prefer menus to dragging, use the macOS menu bar.
- Click the window you want to arrange.
- In the menu bar, click Window.
- Look for options under Move & Resize, Tile, or a similar submenu.
- Choose a position, such as the left half, right half, top half, bottom half, or a corner.
The exact options depend on the macOS version, the active app, and the display configuration. If an option is unavailable, the current window or app may not support that arrangement.
Some versions of macOS also provide commands for moving a window between displays or arranging it relative to another window. Check the Window menu while the desired app is active rather than relying on a menu option shown by a different app.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster Tiling
Keyboard shortcuts can be faster than dragging, especially when you repeatedly arrange the same workspaces. The available shortcuts vary by macOS version and may also depend on the app.
To check the shortcuts available on your Mac:
- Click the app you want to arrange.
- Open the Window menu.
- Look for keyboard equivalents next to the tiling or resizing commands.
- Press the displayed shortcut.
If a command does not show a shortcut, you can create a custom one in System Settings:
- Open System Settings.
- Click Keyboard.
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Select App Shortcuts.
- Click the Add (+) button.
- Choose the appropriate application or All Applications.
- Enter the menu command exactly as it appears, including punctuation if present.
- Click the keyboard shortcut field and press the key combination you want to use.
- Click Done.
Be careful when creating custom shortcuts. A shortcut can conflict with an existing command or behave differently in different apps. If a shortcut stops working, return to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts and remove or edit the conflicting entry.
Arrange Windows with the Green Button
The green button in the upper-left corner of most Mac windows provides additional window-management options.
- Move the pointer over the green button.
- Wait for the options menu to appear.
- Choose an available tiling or full-screen command.
Depending on your Mac and macOS version, the menu may include options to move the window to one side of the screen, fill the display, or enter a full-screen mode.
This method is useful when you do not want to drag a window precisely to an edge. It also helps when the title bar is difficult to grab.
Important difference between green-button actions
The green button can provide both tiling and full-screen commands. A tiled window remains part of the normal desktop and can usually be viewed alongside other desktop windows. A full-screen app may move into its own Space, which is a separate desktop area in macOS.
Read the wording in the green-button menu before selecting an option. If you have unsaved work, save it first before changing to a full-screen or major window arrangement.
Use Quarter-Screen Layouts
Quarter-screen layouts are useful on large displays or when you need four apps visible at once.
To create a four-window layout:
- Open four windows.
- Drag the first window to the top-left corner until the preview appears.
- Release it.
- Drag the second window to the top-right corner.
- Place the third window in the bottom-left corner.
- Place the fourth window in the bottom-right corner.
You can use fewer than four windows and leave some areas empty. You can also combine quarter-screen and half-screen arrangements if the tiling controls allow it.
Limitations of quarter-screen tiling
- Some apps cannot be resized below a certain width or height.
- Toolbars, sidebars, and document controls may become crowded.
- A window may move back to a larger size if it cannot fit the selected area.
- Dialog boxes may open outside the main tiled arrangement.
- Video calls and media players may change their layout when resized.
If an app becomes difficult to use, enlarge it by dragging the divider or move it to a different part of the display.
Adjust Tiling Margins
Some macOS window-tiling settings allow a small gap, or margin, between tiled windows and the edges of the display. Margins can make windows easier to distinguish and can leave a visible strip of the desktop between them.
To check for margin controls:
- Open System Settings.
- Search for window tiling or open the settings area related to the desktop, display, or window management.
- Look for options controlling window tiling margins, gaps, or spacing.
- Turn the setting on or off, or adjust the available value.
The location and wording of these controls can vary. If you do not see a margin setting, your macOS version may not provide one through System Settings.
Margins can reduce the usable space slightly. If you prefer windows to touch the edges of the screen, disable the gap or margin option when available.
Tile Windows Across Multiple Displays
You can arrange windows independently on each connected display.
- Connect and turn on the external display.
- Open System Settings and click Displays.
- Arrange the display thumbnails so they match the physical position of your monitors.
- Close System Settings.
- Drag each window to the desired side or corner of the correct display.
If a window moves to the wrong monitor, drag it across the edge of the current display in the direction that matches the arrangement shown in System Settings > Displays.
Tips for multiple displays
- Put communication apps on one display and your main work on another.
- Use edge dragging on the display where the window currently appears.
- Check display arrangement if the pointer does not move between screens as expected.
- If a window seems to disappear, use the app’s Window menu or Mission Control to locate it.
- Full-screen apps may occupy a separate Space and can change how windows appear across displays.
Tiling Windows Versus Split View
Window tiling and Split View both place apps next to each other, but they work differently.
Window tiling
Window tiling:
- Usually keeps apps on the regular desktop
- Can support halves, quarters, and other positions
- Lets you arrange several windows at once
- Makes it easier to combine windows from multiple apps
- Often allows more flexible resizing
Split View
Split View places two apps in a dedicated full-screen Space, with one app on each side.
To start Split View:
- Move the pointer over the green button in the upper-left corner of a window.
- Choose the option to tile the window to one side of the screen.
- Click the second app or window for the other side.
You can adjust the divider between the two apps. To leave Split View, move the pointer to the top of the screen to show the menu bar, then click the green button in either window.
Leaving Split View does not normally close either app, but it changes the way the windows are displayed. Save your work before changing layouts if you are working in an app that has not saved recent changes.
Use regular window tiling when you need several windows or want to keep other desktop items visible. Use Split View when you want two apps to occupy a clean, dedicated full-screen workspace.
Troubleshooting Mac Window Tiling
The window will not snap to an edge
Move the window more slowly toward the edge and wait for the preview. If no preview appears, try the Window menu or the green button.
The app may also prevent resizing below a minimum size. Enlarge the window and try a different layout.
The second window does not appear
Some tiling actions place the first window and then show a selection view for the second window. If you do not see it, click another window manually and arrange it on the opposite side.
You may also have entered full-screen mode instead of a regular tiled arrangement.
The window is too small
Drag the divider between tiled windows to give the app more room. For a corner layout, move the window to a half-screen position instead.
Apps with fixed-size interfaces may not support narrow layouts.
Windows move to another display
Open System Settings > Displays and check the display arrangement. The thumbnails should match the physical placement of your monitors.
Also check whether the app is in a full-screen Space. Full-screen apps can appear separately from regular desktop windows.
Keyboard shortcuts do nothing
Open the active app’s Window menu and confirm that the command has a shortcut. If you created a custom shortcut, verify that the menu command was entered exactly and that the shortcut does not conflict with another command.
A window is hidden behind another one
Click the app’s icon in the Dock, use the app’s Window menu, or open Mission Control to find the window. If the window is minimized, click its icon in the Dock to restore it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to tile windows on a Mac?
Drag a window to the left, right, or a corner of the display and release it when the tiling preview appears. For repeated layouts, use a keyboard shortcut shown in the Window menu if one is available.
Can I tile four windows on a Mac?
Yes, when your Mac and macOS version support quarter-screen tiling. Drag windows to the four corners of the display. If a window cannot fit, use a half-screen layout or resize it manually.
How do I put two windows side by side?
Drag one window to the left or right edge, then place or select the second window in the remaining area. You can also use a side-by-side option from the Window menu or the green-button menu.
Does tiling close my apps?
No. Tiling changes the size and position of windows. However, full-screen arrangements can move an app into a separate Space. Tiling also does not automatically save unsaved work, so save important documents before changing layouts.
Why can’t I tile a particular app?
The app may limit its minimum window size, use a custom window interface, or not support a particular macOS window-management command. Try another layout or resize the window manually.
Can I tile windows on two monitors?
Yes. Arrange windows separately on each connected display. If windows move unexpectedly, check the monitor arrangement in System Settings > Displays.
Is Split View the same as window tiling?
No. Split View places two apps in a dedicated full-screen Space. Regular window tiling keeps windows on the desktop and can support more than two windows and more flexible arrangements.
How do I remove a tiled layout?
Drag the window away from its tiled position, resize it manually, or choose another arrangement from the Window menu or the green-button menu. If the apps are in Split View, click the green button and choose the command to leave full-screen mode.
Final Thoughts
The simplest way to tile windows on a Mac is to drag them to a screen edge or corner until the placement preview appears. For more control, use the Window menu, the green button, or available keyboard shortcuts. Side-by-side tiling works well for everyday multitasking, while quarter-screen layouts and multiple displays help organize more complex workspaces.