How to use split view in Chrome: two tabs side by side

Updated 2 November 2026. 3 minute read.

Right-click a tab and choose Add tab to new split view, or drag a tab to the left, right or bottom edge of the window until you see Create split view. The shortcut is Shift + Alt + N on Windows and Linux, and ⌘ + Option + N on a Mac.

Two Chrome windows side by side: a document on the left and a painting on the right. — Two real Chrome windows, tiled by Side by side and shown here on a plain background. Real screenshot of TabOverview. The sites in it are made up.

Four ways to start

The tab you’re on: right-click it and choose Add tab to new split view.
Another tab: right-click it and choose New split view with current tab.
A link: right-click it and choose Open link in split view.
Drag: drag a tab to the left or right edge of the window for side by side, or to the bottom edge to stack them. Let go when you see Create split view.

From the keyboard, press Shift + Alt + N on Windows and Linux, ⌘ + Option + N on a Mac, or Ctrl + Alt + N on a Chromebook.

Using it

One side is active at a time, and it has the thicker border. The address bar and toolbar act on that side only, and so do Translate, Print and Reading mode. You can scroll the other side without clicking it. Click it to make it active.

Change it or end it

Select the split view icon to the left of the address bar. From there you can:

Separate the views back into normal tabs.
Close one side.
Change between side by side and stacked.
Reverse the two views.

Right-click the icon and choose Pin to keep it in the toolbar. To stop tabs splitting when you drag them, go to Settings, then Appearance, and turn off drag and drop for split view.

If you don’t have split view

Update Chrome first: open the three-dot menu, then Help, then About Google Chrome. Google’s help page doesn’t list a minimum version, and it only covers Chrome on a computer.

If you’re on a version without it, drag one tab out of the tab strip to make a second window, then use your computer’s own window snapping to put the two windows next to each other.

When two isn’t enough, or the tabs are hard to find

Google’s help page describes two views in one window. And with dozens of tabs open, the slow part isn’t splitting the screen. It’s finding the two tabs you want.

TabOverview shows every tab in one grid, so you tick the two you want and press Side by side. It works with tabs from different windows. It uses Chrome’s split view where your Chrome offers it to extensions, and two tiled windows where it doesn’t.

Two selected tab cards in TabOverview, with a bar offering Group, Close, Save, Later, Copy links, New window and Side by side. — Tick two tabs in the grid, then press Side by side. Real screenshot of TabOverview. The sites in it are made up.

Select three or four tabs and the button becomes Tile windows. Press Undo and everything goes back where it was.

Questions

How do I split my Chrome screen into two?

Right-click a tab and choose Add tab to new split view, or drag a tab to the left or right edge of the window. The shortcut is Shift + Alt + N on Windows and Linux, or ⌘ + Option + N on a Mac.

Why doesn’t my Chrome have split view?

Update Chrome and look again. Split view is for Chrome on a computer. If you still don’t see it, put two windows next to each other with your computer’s window snapping.

How do I turn off split view in Chrome?

Select the split view icon to the left of the address bar and choose Separate. To stop tabs splitting when you drag them, go to Settings, then Appearance.

Can I split Chrome into three or four?

Google’s help page describes two views in a window. To see three or four pages at once, use separate windows. TabOverview’s Tile windows arranges them for you.

Sources

Use split view for multitasking in Chrome, Google Chrome Help