Use split view for multitasking in Chrome

You can display 2 websites simultaneously within a single Chrome window. One view is always active and the other is inactive in the split view. You can use split view to compare information, reference different sources, copy and paste content, or multitask with different web pages open at once.

  • Active view: This view is visually distinct with a thicker border. Items in the toolbar like back, forward, home buttons, or address bar apply to the active view only.
    • All tab-specific features, like Translate, Print, and Reading mode, work on the active view of split view but not on both.
  • Inactive view: This view appears with a lighter border. You can scroll in the inactive view without making it active. If you click the inactive view, it'll become the active view.
    • At the bottom right, you can find the website of the inactive view.
  • Side panels:
    • Side panels, like Bookmarks or History, remain open when you switch between views.
    • Tab-specific side panels, like Reading mode, collapse when you switch between views.
  • Split view icon: When split view is active, the split view icon indicates which is the active view.
    • Left view is active: Split left view
    • Right view is active: Split right view
  • Managing views: You can close individual views, swap their positions, or separate them.
Open tabs and links in split view
  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. On an opened tab, you can:
    • Open tabs in split view:
      • Inactive tab:
        1. Right-click the inactive tab.
        2. Select New split view with current tab.
      • Active tab:
        1. Right-click the active tab.
        2. Select Add tab to new split view.
      • Drag-and-drop: Drag-and-drop the tab to the right or left.
    • Open links in split view:
      • Right-click link:
        1. To open in the split view, right-click on the link that you want.
        2. Select Open link in split view.
    • Drag-and-drop: Drag-and-drop the link to the right or left.

Tip: By default, drag-and-drop of tabs are turned on. To manage this in the settings:

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, select More and then Settings.
  3. On the left, select Appearance.
  4. Turn Allow split view drag-and-drop on left or right edge of window on or off.
Pin the split view icon

When split view is active, you can find its icon on the left of your address bar.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. Open a tab or link in split view.
  3. On the left of your address bar, right-click Split view Split right view.
    • The split view icon depends on your active view.
  4. Select Pin Pin.
Open split view from the toolbar

Once the split view icon is pinned, you can open the split view from the toolbar.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. Go to a website.
  3. On the left of the address bar, select Split view Split view.
  4. Choose the other tab to add to the split view.
Manage split views

From the toolbar

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. Go to a website.
  3. On the left of the address bar, select Split view Split right view.
    • The split view icon depends on your active view.
  4. You can either:
    • Separate split view: This separates your tab views and returns as regular tabs.
    • Close left or right view: This closes the selected view.
    • Reverse position: This changes the active view from left to right or right to left.

From the menu

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. Open a tab or link in split view.
  3. To close the view, at the bottom right of either of the views, select Close Close.
Open split view with a keyboard shortcut

To open split view in the active tab:

  • Windows and Linux: Shift + Alt + N
  • Mac: Cmd + Option + N
  • Chromebook: Ctrl + Alt + N

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