How To Do Split Screen On Mac

Tips
3

Couple more tricks that might help, without rehashing what @hoshikuzu already covered:

  1. Turn off “Automatically rearrange Spaces”
    macOS loves to “help” and it’s probably what’s making your windows not stay put.

    • System Settings → Desktop & Dock
    • Scroll to “Mission Control” section
    • Turn OFF “Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use”
      This keeps your desktops / Split Views from shuffling around when you switch apps.

  2. Use per‑app “Assign to Desktop” so layouts stay stable
    If you like a certain pair of apps side by side all the time:

    • Put them how you like (either Split View or just two windows filling left/right).
    • Right‑click the app icon in the Dock
    • Options → “Assign to This Desktop”
      Do that for both apps.
      Then when you open them later, macOS pushes them back to that desktop instead of randomly spawning them somewhere else.

  3. Avoid full screen for “classic” side by side
    Full screen + Spaces is what often makes everything feel jumpy. If you just want a Windows‑style split:

    • Keep both windows in normal mode
    • Use the green button to “zoom” them to a nice size, then drag to edges so they kind of “snap”
    • Don’t hit the full‑screen option at all
      It’s boring but much more predictable.

  4. Trackpad gestures are probably messing with you
    If your layout seems to vanish when you swipe:

    • System Settings → Trackpad → More Gestures
    • Temporarily disable “Swipe between full‑screen apps”
      That way a stray 3‑finger swipe doesn’t fling you into some other Space and make it look like your split just died.

  5. Create a dedicated “work” desktop and leave it alone

    • Open Mission Control
    • Add a new Desktop at the top
    • Put only your side‑by‑side apps there
    • Don’t full screen anything on that desktop
      This keeps stuff much more “sticky” and you can bounce in and out without your layout constantly changing.

  6. Some apps just suck at tiling
    Not everyone abides by macOS window rules. Electron apps, old Java tools, some games, etc, ignore nice tiling and size limits. If split is never even, try with Safari + Notes first.
    If that combo behaves, then the problem is the app, not you or Split View.

If you say which macOS version you’re on and which exact apps you’re trying to pair, people can usually point out “oh yeah, that one doesn’t cooperate” and suggest a workaround like using a third‑party tiler instead.