Skip to main content

Apple introduces split view for full screen apps on Mac in OS X El Capitan

Apple has just announced a new feature as part of the El Capitan software update that will allow Mac users to use multiple applications simultaneously using a split view. The new feature will let users run two Mac apps side-by-side and share content between them. Users can create new split views by dragging apps onto each other in the Mission Control view.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. wwwcsdraewa - 9 years ago

    Exciting move! Very needed and will enhance the software design.

  2. rwanderman - 9 years ago

    This looks great.

  3. Nathan Mitson - 9 years ago

    Yay. They finally stole Snap from Windows 7.

  4. mikhailt - 9 years ago

    I can’t make it work. Did anyone get it to work? If so, how?

    • Larry D Yockey - 9 years ago

      I got it to work, the apps have to set to full screen, this hit missions control and then you can do it.

    • Yep, open 2 apps, go to mission control and drag one on top of the other in the bar at the top of the mission control page

    • mikhailt - 9 years ago

      Just an update. It only works on my iMac but not my MB.

      • wrobertdavis - 9 years ago

        It does not work on either of my Macbook pros with retina displays either.

      • mikhailt - 9 years ago

        I already figured this out. It has to do with Display have Spaces, which is required for Split View to work. You need to enable this option in System Prefs > Mission Control.

        Apple said this is intentional.

      • wrobertdavis - 9 years ago

        Update: It was not working on my Macbook pro because the apps were not in fullscreen mode. I put both in full screen mode and got split screen working

  5. Greg Frith - 9 years ago

    Errr, I’m struggling to see the big news here…. Isn’t this what we’ve had in pretty much any graphical OS since the 80s? Yes I can see that the experience of dragging one app over the other and having them snap to what we’ve traditionally called a tiled layout is an improvement, and functionality between the apps may be a little more linked, but come on, its windows for heavens sake.

    • Peter Nordlander - 9 years ago

      What about menues? Will each window hold the application menu? If so Apple is getting more like Windows. What if you resize the side by side windows so they no longer fill the whole screen? Is it possible? If so, will they still have separate menues?

      Will be exciting to see if this is a step for Apple to copy the principles from Windows (which came with Windows 95)

  6. Chris Harries - 8 years ago

    Downright confusing, nothing here says if you need to download a plug=in or if the feature is imbedded in El Capitan.

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications