Splitting your screen in Windows 10 is a pretty handy trick — if it works. Sometimes, dragging windows to the edges doesn’t snap them, or Snap Assist just won’t pop up. That kinda sucks when you’re trying to multitask and it refuses to cooperate. The good news is, most of the time it’s just a quick setting fix, or a small tweak to get it rolling again. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Below are some tried-and-true methods to fix or enable snapping, whether it’s a glitch, turned-off feature, or just a misbehaving setting.
How to Fix or Enable Split Screen and Snap Features in Windows 10
Fix 1: Turn Snap Windows On in Settings
If your Windows 10 isn’t letting you snap windows like it used to, the first thing to check is whether the feature is enabled. Sometimes, an update or accidental toggle turns off Snap Assist. To fix this, head over to Settings > System > Multitasking. There you’ll see an option called Snap Windows. Make sure it’s toggled on. If it’s off, turn it on, and try dragging windows again.
This works because if the snap feature is disabled, Windows basically ignores your attempts to drag windows to the sides or corners. Once it’s enabled, snapping should work like a charm. On some setups, this fix actually gets the snap function back after rebooting — because Windows sometimes forgets your preferences without warning.
Fix 2: Use Keyboard Shortcuts Instead of Dragging
If dragging isn’t doing the trick, or if the snap area just doesn’t appear, keyboard shortcuts can come to the rescue. Press Windows + Left Arrow or Windows + Right Arrow to snap the active window to either side. For four-window quad-splits, use Windows + Up Arrow and Windows + Down Arrow after snapping a window to a side. This method is reliable since it bypasses mouse dragging altogether. Handy when the mouse drag feels wonky or snap zones are hidden.
Not sure why it works, but on some machines, the drag-only snap fails the first couple of times, but the keyboard shortcuts don’t complain. This is kind of weird but helpful if that’s the only thing that actually works.
Fix 3: Reset Your Display Drivers or Update Windows
Sometimes, display driver glitches break window snapping. If dragging or shortcuts stop working, try updating your graphics driver. You can do this through Device Manager (Right-click on This PC > Manage > Device Manager > Display adapters) or visit your GPU manufacturer’s website for the latest driver. Alternatively, a quick restart of your graphics driver can be done with a PowerShell command: devmgmt.msc or by using the Display Driver Uninstaller tool for tougher issues.
Also, make sure your Windows is fully up to date: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Sometimes, a patch or bug fix corrects snap-related bugs.
Fix 4: Check for Third-Party App Conflicts or Custom Tweaks
Some third-party apps can interfere with window management. Programs that modify window behavior, like custom window managers, tweaking tools, or even certain screen recorders, sometimes break the native snap features. Disable or uninstall any recent software you installed and test snapping again.
If you’ve been using utilities like Winhance or DisplayFusion, check their settings. They might override Windows snap behavior or disable it entirely. Disable or update those, restart, and see if that helps.
Fix 5: Make Sure No Group Policy or Registry Edits Are Blocking Snap
This is kind of rare, but if you’re on a work or school PC, Group Policy settings might be blocking snap features. If you have access, run gpedit.msc, head to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Snap. Ensure no policies are disabling snap. The setting you want is Allow Windows Snap. It should be set to Enabled. Otherwise, in the registry, check HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced for a DWORD named TaskbarNoSnap — it should be 0.
Again, messing with Group Policy or registry can be risky, so only do this if you’re comfortable. Otherwise, stick to the simpler fixes.
Hopefully, one of these fixes kicks the snap feature back into gear. Windows can be quirky, and sometimes a little tweak is all it takes to restore your multitasking mojo.
Summary
- Check if Snap Windows is turned on in Settings > System > Multitasking.
- Use Windows + Arrow keys if dragging doesn’t work.
- Update graphics drivers or restart your system if display stuff is acting weird.
- Watch out for third-party apps that mess with window behavior.
- Advanced: look into Group Policy or registry tweaks if nothing else helps.
Wrap-up
Fixing snap issues can be a pain, but usually it’s just toggling a setting or updating something minor. Once it’s working again, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it — especially if you multitask a lot. Just remember: Windows sometimes forgets your preferences, so a quick check in the settings often saves hours of frustration. Fingers crossed this helps someone get their split-screen game back on track.