Splitting your screen on Windows can be a real lifesaver, especially when juggling multiple tasks or trying to compare info side-by-side. Of course, Windows makes it pretty straightforward, but sometimes it’s a little trickier if, say, Snap Assist isn’t working or the drag-to-edge isn’t responsive. Sometimes the feature just refuses to cooperate after an update, or maybe you’re trying to set something up on a machine that’s a bit finicky. It’s one of those things where you think, “It should be simple, ” but then Windows decides to be stubborn. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to fix that and get your multitasking game back on track.
How to Fix Split Screen Not Working in Windows
Method 1: Make Sure Snap Assist Is Enabled
This is the first go-to step, because if Snap Assist is disabled in settings, dragging windows won’t work at all. It’s kind of weird, but sometimes updates or system tweaks disable this feature without you noticing. To check:
- Go to Settings (Windows Settings > System > Multitasking)
- Look for Snap windows. Make sure the toggle is turned On.
- Enabling this helps Windows automatically snap apps when you drag them to the edges. On some setups, especially laptops with touchpads, it’s easy to accidentally disable this without realizing.
Once enabled, restart your machine to see if the drag-and-snap thing works again. Sometimes, just toggling it off and on helps clear weird bugs.
Method 2: Reset the Snap Assist Settings via Registry
Not sure why, but sometimes the registry settings controlling Snap Assist get weird or corrupted. Resetting them can force Windows to reinitialize snap behavior. It involves a quick registry tweak, so best to back up the registry first—because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Here’s how:
- Open Registry Editor by typing
regeditin the search bar and selecting it. - Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
- Look for a DWORD named EnabledSnapAssist. If it’s there, set its value to 1.
- If it’s missing, right-click in the pane, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it EnabledSnapAssist. Then set it to 1.
- Close the registry editor and restart your PC. This can sometimes fix issues where Snap Assist just refuses to activate or respond to drag actions.
This fix is more advanced, but based on user reports, it’s helped a lot when normal toggle fixes didn’t do the trick.
Method 3: Use Keyboard Shortcuts (Because Sometimes Drag Isn’t Enough)
If dragging isn’t working but you just need to split quickly, keyboard shortcuts often come to the rescue.Win + Left Arrow or Win + Right Arrow will snap the active window to that side. It’s kinda weird, but on some setups, the mouse drag just doesn’t work right after updates. So, give these a try:
- Select your window.
- Press Win + Left Arrow to snap left, or Win + Right Arrow for the right side.
- Windows will automatically fill the opposite side with your other open windows, or you can manually select the second window after snapping the first.
This method is reliable for quick fixes and avoids all the fuss with dragging and setting adjustments. Plus, it’s faster once you get used to it.
Method 4: Check for Updates or Graphics Driver Glitches
Sometimes, the issue isn’t with Snap Assist specifically but a graphics driver hiccup. Check your display driver status—outdated or buggy drivers can interfere with window snapping. To troubleshoot:
- Go to Device Manager (device manager or right-click Start > Device Manager).
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click your adapter and select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for updates.
Installing the latest driver might resolve underlying display glitches that mess with window snapping.
Another thing worth refreshing is making sure Windows is fully patched. Sometimes, Windows updates help fix these kinds of bugs in background. Check for updates in Settings > Update & Security.
Wrap-up
Getting the split screen to behave again can be a bit frustrating, especially if some weird bug or setting glitch is why it’s not working. Usually, making sure Snap Assist is enabled fixes the problem, but if not, a registry reset or some quick keyboard shortcuts tend to do the trick. Plus, updating graphics drivers can solve weird display hiccups. It’s kind of a pain, but in the end, once it’s working again, it makes multitasking so much easier. Fingers crossed this helps someone get their workflow back on track without too much fuss.
Summary
- Check if Snap Assist is enabled in Settings > System > Multitasking.
- If dragging doesn’t work, toggle Snap Assist off/on or reset related registry keys.
- Use Win + Left/Right Arrow shortcuts for quick snaps.
- Update display drivers and Windows to fix underlying glitches.