The Snap feature is a great way to improve your productivity by sharing many app windows in a single screen. Different layouts are available with many sizes to choose from, so you can get the most from your favorite apps when you are working on specific tasks.
Here are some ways to take advantage of Snap. Select any of the headers, and it will open to display more content:
The Snap feature in Windows has some predetermined layouts that you can choose from to snap all your open windows.
To open Snap layouts:
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With your keyboard: In the window you would like to snap, press Windows Logo Key + Z to launch the layout box.
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With your mouse: In the window you would like to snap, hover over the Minimize or Maximize button to launch the layout box.
Note: Depending on the size of your display, you might see different predetermined layouts for your display size.
The Snap Assist tool will automatically appear once you have snapped your first window. Snap Assist will display all other open windows as thumbnails so you can choose which windows you would like to add to the selected layout.
Snap Assist allows you to resize the layout boxes size by selecting and dragging the dividing lines. Resize a window on one side, and the adjoining window will resize itself to fit alongside so you don't have any wasted screen space.
Note: Snap Assist is only available for two app windows at a time on Windows 11 SE. Learn more
Once you select a layout and Snap every space with selected windows, this automatically becomes a Snap group. This feature can be useful when you are working on a specific task using many apps. If you are interrupted and open a new app, you can easily come back to the Snap group by hovering over one of the group's open apps to find the Snap group again.
There are two ways to use the mouse to Snap in Windows:
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Hover over the Minimize or Maximize button in the app you would like to Snap, and then select the Snap layout you would like to use from the layout box. Finally, use Snap Assist to fill the layout with other apps you would like to Snap together.
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Select and drag the app you would like to Snap to the upper middle of your screen to see the layout box, and then select the Snap layout you would like to use from the layout box. Finally, use Snap Assist to fill the layout with other apps you would like to Snap together. You can also drag to the middle right or middle left side of your screen to immediately create a side-by-side Snap.
There are two ways to use the keyboard to Snap in Windows:
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Press Windows Logo Key + Z to see the layout box. Select with numbers which layout you wish to use, then select with numbers again where you want your window positioned in that layout. Snap Assist will automatically launch allowing you to user the arrows to choose other app windows to fill the layout.
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Press Windows Logo Key + Arrow to Snap the app you are on: Use Left Arrow to position the app on the left side of your screen, use Right Arrow to position the app on the right side of your screen, or use the Up Arrow to position the app on the upper side of your screen. You can keep changing positions of the snap by using the arrows. Release the Windows Logo Key to position the Snap and launch the Snap Assist for snapping other apps on the same screen.
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Get more done with multitasking in Windows
Snap makes it easier to neatly organize your open windows on your desktop so you can quickly access the things that are important to you, when you need them. You can use Snap to arrange all your open windows using the mouse, keyboard, or the Snap Assist feature.
Here are some ways to take advantage of Snap. Select any of the headers, and it will open to display more content:
There are two ways to use the mouse to Snap in Windows:
-
Hover over the Minimize or Maximize button in the app you would like to Snap, and then select the Snap layout you would like to use from the layout box. Finally, use Snap Assist to fill the layout with other apps you would like to Snap together.
-
Select and drag the app you would like to Snap to the upper middle of your screen to see the layout box, and then select the Snap layout you would like to use from the layout box. Finally, use Snap Assist to fill the layout with other apps you would like to Snap together. You can also drag to the middle right or middle left side of your screen to immediately create a side-by-side Snap.
There are two ways to use the keyboard to Snap in Windows:
-
Press Windows Logo Key + Z to see the layout box. Select with numbers which layout you wish to use, then select with numbers again where you want your window positioned in that layout. Snap Assist will automatically launch allowing you to user the arrows to choose other app windows to fill the layout.
-
Press Windows Logo Key + Arrow to Snap the app you are on: Use Left Arrow to position the app on the left side of your screen, use Right Arrow to position the app on the right side of your screen, or use the Up Arrow to position the app on the upper side of your screen. You can keep changing positions of the snap by using the arrows. Release the Windows Logo Key to position the Snap and launch the Snap Assist for snapping other apps on the same screen.
The Snap Assist tool will automatically appear once you have snapped your first window. Snap Assist will display all other open windows as thumbnails so you can choose which windows you would like to add to the selected layout.
Snap Assist allows you to resize the layout boxes size by selecting and dragging the dividing lines. Resize a window on one side, and the adjoining window will resize itself to fit alongside so you don't have any wasted screen space.
Tip: If you're a small business owner looking for more information on how to get Microsoft 365 set up, visit Small business help & learning.
Related topics
Get more done with multitasking in Windows
