Splitting your screen on Windows 11 sounds straightforward, but sometimes it just doesn’t play ball. Maybe the Snap Layouts aren’t popping up when you hover over the maximise button, or the windows refuse to snap into place after you’ve tried. Honestly, Windows can be a bit dodgy like that—sometimes a quick restart does the trick, other times you need to tinker a bit more. If you’re having trouble with split-screen not behaving, here’s a fair dinkum rundown of some easy fixes to get it sorted without losing your patience.
How to Fix Split Screen Not Working in Windows 11
Method 1: Double-check Snap Settings in Windows
First up, make sure Snap is actually turned on. Sometimes these options get toggled off by accident or after a Windows update. Head over to Settings > System > Multitasking. Here, you’ll see the toggle for Snap windows. Make sure it’s switched on. Also, check if options like Show snap layouts when I hover over a window’s maximise button are ticked. This helps you see the guides to snap windows easily.
This setting tells Windows you want to use Snap Layouts. If it’s off, Windows might ignore your attempts to snap windows. Turning it on can fix the issue, especially if the Snap Layouts aren’t appearing when you hover.
Method 2: Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Snap Windows
If clicking around isn’t helping, give keyboard shortcuts a go. Sometimes, this just jumps straight past the UI hiccup. Press Win + Left or Win + Right to snap the active window to the side. If that works but the Snap Layout bubbles don’t show up, it might just be a visual glitch. You can also use Win + Up or Win + Down to move windows to corners or maximise. It’s a pretty handy way to get things sorted quickly.
From what I’ve seen, on some setups these shortcuts work even if the Snap Layouts don’t pop up when hovering over the buttons. Weird, but it does the job.
Method 3: Reset Windows Explorer via PowerShell
This one’s a bit more involved, but Windows Explorer can bug out and tamper with window snapping. To fix it, open PowerShell as an admin (Right-click Start > Windows Terminal (Admin) or search for PowerShell, right-click, run as administrator). Then, type or copy-paste:
Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force; Start-Process explorerThis kills and restarts Windows Explorer, which handles a lot of the UI stuff, including snapping. Just a heads up—this will close your taskbar and possibly your open windows temporarily—so save your work first. Usually, doing this makes Snap Layouts show up again without a fuss.
Method 4: Check for Windows Updates and Graphics Drivers
Sometimes, the problem is caused by outdated drivers or Windows bugs. Head to Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates. Also, check your graphics driver—go to Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager), find your display adapter, right-click it, and choose Update driver. An old or corrupted GPU driver can mess with window management features.
On some machines, outdated graphics drivers are the culprit preventing Snap Layouts from working. Updating drivers or running Windows Update might just fix the issue. It’s worth a shot.
Method 5: Tweak the Registry (Advanced Stuff)
If you’re comfortable with diving into the registry, there’s one more trick. Open the Registry Editor (Win + R, type regedit) and head to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AdvancedLook for a DWORD called EnableSnapAssistFlyout. If it’s there, set its value to 1. If it’s not, you can create a new DWORD with that name and set it to 1. After that, restart your PC. This tweak might bring back the snapped window options if they’re turned off in the registry.
Fair dinkum, it’s a bit advanced, but for some folks, this fix does the trick where others don’t.
Tips for Fixing Split Screen Issues in Windows 11
- Make sure your display settings—like resolution and scaling—aren’t causing conflicts. Too high a resolution can sometimes do strange things.
- If you’ve got multiple monitors, try unplugging extra screens. Windows sometimes gets a bit lost with multi-monitor setups.
- Run
sfc /scannowin Command Prompt (Admin) to scan and fix system file issues that might be causing glitches. - Always reboot after trying any fix; Windows needs a fresh start to sort things out.
FAQ
Why isn’t Snap Layouts showing up when I hover over the window?
Could be turned off in Settings or just a glitch. Double-check Settings > System > Multitasking. Sometimes, a restart or a driver update helps too.
Can I fix Snap if it’s totally busted on one monitor but works on another?
Yeah, that’s often linked to display drivers or specific monitor settings. Try updating your drivers, disconnecting extra screens, or fiddling with display scaling.
Is there a way to have Snap always active in the background?
Sure thing. Just make sure Snap windows is toggled on in Settings > System > Multitasking. Keeping Windows up to date also helps prevent bugs.
Summary
- Check your Snap settings are enabled in Windows.
- Use keyboard shortcuts if the UI is acting up.
- Restart Windows Explorer if snapping’s misbehaving.
- Keep Windows and graphics drivers up to date.
- Try registry tweaks if you’re comfortable with the techy stuff.
Wrap-up
Yeah, Windows 11’s snap feature can be a bit finicky sometimes—especially after updates or driver changes. This list covers most of the common fixes for split-screen dramas. Remember, Windows can be a bit flaky, and every machine’s a bit different. Usually, a quick driver update or a restart gets you back on track. If not, you might need to try some of the more advanced tweaks. Hope this helps someone avoid the hassle—because when the snap feature finally works right, it makes juggling multiple apps a whole lot easier.