Using Split Screen Mode In Microsoft Edge

Question

This will probably seem an amazingly uninformed question. I more-or-less stumbled across what I think is the "split screen mode" while working between an Excel spreadsheet and an online display of data, some of which I wanted to copy into Excel using Ctrl-C then Ctrl-V. I was trying to size the windows showing my spreadsheet and the on-line data so that I could work with the two displays side by side. Suddenly (with me not knowing what I inadvertently clicked) the two windows were sized perfectly for what I wanted. I completed the Excel related task and then went looking for what happened. It was a very useful (but unexpected) feature, and I would like to use it with some intelligence in the future. I ended up at what is shown in the screen shot below. I simply do not understand what the guidance is telling me to do. It says "Select Split Screen icon from the address bar to try it." (1) I don't really know all of the nomenclature. I think the address bar is the row at the bottom of my screen shot where all the little icons are. Is this correct? (2) If it is correct, where is the "Split Screen Icon"? What does it look like? When I hover the cursor over each Icon, I find nothing that calls itself "Split Screen Icon.

Generally I am not thought to be a stupid person, but Microsoft's guidance on this communicates almost nothing to me.

Answer 1

Ctrl + Shift + 2

I don't know why it's so hard to put this on the tutorial for split screen.

If it's not enabled then type edge://flags in your browser, search split, and click enable from the dropdown.

hot key not work for me. only manual

Answer 2

The split-screen feature is potentially a mega-productivity feature, but is much less useful in its current form.

It should include an option when using "Unlink tabs" to allow links that would normally open in a new tab with a simple click (e.g. target="_blank") to open in the opposite pane instead. Normal links would still open in the same pane unless CTRL or CMD is held down, allowing seamless navigation across both panes. At the very least, there should be a setting to prevent normal links from automatically opening in the opposite pane - clicking on a link while holding CTRL or CMD should then open in the opposite pane, rather than opening a new tab, as it currently does.

It is nice that you can drag&drop a link on the opposing pane to open the link there, but that's not an option for fast paced working. Using the context menu is not a poweruser-option either.

Currently:

"Link tabs

• Clicking on normal links opens in the facing pane.
• "Open in new tab" links (e.g. target="_blank") open in the opposite pane.
• CTRL/CMD+click opens a new tab.

"Unlinked tabs

• Click on normal links to open in the same pane.
• "Open in new tab" links (e.g. target="_blank") open in the same side pane (why?).
• CTRL/CMD+click opens a new tab.

Should be:

"Link tabs".

• Clicking on normal links opens in the opposite pane.
• "Open in new tab" links (e.g. target="_blank") open in the opposite pane.
• CTRL/CMD+click opens the link in the same pane.

"Unlinked tabs

• Click on normal links to open in the opposite pane.
• "Open in new tab" links (e.g. target="_blank") open in the opposite pane.
• CTRL/CMD+click opens the link in the opposite pane.

Bonus:

CTRL/CMD+W should not close the whole tab with 2 panes but the currently focussed pane first.

Answer 3

Hello bokis123,

As Sumit mentioned above, you do have to set a 'flag' to enable the feature.

Just to add to that, once the flag is set, and you restart the Edge browser, you'll see the split screen icon in your address bar. Just click on that to split the screen on any tab.

There are also a lot of videos on this great new feature. Just search for 'using Edge split screen' and click on videos -- if you want to see a demonstration.

Answer 4

Ctrl + Shift + 2

I don't know why it's so hard to put this on the tutorial for split screen.

If it's not enabled then type edge://flags in your browser, search split, and click enable from the dropdown.

Answer 5

Hi bokis,

I'm Sumit, here to answer your query at the Microsoft Community.

I believe the feature is hidden under the flag or might be rolling out.

Please go to edge://flags and search for the split screen feature. Please enable it and reboot the browser.

Then, when you right-click a tab in the title bar, you will see the "Add tab to split screen" option.

I hope that helps, and rely on us for any further inquiries. All the best.