How to use Windows 11 Layouts to Organise Your Screen

Have you seen the new window layouts in Windows 11? If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, it’s where you can automatically position the different app windows around the screen. You may be wondering how this compares to Windows Snap, which was introduced in 2009.

The Basics: Minimise, Maximise, and Restore

Let’s start with the basics, so make sure we’re on the same page. First you know that all applications appear in a window – it’s the reason that the operating system is called Windows.

A standard window has three options – minimise window, maximise/restore, and close.

Microsoft Windows has these options in the top-right corner, while MacOS displays them in the top-left.

These functions haven’t changed from the original version. That was Windows 3.1 if you’re curious. 😊

Quick Tip: Maximise and Restore

There are times that the buttons are off screen which makes using them a bit difficult. If you can’t see your maximise/restore button (the middle one in the top right corner), here’s a quick tip – double-click anywhere on the title bar (the top line of the window).

This performs either the maximise command or brings it back down to restore the window. I find myself using this trick quite often!

Windows Snap: The Original Feature

Let’s start with the old snap command, which I believe came in with Windows 7. Windows Snap allows you to auto-position the window in a certain area of the screen.

Side-by-side

To use it, click and drag the title bar, either to the left or right of the screen. When your mouse cursor reaches the edge of the screen (I usually drag to the left), you’ll see a box that takes up approximately 50% of the screen.

Drag a window to the edge to see the shadow for snap.

When you let go, Windows moves the app into that place. It then shows you the other applications you have running. For example,I can drag File Explorer to the left. If I want Word on the other side, I simply click on it, and it takes up the other 50%. This makes it brilliantly easy to see two windows side by side.

With Snap, we also have the option for quarters. You can position windows in any of the four corners. Drag the title bar again to the left or right, but when you’ve got the box, drag it down to see for a bottom quarter. Drag up for one of the top quarters.

Sure you can now see up to four applications simultaneously on your screen, but depending on the size of your monitor you might not see much. 😁

What Makes Windows 11 Layouts Different?

In Windows 11, you can click on the buttons as normal, but when I hover over the maximise/restore button, layout options are displayed. These layouts show different ways your windows can appear on the screen.

File Explorer in Windows 11, hover over the restore/maximise button to see the layout options

The options you see depend on the windows you currently have open.

Click on one of these layout options, Windows positions the current window accordingly and then lets me choose which other open applications should fill the remaining spaces.

An Important Discovery

Here’s something interesting I discovered: This feature works exactly as expected with Microsoft products (like the Office suite) and everyday apps (web-browsers etc), but it might behave differently with some applications.

For example, when I tried it with Descript (my recording software, while I was recording), it didn’t take up the full 50% as expected. Instead it was around 80-90% of the screen. When I added Excel to the layout, it filled the small remaining area rather than adjusting properly.

Additional Tips

Now that you know how to use Snap and the Layouts, here are some additional, useful tips.

Drag Up for Windows Layouts

If you drag a window to the top of your screen, you’ll also see the same layout options appear.

Adjust the 50/50 Layout

Once you have windows snapped in a 50/50 arrangement, you can customise the split further. Move your mouse cursor between the two windows until you see a thick line appear. Your cursor will change to a left-right arrow.

Click and drag on that line to change the percentage of screen space each window occupies. This works perfectly with Microsoft products and web-browsers, but your experience may vary with other applications.

Change the windows percentage when they are snapped at 50%

Recap

When you’ve got multiple windows open, Windows 11 allows you to position them quickly and easily in various arrangements to help you work with multiple across files. The layouts feature builds upon the familiar Snap function but offers more flexibility and options for organising your workspace.

Whether you’re comparing documents, referencing data whilst writing, or monitoring multiple applications, these window management features can really increase your productivity.

Have you tried the Windows 11 layouts feature yet? What’s your preferred window arrangement for multitasking? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!

Written with the help of Claude AI from an original transcription.