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.
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.
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.
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.
YouTube Videos
Windows 10 or 11? 4 Easy Ways to Check Which Version You Have
Easy Fix: Bring Back Classic Windows Taskbar Layout on Windows 11
Quick Tip: Accessing All Right-Click Menu Options in Windows 11
Windows 11 Layouts vs Snap: The Guide to Managing Your Windows | Productivity Tip
Windows 11 Snipping Tool: New Features & Complete Tutorial (Including Screen Recording!)
How to Capture Right-Click Menus in Windows 11 Snipping Tool (The Workaround That Actually Works!)
Windows 11 Tip: Disable Annoying Widget Pop-ups in 30 Seconds
How to Add Borders to ALL Your Screenshots in Windows 11 Snipping Tool
How to Copy File Path in Windows 11 (Quick & Easy Method)
How to Show File Extensions in Windows 11 File Explorer (Easy Tutorial)
Other Windows 11 Posts
Quick Tips to Identity Windows 10 vs Windows 11
How to Move Windows 11 Taskbar to the Left: A Simple Guide
Access Hidden Options in the Windows 11 Right Click Menu
How to use Windows 11 Layouts to Organise Your Screen (current post)
Windows 11 Snipping Tool – What’s New
How to Capture Right-Click Menus in Windows 11 Snipping Tool
How to Stop Windows 11 Widgets from Automatically Opening When You Hover
Windows 11 Screenshots Made Better: Add Eye-Catching Borders In Just 3 Steps
5 Powerful Reasons Why You Need File Extensions Visible in Windows 11
Recent Posts
- Ready to Create Your First Microsoft Loop Workspace?
If you read last week’s blog, you’ll already know what Microsoft Loop is and who can access it. Now it’s time to get hands-on and create your first Microsoft Loop workspace. Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to start — by the end of this post, you’ll have your own workspace set up and… Read more: Ready to Create Your First Microsoft Loop Workspace? - Microsoft Loop – Time to Actually Use What’s Already in Your M365 Toolkit
If you’ve been asking yourself what is Microsoft Loop, you’re not alone. It’s one of those tools that quietly appeared in your Microsoft 365 apps and left you wondering, “what on earth is that?” In this post, I’m going to break it down in plain English so you can decide whether it’s worth exploring. So,… Read more: Microsoft Loop – Time to Actually Use What’s Already in Your M365 Toolkit - Busy But Not Out of Office? Teams Has You Covered
If you’ve ever wished there was a way to let people know you’re heads-down on something without setting up a full out of office, the Microsoft Teams status message is exactly what you need. It’s a small but mighty feature that sits quietly in Teams, waiting to be discovered. In this post, I’m walking you… Read more: Busy But Not Out of Office? Teams Has You Covered - The Quickest Way to Navigate Microsoft Teams
If you spend a lot of time in Microsoft Teams, you’ll know the struggle — endless scrolling through chats and channels trying to find the one you need. The Microsoft Teams GoTo command is here to fix that. It’s a simple keyboard shortcut that takes you straight where you need to go, no scrolling required.… Read more: The Quickest Way to Navigate Microsoft Teams - Can’t Find Your Unread Teams Messages? Try This First
Have you ever noticed a notification in Microsoft Teams telling you there’s an unread message, but no matter where you look, you just can’t track it down? You’re not alone — it’s one of those small but genuinely frustrating things that can eat up your time. The good news is there’s a really simple way… Read more: Can’t Find Your Unread Teams Messages? Try This First
Windows 11 Layouts, innovative desktop layouts, easy-to-navigate desktop layout