Split Screen on Edge Browser
Learn how Edge Split Screen works, where it is supported, why it may be missing, and how to compare two pages in one tab.
Microsoft Edge Split Screen displays two interactive web pages side by side inside one browser tab. It is useful for comparing documentation with code, checking two versions of a page, or keeping a reference page visible while you work. Microsoft documents support on Windows and macOS starting with Edge 117; Android and iOS are listed as unsupported.
What Edge Split Screen does
Split Screen groups two pages inside one Edge tab. Each pane remains interactive, so you can scroll, click links, enter text, and navigate independently. The pages stay together as a split view until you leave the feature.
When you exit, Edge can keep both pages as normal tabs. Open the Split Screen pane’s More options menu and choose Separate two tabs. This leaves the two pages available as separate tabs instead of closing one of them.
How to split the screen in Edge
- Update Edge, then confirm you are using version 117 or newer on Windows or macOS.
- Open the two pages you want to use.
- Use the Split Screen command shown in your Edge interface. The exact toolbar placement can vary by browser version, device, market, or organization policy.
- Select the second page for the other pane. Both pages should now appear in one tab.
- Click either pane to work in it. The active pane receives keyboard input and navigation.
Microsoft’s current documentation does not establish one universal toolbar location for launching Split Screen, so avoid relying on an old screenshot or an experimental flag. If the command is absent, work through the checks below.
Keyboard navigation between panes
On Windows, Microsoft’s shortcut reference lists:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| F6 | Move focus to the next pane |
| Shift + F6 | Move focus to the previous pane |
The reviewed shortcut reference does not document a universal shortcut for launching Split Screen. Shortcut availability can vary with platform and version.
Supported platforms and versions
| Platform | Documented support |
|---|---|
| Windows | Supported from Edge 117 |
| macOS | Supported from Edge 117 |
| Android | Listed as unsupported |
| iPhone and iPad | Listed as unsupported |
Availability and behavior can still vary by device type, market, and browser version. A feature available on one desktop installation may be hidden on another.
Why Split Screen is missing
Your Edge version is too old
Check the Edge version in the browser’s About page and update if it is below 117. Restart Edge after updating, then look for the Split Screen command again.
Your organization disabled it
Managed Windows and macOS devices can control the feature with the SplitScreenEnabled policy. If the policy is enabled or not configured, users can use Split Screen. If it is disabled, the command is unavailable. A policy change requires restarting the browser before it takes effect.
You are on Android or iOS
Microsoft’s policy documentation lists both mobile platforms as unsupported. Use two tabs, separate windows, or an operating-system layout instead.
The interface changed
Edge can move commands between the toolbar and menus as versions change. Check the current More options menu and Edge help for your installed version rather than following an old video.
Split Screen versus two browser windows
| Question | Split Screen | Two windows |
|---|---|---|
| Where do pages live? | Two pages inside one Edge tab | Pages in separate browser windows |
| How do you focus a page? | Click a pane or use F6/Shift+F6 on Windows | Activate the other window |
| How do you preserve the pair? | Use Separate two tabs when exiting | Keep both windows open |
| Availability | Depends on Edge version, platform, and policy | Depends on your desktop environment |
Choose Split Screen when the pages belong together and you want one tab to represent the comparison. Choose separate windows when you need independent window placement or when Split Screen is unavailable.
Practical ways to use Edge Split Screen
- Read API documentation in one pane while editing an example in the other.
- Compare a production page with a staging page.
- Keep a ticket, issue, or design brief visible while reviewing the implementation.
- Check a translated page against the source page.
- Monitor a reference page while filling out a form in the second pane.
Because both panes are live pages, logins, redirects, popups, and site-specific state can affect each side independently.
Troubleshooting checklist
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No Split Screen command | Old Edge version, unsupported platform, or disabled policy | Update Edge; confirm Windows/macOS; ask the administrator to review SplitScreenEnabled. |
| Policy change has no effect | Browser has not refreshed policy state | Fully restart Edge after the administrator changes the policy. |
| Only one page is visible | The second pane was closed or navigation replaced it | Reopen the Split Screen view and select the second page again. |
| Keyboard shortcut does nothing | Focus is in page content, an address field, or a non-Windows build | Click the browser chrome or target pane, then try F6. Treat shortcuts as platform and version dependent. |
| Pages do not stay paired after leaving | The view was closed without separating the panes | Use More options > Separate two tabs before exiting. |
| Feature differs between computers | Different Edge versions, markets, devices, or management policies | Compare versions and policy settings on both devices. |
Performance and reliability considerations
- Two live pages use more CPU, memory, and network bandwidth than one page. Heavy web apps, video, and large documents can make scrolling less responsive.
- Each pane can load its own scripts, images, trackers, and account state. A slow or blocked site affects that pane without necessarily affecting the other.
- Keep the number of active extensions low while diagnosing problems; an extension can alter navigation or page layout in one or both panes.
- For repeatable visual comparisons, use the same zoom level, viewport size, account state, and page URL in both sessions.
Or skip the browser setup
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpimport requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
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Frequently asked questions
Can I open two websites in one Edge tab?
Yes. Split Screen is designed to open and interact with two web pages inside one tab on supported desktop versions.
Does Split Screen work on Android or iPhone?
Microsoft lists Android and iOS as unsupported for this feature.
Can I turn the panes back into normal tabs?
Yes. Open More options in the Split Screen view and choose Separate two tabs.
Is there a launch keyboard shortcut?
The reviewed Microsoft shortcut reference documents pane navigation keys, but not a universal launch shortcut.
Why can my coworker use Split Screen but I cannot?
Compare Edge versions, operating systems, device markets, and the SplitScreenEnabled policy on managed computers.
