Multitask with windows and tabs

You can finish tasks faster by reorganising and moving your windows and tabs.

Switch between windows quickly

Press and hold Alt, then tap Tab until you get to the window that you want to open.

See two windows at the same time

1. On one of the windows that you want to see, click and hold Maximise .
2. Drag to the left or right arrow .
3. Repeat for a second window.

Tip: You can also use the shortcut Alt + [ to move left or Alt + ] to move right.

Float a window

You can now multitask more effectively when you float a window. When you float a window, you keep that window open and can freely move it around.

1. On the window that you want to float, hover over Maximise .
2. In the menu that pops up, select Float .
3. Reposition and resize the window as applicable.

Tip: A floated window stays in the background when you open or select other windows or apps. You need to move the floating window around to get a full view of windows or apps in the background.

Close a floating window

To return a floating window to its previous position and size:

1. On the window that you want to close, hover over Unfloat .
2. In the menu that pops up, select Float .

Tip: When you close a floating window, it doesn’t automatically maximise the window. Instead, it returns to its size and position before it was floated.

Split or partial screen a window

You can also multitask when you split or partial screen a window. When you split or partial screen a window, you keep that window open next or over another window.

1. On the window that you want to split or partial screen, hover over Maximise .
2. In the menu that pops up, select either:
   • Split: Divides your screen evenly. You can choose to put the window either on the right or left.
   • Partial: Divides the screen with one larger and one smaller window. You can choose to make your selected window either the smaller or larger window.

Tips:

• A split or partial screened window stays in the background when you open or select other windows or apps. To display two windows next to one another, select Split or Partial windows for both windows.
• You can also adjust the size of a split or partial window. Move your cursor to the edge of the window. With the arrow cursor that displays, expand or contract the edge of the screen as desired.

Restore a split or partial window to full screen

To return a split or partial window to its previous position and size:

• On the window that you want to restore, select Maximise .

Move windows between monitors

1. In the overview window, select the window that you want to move.
2. Drag the window to the monitor in which you want to view it.

Change window size

• View full screen: At the top of your keyboard, press Full screen (or F4).
• Maximise window: At the top right, click Maximise .
• Minimise window: At the top right, click Minimise .

Open and close windows and tabs

• Open a new window: Press Ctrl + n
• Open a new tab: Press Ctrl + t
• Close window or tab: At the top right, click Close
• Reopen a window or tab that you closed: Press Ctrl + Shift + t

Group your tabs

You can organise your tabs with groups.

1. Open Chrome .
2. Select New tab .
3. Right-click a tab and then select Add to new group.
   • To edit your tab group, select the circle to the left of your tab. You can:
     • Name your group.
     • Add additional tabs to the group.
     • Remove the group.
   • To add a tab to an existing group, drag the tab into the group.
   • To remove a tab from a group, right-click on the tab, then select Remove from group.

Search all open tabs

To search across all open tabs:

1. On your keyboard, press Search  or open the Launcher .
2. Start typing the name of your tab in the search bar and your open tab will surface in the results.

Reorder, move or pin tabs

You can put related tabs together, or move a tab into or out of a window. Also, if there’s a web page that you always want open, like your email, you can make that tab easy to find by pinning it.

• Reorder tabs within the same window: Drag the tab to different position along the top of the browser window.
• Move a tab into a new window: Click and drag the tab away from the window. You can make the tab into its own window, or drag it into another window.
• Pin a tab in place: Right-click the tab and select Pin tab. A pinned tab will appear on the left side of your browser window, and will be smaller.

Related articles

• Connect to a monitor
• Move windows between signed-in accounts
• Set up and manage multiple desktops with Virtual desks