Having multiple open windows on your laptop screen can be helpful for multitasking and productivity. But, it’s not always easy to do on a laptop, especially if you don’t know how to split the screen.
Fortunately, Dell laptops are designed to make screen-splitting easy and efficient.
It allows you to have two open windows side by side, so you can work on different tasks with ease.
Plus, it can help decrease the time you spend switching windows, increasing your overall productivity and efficiency.
This article will explain how to split your screen on a Dell laptop, as well as offer tips and tricks for optimizing screen space and taking full advantage of this feature.
How To Split Your Screen On A Dell Laptop
Ensure Your System Is Compatible
In order to ensure that your Dell laptop is compatible with the process of splitting its screen, there are a few key requirements to make sure you have met.
The first is to make sure you have the right system setup as not all Dell computers support this feature.
Depending on the monitor, different versions of Dell laptop software can provide the means to properly split the screen.
Another important step to ensure your Dell laptop is compatible with this feature is to make sure you have the latest operating system and drivers.
This will ensure that all of the necessary features are available to you that could be required for the process.
You can go to the official Dell support page to find the latest updates for your laptop.
Thirdly, you need to make sure that your display drivers are up to date. Newer versions of drivers may provide better compatibility for the screen-splitting feature.
Keeping your drivers up to date is an essential step in making sure that your Dell laptop system is compatible.
Finally, if you have not yet done so, ensure that you have an active internet connection.
Connecting your laptop to the internet will allow your operating system to access updates, drivers, and other necessary apps that will support the process of splitting the screen on your laptop.
Making sure that your system is compatible will give you the best chance of a successful process when it comes to splitting your Dell laptop’s screen.
Following the steps outlined above can ensure your laptop is ready for the task at hand.
Requirements For Splitting The Screen
Splitting your laptop’s screen into multiple windows can be an incredibly useful way to juggle multiple tasks at once, but it’s not always a straightforward process.
Luckily, learning how to split the screen on a Dell laptop is a relatively easy process.
Before you get started, however, there are a few requirements that should be met in order to guarantee a successful split.
First of all, you’ll need to make sure that you’re using a Dell laptop with a Windows operating system and a Windows 10 update.
Otherwise, the steps for splitting your screen won’t apply. Additionally, if your Dell laptop has a touchscreen, you will also need to ensure that it’s enabled.
If it’s not, you’ll need to configure it in the settings before you can continue.
Other than those two basic requirements, you’ll also need to make sure that your laptop has enough screen space and memory to handle the additional windows.
Generally, the more windows you plan to split, the more screen space and memory you’ll need.
To check whether you have sufficient memory and screen space, go to Settings > System > Display, and check to see whether the “Scale and Layout” option is set to the highest resolution.
If it isn’t, you’ll need to upgrade your laptop in order to increase the amount of available memory and screen space.
Once you’ve made sure all of these requirements are met, you can start the process of splitting your screen on a Dell laptop and get on with multi-tasking like a pro.
Unlocking And Activating The “Video Card”
Before you can split the screen on a Dell laptop, the “Video Card” must be unlocked and activated.
This is a fairly simple process that involves a few steps.
First, make sure you’re connected to the internet, as your system will require that access to update the Video Card.
Once you’re connected, open the control panel on your laptop and navigate to “Device Manager”.
There you can search for “Video Card”. Once located you will be able to find the “Unlock” button, which will allow you to access the properties and enable the Video Card.
The next step is to activate the Video Card. To do this, open the Control Panel and browse for “System and Security”.
Here you’ll be able to find the “Device Manager” tab and it will be listed alongside other hardware components.
Select the hardware category and choose “Video Card”. Right-click and select “Enable”.
This will initiate the activation process that’s necessary for splitting the screen on your Dell laptop.
The last step is to update the Video Card drivers to ensure that any future software updates will be compatible.
You can locate the drivers via the manufacturer’s website, or you can search online for a reliable download. Once the drivers are installed, you’re good to go.
Now that your Video Card is unlocked and activated, you can now split the screen on your Dell laptop.
Select The First Window
When you have multiple windows or programs running on your Dell laptop, it can be useful to split the screen so that you can have different windows open at the same time and view them side by side.
Splitting your screen can save time and make it easier to move between tasks, allowing you to open different programs or windows as you need them.
To begin splitting your screen, select the first window that you want to display.
Open the window or program that you want to view, then move your mouse to the top of the screen and click the “Maximize” button.
This will expand the window to fill the entire screen.
If you need to open multiple windows for the same project, you can click the “File” menu in the top corner of the window, then click “New” or “Open” to open another window.
Once the window is open, repeat the steps of selecting the “Maximize” button.
If you need to open a window that is already open, you can press the Windows key on your keyboard, then type in the name of the window.
Once you find the window you want, simply click on the window to select it and then click the “Maximize” button.
Once you have selected the window or windows you want on the screen, you can begin to split your screen.
Click and drag the top of the window to the left or right side of the screen to adjust the size and position of the window.
Once the window is in the desired position, you can move on to the next window. Continue this process until all of the windows are in the desired positions and you have successfully split your screen.
Connecting Dual Monitors
Connecting Dual Monitors to a Dell laptop can be a great way to expand your view and increase your productivity.
Whether you are looking to duplicate your screen or extend your workspace, the appropriate Cable or Adapter is necessary to connect an external monitor to your Dell laptop.
The best way to connect dual monitors to your Dell laptop is to use either a DisplayPort cable or an HDMI cable.
DisplayPort is the ideal option if your laptop also has a DisplayPort output. It allows you to connect two monitors to your laptop at once.
If your laptop only has an HDMI port, you can use an HDMI splitter to connect two monitors at once.
Alternatively, if your laptop has a USB-C port, you can use a USB-C to HDMI dongle to connect two monitors.
Once the appropriate cable or dongle is connected, open Windows Settings and select the “System” option from the list.
Select the “Display” option from the left-hand menu, which will open the “Multiple displays” window.
From here, you can choose which options you would like to use for your dual monitors.
If you have other external devices, such as a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard, you may need to pair them before the dual monitors can be used.
You can do this by going to the “Bluetooth & Other Devices” option in Windows Settings.
Finally, if you need to adjust the display settings either for the whole display or for individual monitors, you can access these options by right-clicking anywhere on your desktop.
This will open a menu, where you can select the “Display Settings” option. From here, you can adjust the brightness, resolution, and other settings for each monitor.
Splitting your screen on a Dell laptop is an achievable task that can help you to get the most out of your setup.
With the right adapters and cables, you can easily connect two monitors to your laptop, and customize the display settings to your preference.
Adjusting The Monitors In Accessibility Settings
Split-screen capabilities are very useful when multitasking, and if you have a Dell laptop, it’s easy to learn how to use this feature.
To take advantage of the dual-monitor display on your laptop, you’ll need to adjust a few settings in the accessibility preferences of your laptop.
First, open the start menu and search for the visualization menu.
This menu will list the different options and settings related to controlling and managing your laptop’s display. When you’re there, select the “Duplicate” option under the “Change the Visualization Settings” section.
This option will allow you to use two monitors to display one image, also known as a “dual monitor split-screen.”
Next, go to the “Display” setting. Under this section, you should see a few options related to your laptop’s accessibility settings, such as resolution and orientation.
Here, you can adjust the size of your display or the angle of your laptop for a better view. You can also choose to increase or decrease your brightness in this section.
In the last section, you can configure multitasking features. This will allow you to divide your screen into multiple windows or panels of various sizes.
This is perfect for when you need to work with multiple applications and programs or for when you’re multitasking.
Once you make all the necessary adjustments to your laptop’s accessibility settings, you can start using the dual monitor split-screen feature.
Open Second Window
Having the ability to open multiple windows on a Dell laptop at the same time is a handy feature.
Whether you’re running sign-in sheets for a club or working on two documents simultaneously, knowing how to split your screen on a Dell laptop can save you time. Fortunately, it’s quite easy.
To open a second window, begin by pressing the Start button on the bottom left corner of the laptop.
Then, select the program that you want to use. If you’re using a pre-installed program, like Microsoft Word, simply hover your mouse over the app you want to open, then select it.
If you need to search for a specific program, type its name into the search bar at the top of the display.
Once you’ve opened the first window, move your mouse to the top of the display and select “View.” Then, select “Snap” from the menu.
A list of options should appear. Select “Split screen.” The screen should now be split evenly in half, allowing you to view two windows at the same time.
To open a second window on the opposite side of the screen, simply move the top window over to the right-hand side of the display and press the Start button.
You can now open a second window in the left-hand side of the display.
By splitting your screen, you can quickly and easily open multiple windows at the same time on a Dell laptop.
Following the above steps can make multitasking more efficient and get more done in less time.
Drag Divider Bar
Many Dell laptops come with a pre-installed feature, called the “Drag Divider Bar,” that allows users to quickly and easily split their laptop’s screen into multiple sections.
This can be particularly useful when using multiple software applications simultaneously, such as comparing data in multiple spreadsheets while writing a document.
Using the Drag Divider Bar is an easy process, regardless of your familiarity with computer systems.
First, open the software applications you would like to display on your screen simultaneously.
Then, click the “Drag Divider Bar” icon, found in the lower right-hand corner of your screen.
Click and drag the bar to the desired location on your screen, then release the mouse button when you are done. You will then be able to see multiple windows at once.
To move the Drag Divider Bar around on the screen, simply click and drag it to the new desired location, then release the mouse button.
To close the bar, simply click it again and when the bar disappears from the screen, your applications will expand to the full-screen display.
For those who are not familiar with the “Drag Divider Bar” feature on Dell laptops, this task may seem daunting.
But with a few clicks, you can easily split your laptop’s screen into multiple sections, without the hassle of installing any additional software.
Whether you are working on multiple applications simultaneously or simply want to keep tabs on multiple programs, the Drag Divider Bar on Dell laptops can help make your life easier.
Setting Up The Monitor Layout
Setting up the Monitor Layout on a Dell Laptop is fairly straightforward and can be done in just a few short steps.
First, make sure you have the necessary equipment. You’ll need a Dell laptop with dual video outputs, as well as two compatible monitors (or other compatible display devices).
Once you have everything you need, connect each monitor to the proper video output on the laptop. For example, if the laptop has two HDMI ports, connect a monitor to each port.
Once the monitors are connected, open up the display settings on the laptop. Select the “Display” option on the laptop screen and click “Split”.
Select one or both of the monitors to be split (considering how much screen space you need). This will split the two connected monitors into two separate sections.
Finally, adjust the layout of your split screen. You can drag and drop each section of the screen to arrange the layout that best fits your needs.
To further customize the layout of your dual monitors, consider switching over to the Advanced Configuration settings.
Here, you can rearrange the placement of each monitor, change the orientation, enable rotation, and more.
Once you have the perfect layout, you’re ready to use your dual monitor split screen.
Enjoy the extra window space to multitask and maximize productivity. Whether you’re working, gaming, or browsing the web, having a split monitor is an incredibly useful tool.
How To Split Your Screen On A Dell Laptop
Follow these steps to view two applications side-by-side on your Dell laptop:
1. Open up the two applications you want to view.
2. Hover your mouse over the title bar (the top portion) of the first application.
3. Put your mouse pointer over the middle of the title bar until it turns into a double-headed arrow.
4. Click, drag, and hold the mouse button while you drag the title bar in either direction to the left or right.
5. When either of the window’s sides reaches the laptop screen’s edge, you’ll see a “thumbnail” preview of the other application, at which point you can release the mouse button.
6. Your two applications will now be split and share the same screen.
Now all you need to do is resize the windows so that you can see the entire contents of both applications.
To do this, point and click on any corner of the applications, then drag and hold the mouse button until the window is the desired size.
If you ever need to restore each window to full-screen size, simply double-click on any title bar.
Your laptop screen will now show each window in its original state.
Following this process, you can split your screen in just a few quick steps and start using your Dell laptop to manage multiple tasks with ease.
How To Adjust The Size Of Your Split Screens
If you want to adjust the size of your split screens, you can do so by clicking on the “Display” tab in the Dell Display Manager. Then, click on the “Size” option.
You will then be able to adjust the size of each individual screen by moving the slider bars. Once you have adjusted the size of each screen to your liking, click on the “Apply” button.
How To Move Windows Between Your Split Screens
If you want to move a window from one screen to another, you can do so by first clicking on the window that you want to move.
Then, press and hold down the Windows key + Shift key + Arrow key in the direction that you want to move the window.
For example, if you want to move a window from your left screen to your right screen, you would press and hold down the Windows key + Shift key + Right Arrow key. The window will then move over to your right screen.
How To Change The Background Of Your Split Screens
If you want to change the background of your split screens, you can do so by clicking on the “Display” tab in the Dell Display Manager.
Then, click on the “Background” option.
You will then be able to select a new background for each individual screen by clicking on the “Browse” button next to each screen.
Once you have selected a new background for each screen, click on the “Apply” button
Navigating The Adjustment Window
Navigating the Adjustment Window for Splitting Your Screen on a Dell Laptop
Splitting your screen is a convenient way to multitask on a Dell laptop.
To get started, locate the Window Adjustment option in the Settings or Display menu of your laptop.
When you open the Adjustment window, it will provide you with several options for adjusting your display settings.
At the top of the Adjustment window, you’ll see a drop-down menu of resolution settings.
Here, you can select the ratio of your split screen, select whether you want a portrait or landscape orientation, and set the resolution for each display.
Once you’ve chosen a split screen option, you’ll find additional display adjustment options at the bottom of the window.
Here, you can choose the multiple display and communication options, including whether to mirror or extend your screen, and whether to disable display sleep and change screen orientation.
Now that you’ve adjusted your display settings, click the power button at the bottom of the adjustment window to finish the process.
Your laptop will ask for confirmation that you want to split your screen. Once you click on the “Ok” button, your laptop will be ready to split the display.
Now that your display is split, you can begin multitasking in style. With the Adjustment window, you can easily adjust your display settings and make the most out of your laptop’s split-screen capability.
Whether you need to compare two documents or watch a video while working on a spreadsheet, the Adjustment window will help you optimize your multitasking environment.
Adjusting The Screen Resolution
Adjusting the screen resolution is essential for splitting the screen on a Dell laptop.
To do this, open the start button and click on the “Settings” icon. Next, click on the “System” tab, and then select “Display” from the sidebar.
Under the “Scale and Layout” section, you will be able to adjust the display resolution.
Depending on the model and size of the laptop you have, you may have up to four different resolution options.
Select the resolution option which best suits your needs and click “Apply”.
Once you have chosen the resolution which matches the size of your current application window, you will be able to split the screen on your Dell laptop.
To do this, move the cursor to the top of the application window until the resize icon appears.
Then, drag the icon to resize the window by pulling the corner to the bottom of your laptop. This will create two equally-sized boxes on the screen.
To move an application window to the new space, click on the app window and drag it over to the space that you want it to be in.
You can repeat this step for all the windows you want to have on the screen. If you want to swap two windows, click and drag any of the windows from one side to the other.
Once you’re finished arranging all the windows, you can save your preferred view by clicking on the plus sign located in the upper right-hand corner of the window.
This will allow you to quickly switch between the views when needed.
By adjusting the screen resolution and utilizing the drag-and-drop process, you can easily split the screen on your Dell laptop.
This will allow you to have several windows open simultaneously, allowing you to manage your workload more and complete tasks more efficiently.
Get Started With Hotkeys
Are you ready to start using hotkeys to easily split your screen on your Dell laptop?
Hotkeys are a great way to quickly and easily perform tasks, such as splitting your screen.
With hotkeys, you can assign certain key combinations to certain commands, making splitting your screen as easy as a few keystrokes.
To get started, you’ll need to learn some of the hotkeys associated with Windows.
First up is the Windows key, which is usually between the CTRL and ALT keys on your keyboard.
Pressed alone, this will open the Windows Start menu. The Windows key combined with the letter R will open the “Run” dialog box, so you can quickly run programs or open folders.
The Windows key combined with the letter D will minimize all of your windows, taking you back to the desktop.
Pressing Windows key D again will restore all of your windows to their previous size and location.
The Windows key combined with the left or right arrow keys will move one of your windows to the respective side of the screen, allowing you to half the screen and place two windows side-by-side.
Finally, pressing the Windows key plus the up or down arrow keys will change the size and location of your window to completely fill the screen.
To move a window back to its default size, simply press the Windows key and the ESC key together.
These Windows hotkeys allow you to quickly split your screen, maximizing the use of space on your Dell laptop.
Now that you have the basics down, you can start experimenting with different key combinations until you find the one that works best for you!
Use The Action Center
The Action Center is a great way to split your screen on a Dell laptop.
It allows you to quickly switch between multiple windows and programs, giving you more space to work in.
There are two ways to access the Action Center: 1) through the ‘Start’ menu or 2) through physical keys on the laptop. Here’s how to use the Action Center to split your screen:
1. Press the Windows key and A to open the Action Center.
2. Under the ‘Quick Actions’ section, click ‘Split Your Screen’.
3. The screen will be automatically split into two halves. To change the size of each part of the screen, click and drag the border between them.
4. On the left side of the screen, select the window or program you want to display.
5. On the right side of the screen, select another window or program to display.
6. If you want to close the split screen, click the ‘X’ on the top-right corner of each window.
Using the Action Center to split your screen gives you more space to work in, and makes it easier to switch between windows and programs.
It’s a great way to manage multiple tasks at once on a Dell laptop. Give it a try today, and see how much easier it makes your workday.
Choose An App In Task View
Within the Windows 10 operating system, users have access to the powerful
Task View tool. Task View makes it easy to multitask on a Dell laptop by enabling the user to split their screen.
In order to utilize this feature, you must first open the Task View pane and choose an app for the split screen.
Prior to the split, open the Task View pane to choose an application for the left side of the window.
To access this pane, select the Task View icon which is a rectangular box on the taskbar located on the bottom of the screen.
Once the Task View pane is open, select the app from the open list that you wish to move to the left side.
Next, select the app and drag the window to the left side of the screen. This action will create two panes.
To adjust the size of the two panes, click and drag the borders that separate the windows to create the desired sizes of the two panes.
Choosing an app in Task View is easy and will allow you to multitask on your Dell laptop.
You can choose any app that is open while in the Task View panel by either selecting the icon or title of the app.
Once you have chosen the correct app, you can drag and resize the windows to your liking to enable the split screen utilizing Task View.
Utilize Snap Assist
Snap Assist is an easy-to-use Windows feature for Dell laptop users that lets them split their screen in two by dragging a window to each side of the screen.
This allows users to multi-task more effectively, as they can view two applications at a time, side-by-side.
Utilizing Snap Assist is a great way for Dell users to both boost productivity and make better use of the laptop’s limited screen space.
The first step to using Snap Assist on a Dell laptop is to open multiple windows. Open the windows that you need to view simultaneously, such as a document, web browser, and calculator.
Once you have all the windows open, click and hold the title bar of one window, and you’ll see all active windows shrink down to thumbnail images.
Next, drag and drop the window you would like to view on one side of the screen. You’ll notice a dotted line appear on the Dell laptop’s monitor.
This is an indication that you are beginning to snap the window in place. To complete the operation, drag the window to whichever side you’d like and it should snap into place.
With Snap Assist, Dell users can repeat this process for up to four windows. This is a great way to utilize all four corners of the screen and allows users to maximize the laptop’s screen space.
If you’d like to maximize only one window, you can double-click the title bar and the window will be restored to its original size.
Snap Assist is a great way for Dell laptop users to split the screen and view multiple applications simultaneously.
It’s an easy-to-use feature and can be used to make the most of a laptop’s screen space. If you want to make the most of your Dell laptop, give Snap Assist a try!
Troubleshooting Any Issues With Monitor Split
When troubleshooting any issues with monitor splitting on a Dell laptop, it’s important to first make sure your hardware is compatible with the feature.
You will typically need either two external monitors or one external and the laptop’s built-in display for the simplest setup.
In addition, ensure that your laptop meets the minimum requirements for running the Dell Display Manager (for Windows-based systems) or the Dell Dock (for Mac OS).
If you have problems with the monitor split itself, your first step should be to check to make sure the feature has actually been enabled.
For the Dell Dock, you can do this by right-clicking its icon on the taskbar, then selecting “Display Options”. Similarly, in the Dell Display Manager interface you’ll need to click “View” and “Split Displays”.
If you encounter a problem when actually attempting to split the screen, there are a few potential fixes.
Firstly, try restarting your laptop after any changes have been made, as this can often help solve software-related issues.
It’s also worth double-checking the connection of any external displays you may be using; make sure to use the appropriate cables for the job.
Finally, if the issue persists, the problem may lie with the monitor itself.
Faulty hardware can often result in unexpected behavior with the monitor split feature, so it’s worth contacting Dell’s support team to discuss further and resolve the issue.
Final Words
In conclusion, splitting your screen on a Dell laptop is a great way to multitask on multiple programs or windows.
This can help speed up your workflow, minimize clutter, and make it easier to work with multiple programs at once.
We have shown you the steps necessary to split your screen on a Dell laptop, so you can easily do this yourself.
With the help of this article, you should now feel comfortable and confident in splitting your screen and taking your multitasking capabilities to the next level.
