This overlooked Windows feature makes multitasking so much easier

Dragging windows to the sides of your screen works okay, I guess, but Windows 11 provides a much better way to arrange them.

Press Win + Z and Snap Layouts will appear in the top-right corner of your active window. These ready-made layouts divide your screen into two, three, or four sections—across nine different arrangements. You simply pick a section for your current window, then use Snap Assist to fill the open spaces with other apps.

I’ve found that the best layout depends on your task. For writing, I like the split that gives one window about two-thirds of the screen and another window the remaining third. This leaves plenty of room for typing in Word while keeping notes open beside it. For research, I like two equal windows for reading and taking notes, or one large window with two smaller ones stacked vertically beside it.

Spreadsheets also work well in the two-thirds layout. Give Excel the larger section and keep a browser, calculator, or source document in the smaller one. During video calls, place the meeting in the large section, and use the smaller space for notes, chat, or an agenda.

You can also open Snap Layouts by hovering over a window’s maximize button or dragging the window to the top of the screen. The options you see may change based on your display’s size and shape.

Once you build a layout, Windows treats those apps as a Snap Group. You can restore the whole group from the taskbar, Task View, or Alt + Tab. You can also drag the divider between snapped windows to resize them together.

While this is most effective with a single monitor, it can also work well with a multi-monitor setup as well. Just like it did for me, it might take you a bit to get used to, but trust me when I say that Win + Z is a much cleaner way to manage a crowded desktop.

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