To customize Snap behavior in Windows 11, open Settings > System > Multitasking, turn on Snap windows, and choose which Snap features to enable. You can open the available layouts by hovering over a window’s maximize button or pressing Windows key + Z, then select a layout and fill its remaining spaces with other open windows. The available layouts are predetermined and can vary with display size.
Turn Snap windows on or off
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Go to System > Multitasking.
- Expand Snap windows.
- Turn the main Snap windows switch on or off.
Turn on this switch to use Snap features. Interface wording can differ across Windows updates.
Choose which Snap features are enabled
Under Snap windows, select the checkboxes for the behaviors you want. Microsoft documents options for these actions:
| Behavior | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Show what I can snap next | Shows suggestions for other open windows after you snap the first one (Snap Assist). |
| Show layouts on maximize-button hover | Opens the Snap layout choices when you hover over a window’s maximize or restore button. |
| Show layouts when dragging to the top | Shows the Snap bar when you drag a window to the top of the screen. |
| Show snapped windows in taskbar previews, Task View, and Alt+Tab | Controls whether snapped-window groups appear in those views. |
| Allow snapping before reaching the screen edge | Lets you snap a window without dragging it all the way to the screen edge. |
The exact checkbox wording may vary across Windows updates. Choose the options according to the action that triggers them: hovering over the maximize button, dragging to the top, filling the next space, viewing snapped groups, or dragging near an edge.
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Open and use Snap Layouts
- Open the window you want to arrange.
- Hover over its maximize or restore button, or press Windows key + Z.
- Select one of the available layouts.
- When Snap Assist shows suggestions, select other open windows to fill the remaining spaces.
You can also drag a window toward the top of the screen to show the Snap bar if that option is enabled. Depending on the size of your display, you might see different predetermined layouts.
Manage snapped-window groups
Windows can show snapped-window groups in taskbar hover previews, Task View, and Alt+Tab. To control these views, open Settings > System > Multitasking, expand Snap windows, and adjust the option for showing snapped windows in those places.
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FAQ
Where are the Snap Layout settings in Windows 11?
Open Settings > System > Multitasking and expand Snap windows. Turn on the main switch and select the behaviors you want.
How do I open Snap Layouts with the keyboard?
Press Windows key + Z to open the layout choices. Select a layout, then use Snap Assist to fill the remaining spaces with other open windows.
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Why does the Snap bar not appear when I drag a window to the top?
In Settings > System > Multitasking, expand Snap windows and enable the option to show layouts when dragging a window to the top of the screen.
Why do my layout choices differ from another computer’s?
Layout availability can depend on display size. Microsoft says users might see different predetermined layouts depending on the size of the display.
Can I design and save an arbitrary Snap Layout template?
The documented Windows Snap settings let you select from predetermined layouts and configure Snap behavior; they do not document a built-in control for designing arbitrary templates.
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Use Settings > System > Multitasking > Snap windows to choose which Snap behaviors are enabled. Open the layout choices with maximize-button hover or Windows key + Z, and use Snap Assist to fill the remaining spaces. The predetermined choices can vary with display size.
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