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To split an ultrawide monitor between apps from one computer, arrange the windows with your operating system’s tiling controls: use Snap in Windows or window tiling and Split View in macOS. You do not need a monitor feature for that. Use Picture-by-Picture (PBP) only when you want the monitor to show separate video sources—such as two computers—at the same time. PBP is model-dependent, so check your monitor’s manual and supported input combinations before changing cables or settings.
The quickest way to choose a setup is to ask whether the windows belong to one computer or the sources come from separate devices. That distinction determines whether to use your desktop’s window controls or the monitor’s on-screen menu.
First decide what you mean by split screen
“Split screen” can describe two different setups. Choosing the right one first saves time: one uses software to arrange windows, while the other uses the monitor to display separate inputs.
Several apps from one computer: tile the windows
If you want a browser, document, chat app, or other programs visible together on the same computer, start with Windows Snap or macOS window tiling. The operating system positions application windows on the desktop; the monitor simply displays that desktop. You can do this whether the display is ultrawide or not, although the available arrangements depend on the controls and layouts offered by your operating system and the apps you use.
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In this setup, the apps remain part of one computer’s desktop. You are changing where their windows appear, not asking the monitor to create separate computer inputs. That is why window tiling is the right first step for questions such as “How do I arrange windows side by side?” or “How do I split an ultrawide monitor?” when the goal is to work with several apps on one computer.
Two computers or other devices: check for PBP
Picture-by-Picture, usually shortened to PBP, is a monitor feature that can show two video sources in separate portions of the screen. It is relevant if, for example, you want to view two independently connected computers at once. The monitor must support PBP, and the inputs, signal formats, and menu options available depend on the specific model.
PBP is not a way to divide one computer’s desktop into app windows. If your goal is to see several apps from one PC or Mac, configure window tiling first rather than searching through the monitor’s on-screen menu. Conversely, if you need two devices shown at the same time, ordinary Snap or Split View only arranges windows on one computer; it does not select two independent monitor inputs.
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Set up split-screen windows in Windows
Windows Snap lets you position windows in layouts supported by your version of Windows. Microsoft documents the controls for Windows 10 and Windows 11; the exact menus and choices can differ, so use the options visible on your computer rather than expecting every version to offer the same arrangement.
Turn on Snap and choose a layout
- Open Settings > System > Multitasking.
- Turn on Snap windows if it is off. The Snap settings may also let you control how Snap behaves; use the on-screen descriptions to choose what suits you.
- In Windows 11, hover over a window’s maximize button to display the available Snap layouts. You can also press Windows key + Z to open the layout choices.
- Select a position for the current window. If the layout offers additional positions, Windows may then show other open windows that can fill them. Choose the next window, or leave an area unused if you do not want to fill every position.
The layout menu shows the arrangements available in your current Windows setup. Do not assume that a particular number of columns or a special ultrawide layout will appear on every computer. Start with a layout that appears on your system, then see whether it suits the apps you want to keep visible.
Snap Assist can make the next step quicker by offering other open windows after you place the first one. You do not have to fill every space: select only the windows you want, and leave any unused area available for the task you are doing. If you have more apps open than the layout can accommodate, choose which ones need to stay visible rather than expecting every open app to be tiled at once.
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Position windows with the keyboard or mouse
You can also drag a window to a screen edge or use the Windows key with an arrow key to position it. The exact result depends on the control you use and the Snap options available in your version. After you place the first window, Snap Assist can offer other open windows for the remaining area. If the window does not land where expected, check that Snap windows is enabled and try a layout shown in the menu.
- Open the apps you want to use and bring one window to the foreground.
- Use the maximize-button layout menu or Windows key + Z in Windows 11, or drag the window to an edge or use a Windows-key arrow shortcut.
- When Windows presents other open windows, select one to occupy another available position.
- Repeat with the remaining windows you want visible. If the offered arrangement is not what you need, return to the layout menu or reposition the windows with the available Snap controls.
Use the layout menu when you want to see the choices before placing a window. Edge dragging or keyboard placement can be more direct when you already know where you want a window to go. These are alternative ways to work with Windows’ window-positioning controls; none requires a PBP-capable monitor.
Use FancyZones for custom arrangements
If the built-in layouts do not suit a three-or-more-window workflow, Microsoft PowerToys includes FancyZones, an optional window-management tool. Its layout editor lets you create or adjust zones, and you can assign a hotkey to a custom layout. FancyZones is software, not a feature built into the monitor, and it requires installing and configuring the utility. Use the layout editor to define the arrangement you want, then apply the layout and place windows in its zones.
FancyZones is useful when you repeatedly want a particular layout that is not offered by the native Snap controls. If you only need a basic side-by-side arrangement, start with Snap before adding another utility. The trade-off is straightforward: Snap is already part of the Windows window-management path, while FancyZones offers customizable zones but requires an additional tool and setup.
Arrange windows on a Mac
Apple documents two related ways to put apps beside one another: Split View for two apps and window tiling arrangements accessed from the green window button. The available menu options are the guide to what your Mac can do in that context; do not assume that every Mac or app will offer a fixed number of zones or a universal ultrawide preset.
For two apps, Split View is the documented starting point. If you want a different arrangement, open the green window button’s menu and choose among the tiling options displayed there. As with Windows, you are arranging windows from one computer, not selecting separate video sources on the monitor.
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Put two apps in Split View
- Open the two apps you want to see together.
- In one app window, use the green window button to open the available window controls.
- Choose the Split View option shown in the menu and select the arrangement or screen position offered for that app.
- Select the other app for the remaining side when macOS prompts you to choose it.
Use the green window button’s menu to see the available tiling choices when you want to arrange windows in a different way. Apple’s documented controls provide the starting point; the options shown can vary, so follow the choices presented on your Mac rather than expecting a particular ultrawide layout. If a menu item or arrangement is not shown, do not assume that another monitor setting will add it; use the window controls your Mac presents.
Show separate devices with PBP
When the goal is to display two devices, verify PBP support for the exact monitor model. Samsung’s support guidance describes PBP as displaying two different source devices simultaneously, while also noting that availability and setup depend on the monitor model and specifications. Samsung’s CJ791 product page is one example of a 34-inch, 21:9 ultrawide that supports PBP; that example does not establish that all ultrawide monitors have the feature.
Do not infer PBP support from the fact that a display is wide, has multiple input ports, or can show a high-resolution image from one source. PBP is model-specific, and even a monitor that supports it may limit which inputs or signals can be used together. The product manual is the place to confirm the exact combinations before you connect devices or troubleshoot a blank portion of the screen.
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Check the monitor before connecting sources
- Find the exact monitor model and consult its manual or model-specific support information.
- Confirm that the monitor supports PBP. Do not infer support from the screen’s size, shape, or resolution.
- Check which input ports can be used at the same time. A monitor may offer multiple ports without supporting every possible pair of inputs in PBP mode.
- Check the supported input resolutions and signals for the PBP setup you intend to use. A resolution supported in ordinary single-source use is not, by itself, proof that the same signal combination is supported in PBP.
- Connect each device to a supported input before selecting the sources in the monitor’s on-screen menu.
This check is particularly useful if you are planning the setup before buying a monitor or accessory. The honest search term for the display category is “ultrawide monitor”; if separate inputs are essential, “ultrawide monitor with PBP” is more specific. In either case, verify the exact model’s manual and input combinations rather than relying on the category wording alone.
Select the two sources in the monitor menu
- Connect the two devices to ports that the manual identifies as usable together for PBP.
- Open the monitor’s on-screen menu and find its PBP control. Menu names and steps vary by model, so follow the manual for your display.
- Enable PBP if the monitor offers that option, then select the source for each portion of the screen.
- If either portion is blank or the image does not look right, check the selected input, port combination, and signal against the monitor’s supported specifications before changing other settings.
Samsung’s manual for the C34G5*T* family warns that an unsuitable PBP input signal may produce a blank screen. That warning is specific to the covered model family; use the manual for your own monitor to determine its supported signals and recovery steps. Do not treat the limitation in one model-family manual as a universal rule for all PBP displays.
Choose the setup that matches your task
| Your goal | Best starting point | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Arrange multiple apps from one Windows computer | Windows Snap | Snap settings are under Settings > System > Multitasking; available layouts and controls depend on the Windows version. |
| Arrange two apps on a Mac | Split View from the green window button | Use the options displayed by macOS; the available tiling choices can vary. |
| Use a custom multi-window layout in Windows | PowerToys FancyZones | It is an optional utility that needs installation and configuration; its layout editor supports custom zones and a hotkey. |
| Show two computers or other devices at once | Monitor PBP, if the exact model supports it | Check simultaneous port support, input signals, and model-specific menu steps. |
The main trade-off is whether the task needs one desktop or independent sources. Native window tools are the simplest place to start for several apps from one computer. FancyZones is an optional Windows choice for custom zones. PBP is the relevant monitor feature for separate devices, but its usefulness depends on the specific monitor and supported inputs.
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Troubleshoot the most common problems
A window will not snap into place
- Check Settings > System > Multitasking and make sure Snap windows is enabled.
- In Windows 11, try the maximize-button layout menu or Windows key + Z instead of relying only on dragging.
- Use the choices visible in your Windows version. A layout described for another version may not appear on your system.
- If the built-in choices do not fit a recurring custom arrangement, consider whether FancyZones is appropriate; it is optional and requires configuration.
Also make sure you are positioning an application window rather than changing the monitor’s input mode. For a single computer, Snap is the Windows control to check; the monitor’s PBP menu is not needed to place browser, document, or chat windows.
The Mac does not show the tiling choice you expected
- Open the green window button’s menu and use the choices actually shown there.
- For a two-app Split View, start from the green button’s Split View control and select the other app when prompted.
- Do not assume every app or system setup exposes identical options. Apple’s documented controls are menu-based, so use the available choices on your Mac.
A PBP half is blank or the picture is poor
- Confirm that PBP is supported by the exact monitor model.
- Check the manual for the port combinations that can operate simultaneously and make sure each device is connected to a supported input.
- Verify each source’s selected input and signal against the model’s PBP specifications.
- Consult the manual’s model-specific troubleshooting instructions. Do not apply a signal limitation documented for one model family to every monitor.
A blank PBP area does not by itself show which constraint is responsible. Work through the model-specific checks: supported feature, simultaneous ports, selected sources, then input signals. The C34G5*T* manual’s unsupported-signal warning is one documented example, not a substitute for checking the manual for another display.
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For ordinary window multitasking, begin with the computer and monitor you already have: Windows Snap or macOS tiling handles the app arrangement. Windows users who need custom zones can add FancyZones, but it is not required for basic snapping. PBP is necessary only for the separate-input use case, and only if the monitor supports it.
A cable or dock is relevant only if the computer and monitor require one for the chosen connection. There is no single cable or dock specification that applies to every ultrawide setup. Check the ports on your devices and the monitor’s supported input combinations rather than buying hardware just to arrange windows from one computer. If you already own a suitable monitor, you do not need to replace it or buy a PBP model to use window snapping.
If shopping for a display specifically to show separate sources, treat PBP as a specification to verify, not a guarantee implied by the word “ultrawide.” Confirm the exact product model, supported port pairings, and input signals in its documentation. Hardware requirements depend on the devices and ports in your particular setup; the available information does not establish one universal cable, dock, or accessory recommendation.
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- Decide whether you are arranging apps from one computer or displaying separate devices.
- For one computer, use the operating system’s window tools: Windows Snap, macOS Split View, or the Mac’s available tiling controls.
- On Windows, enable Snap windows under Settings > System > Multitasking; use the visible layout options, keyboard controls, or mouse placement.
- If you need a repeatable custom Windows layout, set up FancyZones and define zones in its layout editor.
- For separate devices, verify PBP support, simultaneous ports, and supported input signals in the manual for the exact monitor model before selecting sources in its on-screen menu.
This order keeps the setup proportional to the task: use built-in window controls for apps, add FancyZones only when custom Windows zones are useful, and consult the monitor manual when you need separate inputs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I split an ultrawide monitor between apps from one computer?
Use your operating system’s window controls. In Windows, enable Snap windows under Settings > System > Multitasking and use a layout, keyboard shortcut, or mouse placement. On a Mac, use Split View or the tiling choices in the green window button’s menu. You do not need monitor PBP for apps from one computer.
Do I need Picture-by-Picture to arrange windows side by side?
No. PBP displays separate video sources when the monitor supports it. For multiple apps from one computer, use Windows Snap or macOS window tiling instead.
Can every ultrawide monitor show two computers at once?
No. PBP support depends on the exact monitor model. Check its manual for PBP availability, compatible simultaneous input ports, and supported signals.
What should I check if one side of PBP is blank?
Confirm the monitor supports PBP, then check the manual for the simultaneous port combination and supported input signal. Make sure the correct sources are selected in the monitor menu. Signal limitations can be model-specific; Samsung’s cited C34G5*T* manual, for example, warns that an unsuitable PBP signal may produce a blank screen.
What can I use for a custom layout with three or more windows in Windows?
Start with the layouts available in Snap. If those do not fit a recurring arrangement, Microsoft PowerToys FancyZones is an optional tool with an editor for custom zones and the ability to assign a hotkey.
The Bottom Line
For several apps from one computer, use Windows Snap or macOS tiling; PBP is not required. For two separate devices, check that the exact monitor supports PBP and verify its port combinations and supported signals in the manual. Start with the simplest setup that matches your task.
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