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Windows 11 Snap Layouts let you arrange open windows into preset sections of the screen instead of resizing each window manually. You can place two apps side by side, create a three-column workspace, or combine a large window with smaller windows above or beside it.
This guide covers the mouse and keyboard methods, resizing, Snap groups, and the settings that control which Snap features appear. The instructions apply to Windows 11. Microsoft’s documented Snap instructions also cover Windows 10, but Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025.
What Windows 11 Snap Layouts do
Snap Layouts are predefined arrangements displayed by Windows when you position a window. After you choose a layout, Windows shows Snap Assist, which displays thumbnails of other open windows that can fill the unused sections.
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The available layouts are not identical on every computer. Windows can show different layouts depending on the size of the display, so another computer may have more or fewer layout choices than yours.
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When you snap several windows together, Windows also creates a Snap group. You can later restore the group from the taskbar, Task View, or Alt + Tab, provided the relevant setting is enabled.
Use Snap Layouts from a window’s maximize button
- Open the windows you want to arrange.
- Move the pointer over the active window’s Maximize button. If the window is already maximized, this button may be labeled Restore Down.
- Wait for the Snap flyout to appear.
- Select the position you want the window to occupy.
- When Snap Assist appears, select another window for the next section.
- Continue choosing the suggested windows until the layout is filled, or leave a section empty.
This method is useful when you want to see the available arrangements before committing to one. If nothing appears when you hover over the button, check the Snap settings described below.
Open the Snap Layouts grid with Windows + Z
To open the layouts with the keyboard, press Windows + Z. Select a layout from the grid, then use Snap Assist to choose windows for the remaining areas.
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Snap a window by dragging it
You can also start snapping without opening the layout flyout:
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- Click and hold the title bar of a window.
- Drag it toward the left or right edge, or toward a corner of the screen.
- Keep dragging until the Snap overlay or layout box appears.
- Move the pointer into the zone you want and release the window.
- Choose another window from the Snap Assist thumbnails to fill the next zone.
Windows can also show a Snap bar when you drag a window toward the top edge. When the bar appears, select a layout and then choose the remaining windows through Snap Assist.
If you prefer not to drag all the way to the edge, Windows has an option that allows a window to snap before the pointer reaches the screen boundary.
Use keyboard shortcuts to snap windows
For simple two-window arrangements, the arrow shortcuts are faster than selecting a layout:
| Shortcut | Result |
|---|---|
| Windows + Left Arrow | Snaps the active window to the left side. |
| Windows + Right Arrow | Snaps the active window to the right side. |
| Windows + Up Arrow | Maximizes the active window. |
| Windows + Down Arrow | Minimizes the active window. |
| Windows + Alt + Up Arrow | Snaps the active window to the top half. |
| Windows + Alt + Down Arrow | Snaps the active window to the bottom half. |
For more precise positioning, hold Windows and press an arrow key repeatedly. Each additional press changes the window’s snap position. Release the Windows key when the window is in the desired location.
Resize windows after snapping
Snapping does not permanently fix the widths of the windows. To change the proportions:
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- Move the pointer over the divider between two snapped windows.
- Wait for the resize cursor or divider bar to appear.
- Drag the divider left or right, or up or down depending on the arrangement.
- Release it when the windows have the proportions you need.
Adjacent snapped windows resize together so that the layout continues to fit the available screen space. This is useful when, for example, a browser needs more width than a narrow notes window.
Turn Snap features on or off
The current settings are in one place:
Start > Settings > System > Multitasking
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Select System, then Multitasking.
- Expand Snap windows.
- Use the main Snap windows toggle to enable or disable snapping.
With Snap windows enabled, the individual options control how the feature behaves:
| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
| When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it | Displays Snap Assist suggestions for the remaining zones. |
| Show snap layouts when I hover over a window’s maximize button | Displays the Snap flyout when you hover over Maximize or Restore Down. |
| Show snap layouts when I drag a window to the top of my screen | Displays the Snap bar at the top edge. |
| Show my snapped windows when I hover over the taskbar apps, in Task View, and when I press Alt + Tab | Shows Snap groups through those taskbar, Task View, and Alt + Tab interactions. |
| When I drag a window, let me snap it without dragging all the way to the screen edge | Allows snapping before the pointer reaches the edge. |
Microsoft’s support page also contains an older, duplicated settings section with labels such as “When I snap a window, automatically size it to fill available space.” Those labels do not match the primary current Windows 11 list above. Use the options displayed on your own Windows 11 installation rather than relying on that older wording.
Restore a Snap group
When you snap multiple windows together, Windows creates a group automatically. To restore it, hover over an app on the taskbar that belongs to the group. Windows may offer a choice between opening just that app and restoring the complete snapped arrangement.
Snap groups can also appear in Task View and when you press Alt + Tab. If the group is missing from those locations, return to Settings > System > Multitasking > Snap windows and enable Show my snapped windows when I hover over the taskbar apps, in Task View, and when I press Alt + Tab.
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Fix Snap Layouts when they do not appear
The maximize-button flyout is missing
Open Settings > System > Multitasking, expand Snap windows, and enable Show snap layouts when I hover over a window’s maximize button. You can also press Windows + Z to open the layouts directly.
Dragging to the top does nothing
Enable Show snap layouts when I drag a window to the top of my screen. Without this option, dragging a window to the top will not display the Snap bar.
Snap Assist does not show other windows
Enable When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it. If this option is disabled, the initial snap can still work through another enabled method, but the thumbnails for filling the remaining sections are disabled.
The layout choices differ from a guide or screenshot
This can be normal. Windows varies the predetermined layouts according to display size. A laptop, an external monitor, and a high-resolution desktop display may not present the same layout grid.
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Snapping is completely unavailable
Check the main Snap windows toggle under Settings > System > Multitasking. If it is off, turn it on and try the mouse or keyboard methods again. Microsoft’s documented procedures use the Settings interface, mouse actions, and keyboard shortcuts; there is no required Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Run command for enabling Snap Layouts.
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A practical two-monitor workflow
On a large monitor, start with the window that needs the most space—such as a document or browser—and choose a wide Snap zone. Use Snap Assist to place reference material in a narrower zone. On a smaller display, Windows + Left Arrow and Windows + Right Arrow are often quicker because they create a straightforward half-screen arrangement without opening the layout picker.
FAQ
What is the shortcut for Windows 11 Snap Layouts?
Press Windows + Z to open the Snap layouts grid. To snap directly to a side, use Windows + Left Arrow or Windows + Right Arrow.
Why does Windows 11 not show Snap Layouts when I hover over Maximize?
Open Settings > System > Multitasking, expand Snap windows, and enable Show snap layouts when I hover over a window’s maximize button. Windows + Z can open the layouts even when the hover flyout is disabled.
How do I resize two snapped windows?
Place the pointer over the divider between them until the resize cursor appears, then drag the divider. The adjacent snapped windows adjust to keep the layout within the screen.
How do I turn off Snap Layouts in Windows 11?
Go to Start > Settings > System > Multitasking, expand Snap windows, and turn off the main Snap windows toggle.
Does Windows + Z maximize a window?
No. Windows + Z opens the Snap layouts interface. Windows + Up Arrow maximizes the active window.
Why are Snap Layouts different on my computer?
Windows varies the available predetermined layouts according to the size of the display, so layout choices can differ between monitors and PCs.
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For the full layout picker, hover over a window’s Maximize or Restore Down button, or press Windows + Z. For quick side-by-side work, use Windows plus an arrow key. If a flyout, Snap bar, or Snap Assist suggestions are missing, check the individual options under Settings > System > Multitasking > Snap windows.
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