Dual windows on a single monitor?

[rich526]

I am a Windows user who has for many years used 2 monitors for business work (one to monitor email and the second for word or number processing). I will be switching to iMac shortly and would like to know if it is possible to have two windows open in separate applications on the same 27" screen at the same time. If so, how is that done?

Thanks in advance for your help and comments.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The non-5K 27" iMac has a resolution of 2560x1440 which is wide enough to open two windows side-by-side quite nicely. The 5K iMac has EVEN more resolution to open even larger windows side-by-side..

How do you do it? You open two applications and then grab the corners and drag the window to the size you want. Want to do it faster? Check out Spectacle which has shortcuts to size a window to take up the entire screen, half the screen, quarter the screen in any of the corners and so on..

 

[KevinJS]

Depending on the app, you can go into split screen mode. Press and hold the green button in the top left of an open window. That will open it up to full screen mode but occupying only half of the screen. Now click on the green button of another open window and it will fill the other half of the screen.

Swipe with three fingers across the trackpad to push this screen to one side and you'll have your desktop available to open yet another app.

I don't use a mouse so I don't know if there's a mouse gesture to get to the second desktop. I'm sure someone does though.

 

[KevinJS]

BTW, if an app is capable of using split screen, there will be two arrows inside the green button. If it isn't, there will be a plus sign. If you see the plus sign you'll have to monkey around sizing the window manually.

 

[dtravis7]

You can also use Split view which is now part of OSX and Mac OS.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204948

 

[rich526]

Thanks to all who replied. There's an amazing wealth of knowledge here.

 

[pigoo3]

Heck...we've been able to multiple apps with multiple windows open on a single display for decades! It really just depends on how large the monitor is/was (resolution/screen real-estate)...which dicated whether the multiple app windows would overlap or be fully viewable independently (back in the day called a 2-page display).

I was doing this on my first used 21" CRT monitor back in 1991 that I paid $1000+ for (used). Drove about 300 miles (each way) because the price was that good. Now you can't give a monitor away like this for free!

Of course with the super duper resolutions on today's 27" iMac's...and various large external display's...no problamo with multiple apps & multiple app windows open at the same time!

- Nick

 

[ferrarr]

Most newer iMacs also have outputs to use with a second monitor.

 

[Rod]

Also If you want two or more full/regular screen displays that can be switched between quickly you can use Mission Control in conjunction with Hot Corners to move between or create additional desktops quickly. A three finger swipe also allows you to move between multiple desktops.

 

[Slydude]

Hey Rod, a bit off-topic here but what video conversion is that in your screenshot?

 

[chscag]

Hey Rod, a bit off-topic here but what video conversion is that in your screenshot?

It says right at the top of his screenshot: "Smart Converter Pro".

 

[Slydude]

It says right at the top of his screenshot: "Smart Converter Pro".

How in the world did I miss that? I'd say it was time for a new pair of classes but I did that a few months ago.