I use BTT (Better Touch Tool) which includes window snapping, as well as a whole host of other useful features such as extra multitouch gestures, and button management.

You can use as much or as little as you want, but window snapping is on by default and just means you drag an application to the top to maximise it, left to align and fill the left half, and to the right for the right.

EDIT: This is called BST (Better Snap Tool) and it is no longer free. El Capitan has an implemented feature (press green button until you can drop it to the side) or check other free tools like Spectacle

Update: As of Feb 20, 2016 BST is $2.99 USD.

Answer from AlanJC on Stack Exchange
๐ŸŒ
Apple
support.apple.com โ€บ en-gb โ€บ guide โ€บ mac-help โ€บ mchlp2469 โ€บ mac
Move and arrange app windows on Mac โ€“ Apple Support (UK)
Maximise a window: Hold the pointer over the green button in the top-left corner of an app window, then click below Fill & Arrange, or press Fn-Control-F.
Discussions

macos - How to arrange two windows easily to left and right side? - Ask Different
In Windows 7, we can easily arrange two windows with these shortcuts: Option (Alt) โŒฅ + โ† maximizes the window to the left side of the screen, and Option (Alt) โŒฅ + โ†’ maximizes the window to the right side of the screen. I'm using a 27" iMac now, and I'd really like to do this. Does Mac OS ... More on apple.stackexchange.com
๐ŸŒ apple.stackexchange.com
May 3, 2012
Is there a Mac app that can open and rearrange multiple apps windows based on a single click preset / shortcut?
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Top answer
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I use BTT (Better Touch Tool) which includes window snapping, as well as a whole host of other useful features such as extra multitouch gestures, and button management.

You can use as much or as little as you want, but window snapping is on by default and just means you drag an application to the top to maximise it, left to align and fill the left half, and to the right for the right.

EDIT: This is called BST (Better Snap Tool) and it is no longer free. El Capitan has an implemented feature (press green button until you can drop it to the side) or check other free tools like Spectacle

Update: As of Feb 20, 2016 BST is $2.99 USD.

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Original Answer (Update below):

Apple has provided this functionality as part of its OS X El Capitan. Here are the steps:

  1. Click and hold on the green maximize button of an active window (for example, a Safari window);
  2. When the window shrinks slightly and the background becomes highlighted, youโ€™re about to enter Split View, while continuing to hold the green button drag the active window into either the left or right panel to place it full screen there;
  3. As soon as you place the first window into the Split View panel, the other side of the screen turns into a mini-Expose much like Mission Control, simply click the window tile you want to open into Split View for the other side here to immediately send it side by side into Split Full Screen Mode.

The answer has been taken from osxdaily.com website's page.


Update:

Many people commented that they wish there was a shortcut for it. I figured a way to create a shortcut for that from another answer on AskDifferent which I cannot find the link to. This is how:

  1. Open System Preferences;
  2. Go to 'Keyboard' settings;
  3. Go to 'Shortcuts' tab;
  4. In the left pane, select 'App Shortcuts';
    1. In this section you can add app specific shortcuts, as well as shortcuts that you want available for all apps.
  5. Click on the '+' sign below right pane to add a new shortcut;
  6. A new drop down will open. In this drop-down:
    1. In the 'Application:' keep it for 'All Applications';
    2. In the 'Menu Title:' type 'Tile Window to Right of Screen'. Better that you copy-paste it because it has to match letter by letter;
    3. In the 'Keyboard Shortcut:' press the keys you want to use as shortcut for tiling an application window to the right. On my machine, I've setโ€  it to โއโŒ˜โ†’.
    4. Repeat the same for tiling to left by putting 'Tile Window to Left of Screen' in the 'Menu Title:' and adding your desired keys for left-tiling shortcut.

You should now have the shortcuts available for any application window that supports tiling. Now, you can press your shortcut keys to tile the first window to left or right. Then the other side will turn into a mini-Expose from which you can select the second window using your mouse.


โ€ I have a dual monitor setup. So other than the one listed above, I have also set the shortcut to move a window to another monitor. The 'Menu Title's are:

1. "Move to Built-in Retina Display", with shortcut โŒƒโއโŒ˜โ†’;

2. "Move to LG UltraFine", with shortcut โŒƒโއโŒ˜โ†;

To remember the shortcuts, notice that all they keys, are next to each other. All you do is use arrow keys differently. Further, moving to another monitor has an extra key in the shortcut, while putting the windows in split view is on the same monitor, therefore it has one less key.

Hint:

The shortcut name depends on the MacOS system language, e.g.:

english: 'Tile Window to Left of Screen'

german : 'Fenster auf der linken Bildschirmseite anordnen'

or a different title: 'Fenster auf die linke Seite des Bildschirms bewegen'

Phrases for left / right can be found on the green "full screen" button:

Find elsewhere
๐ŸŒ
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October 31, 2025 - Try defaults before customizing - MacTilerโ€™s shortcuts are already optimized ยท Watch the visual preview - See exactly where windows land before releasing ยท Mix keyboard + mouse - Use shortcuts for speed, drag-and-drop when you prefer ยท Multi-window positioning - Arrange 3-4 windows instantly instead of one-by-one
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Reddit
reddit.com โ€บ r/macapps โ€บ is there a mac app that can open and rearrange multiple apps windows based on a single click preset / shortcut?
r/macapps on Reddit: Is there a Mac app that can open and rearrange multiple apps windows based on a single click preset / shortcut?
February 7, 2024 -

Unique use case where I would need to launch a number of apps, arrange them over a number of screens, and even better if you could launch specific web pages within a browser whilst doing this.

Either theough clicking a preset in the menubar for example or a keyboard shortcut. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks.

๐ŸŒ
How-To Geek
howtogeek.com โ€บ home โ€บ shortcuts โ€บ how to rearrange your mac's windows with a keyboard shorcut
How to Rearrange Your Mac's Windows With a Keyboard Shorcut
January 10, 2017 - You can use this, along with "Right Half," to arrange two windows such that they take up the right and left half of the screen. This is great for multitasking. "Top Half" is similar, making your current window take up the top half of the screen:
๐ŸŒ
Rectangle
rectangleapp.com
Rectangle
Move and resize windows in macOS using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas. The official page for Rectangle.
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MacMost
macmost.com โ€บ mastering-window-tiling-and-resizing-keyboard-shortcuts.html
Mastering Window Tiling and Resizing Keyboard Shortcuts
December 30, 2025 - Iโ€™ll show you how to fill, center, split, and even create hidden three-way window arrangements, plus assign shortcuts and use drag options for tiling. Use Control + Globe + F to make a window fill the entire desktop space without going full screen.
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Pocket-lint
pocket-lint.com โ€บ home โ€บ laptops โ€บ laptop guides โ€บ how window tiling and custom shortcuts in macos sequoia can power up your workflow
How window tiling and custom shortcuts in macOS Sequoia can power up your workflow
July 18, 2024 - Selecting an option under Fill & Arrange can rearrange the selected app to take up the entire display or place multiple apps side-by-side, one-half and two quadrants, or four quadrants. The second way to rearrange windows in macOS Sequoia is by selecting a window, holding down the option key, or dragging the window to the side of your display.