This Google Chrome feature is why I’m never going back to Safari

The browser is one of the most-used apps on the Mac, and for a lot of users like me, it’s a key productivity tool. A majority of what I do for work involves web-based apps and tools, all accessed through my browser. As I write this article, for example, I’m using a browser that’s connected to the content management system for Macworld. I also have a number of windows open to resources, references, and numerous sources for the stories I need to write.

I’ve been using Google Chrome for the past couple of years. I switched from Safari because I got tired of the memory management issues that Apple never seems to fix. A month ago, Google introduced a new feature that I absolutely love–I may never go back to Safari on my Mac.

That Chrome feature is called Split View. It lets you see two websites within a single tab. It sounds simple, and it is, but it’s made work so much more manageable. For example, I can have our CMS with an article I’m working on on one side, and a company’s website that I’m using for fact-checking on the other. In the past, I either had separate tabs that I clicked between, or two different browser windows opened and carefully placed side by side. The new Split View means I don’t have to worry about managing those tabs and windows anymore.

When using Split View, just move your pointer to the website you want to use, and it’s immediately active. The tab itself is split, so if you decide to close one of the sites, all you have to do is click on the appropriate “x” within the tab. If you press Command+W, the site that you are using will close, and the other will stay open.

If you’re using Chrome and want to give it a try, first, you have to have the latest version of Chrome. You can do this in Chrome; go to Chrome > Settings > About Chrome, and you can update the app. After that, there are two ways to use Split View.

How to use Split View

One tab open. When you have a single tab open, and you want to split it and open a second website. Control-click the tab and select Add Tab to New Split View. The window will be split into two. To open the website you want in the new space, click it and then enter a URL in the box or select a bookmark.

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Multiple tabs open while on active tab. If you have multiple tabs open, you can Control-click on the tab of the site you are currently on, select Add Tab to New Split View and in the second pane, a list of the other tabs that are open appears. Select the one you want, and it will load.

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Multiple tabs open on inactive tab. If you have multiple tabs open and Control-click on an inactive tab, you’ll find an option for New Split View with Current Tab. When you select this, the tab that is active combines with the inactive tab you are clicking on.

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