How to work on a Mac without a second monitor
Working from a MacBook at the kitchen table, a café, or a hotel? Here's how to see two things at once on one screen — from free built-in tricks to a $5 app.
Updated October 6, 2026
Short answer: If you need two apps you'll both type into, use window tiling or Split View. If one of them is just reference — a document, a spec, an invoice, an error message — capture only the part you need and float it on top with an app like FloatSnap. It takes a fraction of the space a half-screen window does.
1. Window tiling (built in)
On recent macOS versions, hover over a window's green button and choose a tile layout, or drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen until it snaps. Then pick the second window. Window → Move & Resize in the menu bar has the same options.
Good for: two apps you actively use. Downside: on a 13" or 14" screen, each half gets cramped, and most apps aren't designed for that width.
2. Split View (built in)
Same idea as tiling, but in full-screen mode with no menu bar or Dock. Hover over the green button → Full Screen → choose a tile option, then pick the other app. Drag the divider to give one side more room.
Good for: focus. Downside: getting out of it and back again is clunky if you switch tasks a lot.
3. Float just the part you need (FloatSnap)
Most of the time, you don't need the whole second window — you need one paragraph of the brief, the totals on an invoice, the error message, the design you're matching. A floating screenshot gives you exactly that and nothing more.
- Press ⌘⇧9 and drag over the part you need.
- It becomes a small window that stays on top of everything. Drag it to an empty corner.
- Work full-screen in your main app. Float a few more if you need them.
- Click each one to dismiss when you're done.
Good for: reference material, data entry, code and design work. Downside: it's a snapshot, not a live window — if the source changes, capture it again. Full walkthrough: how to keep a screenshot on top of other windows on Mac.
4. Sidecar with an iPad (built in)
If you own a recent iPad, Sidecar turns it into a wireless second display. Open Control Center → Screen Mirroring (or System Settings → Displays) and choose your iPad.
Good for: a real second screen when you have the iPad with you. Downside: needs compatible hardware and the iPad nearby and charged.
5. Spaces and fast switching (built in)
Put each app in its own full-screen Space and swipe between them with three or four fingers, or Ctrl← / Ctrl→. ⌘Tab switches between the two most recent apps.
Good for: occasional switching. Downside: you still can't see both at once — every switch costs a moment of "where was I?".
6. A portable monitor
USB-C portable displays are thin and light. If you regularly work away from a desk all day, one is worth it.
Good for: all-day remote work. Downside: another thing to carry, charge, and find table space for.
Which to choose
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Typing into two apps equally | Tiling or Split View |
| Reading from one thing, typing into another | Floating screenshot (FloatSnap) |
| Entering invoices or receipts | Floating screenshot + OCR — see for accountants |
| You have an iPad with you | Sidecar |
| Full days away from a desk | Portable monitor |
Frequently asked questions
How do I see two windows at once on a MacBook?
Hover over a window's green button and choose a tile layout, or drag it to the screen edge, then choose a second window. For reference material you only need to read, a floating screenshot uses far less space.
Can I use an iPad as a second monitor for my Mac?
Yes, with Sidecar on supported Macs and iPads — choose your iPad from Screen Mirroring in Control Center or from System Settings → Displays.
What's the cheapest way to get a second screen on a Mac?
If you already own an iPad, Sidecar is free. Otherwise, for reference material, FloatSnap ($5) keeps what you need visible on top of your work with no extra hardware.
A second screen for $5
FloatSnap floats any part of your screen above every window. 14-day free trial, no signup.