# How to view two Figma tabs side by side on Mac: desktop split view steps

> Learn how to view two figma tabs side by side on mac in the Figma desktop app: drag a tab to the edge, or right-click to split one file.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/view-two-tabs-side-by-side-in-figma
Updated: 2026-11-06

To view two Figma tabs side by side on Mac, open both files in the desktop app and drag one tab to the left or right edge of the canvas. Figma calls this split tab view, and a blue highlight shows which side the tab will snap to.

## Quick answer

- Figma's desktop app has split tab view, and it needs macOS 12 or later.
- Two different files: drag a tab from the navigation bar to the left or right edge of the canvas.
- One file twice: right-click its tab in the navigation bar and choose Open in Split Tab.
- Drag the center handle to resize. Right-click a tab and choose Separate tabs to exit.
- Figma's guide lists no Mac keyboard shortcut for split view, so use the mouse or trackpad.

Applies to: Figma desktop app on Mac, macOS 12 or later. Time: 3 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac running macOS 12 or later
- The Figma desktop app installed and signed in
- Two Figma files open in tabs, or one file to split against itself
- A mouse or trackpad for dragging tabs

## How to View two Figma tabs side by side on Mac in Figma on a Mac

1. **Open both files in the desktop app.** Open the Figma desktop app on your Mac. Open the two files you want to compare, so each one has its own tab in the navigation bar.
2. **Pick the tab to move.** Find the tab for the file you want on one side. Click it once to confirm it is the file you think it is. Tip: Tabs with similar names are easy to mix up. Check the file name before you drag.
3. **Drag the tab toward an edge.** Press and hold the mouse button or trackpad on the tab. Drag it toward the left or right edge of the canvas. Keep moving until you reach the edge.
4. **Wait for the blue highlight.** Watch for a blue highlight on the canvas. It shows which side the tab will snap to. Move left for the left side, or right for the right side.
5. **Release to split.** Let go of the mouse button. The dragged file opens in a pane on that side, and the other file fills the other pane.
6. **Resize the panes.** Find the center handle between the two panes. Drag it left or right until each pane shows what you need. Tip: Give more room to the file you read most.
7. **Split one file against itself.** (Right-click tab > Open in Split Tab) To view the same file twice, right-click its tab in the navigation bar. Choose Open in Split Tab. Both panes now show that file.
8. **Check that edits sync.** Make a small change in one pane, such as moving a frame. Confirm the change appears in the other pane.
9. **Exit split view.** (Right-click tab > Separate tabs) Right-click the tab and choose Separate tabs. Your panes return to normal, single tabs.
10. **Or close one tab to exit.** You can also click the X on one of the tabs, as the guide lists it as an exit. Read the tab name first, so you do not close a file you still need.

## Before you start: what your Mac needs

Split tab view lives in the Figma desktop app. Figma's desktop guide describes it for both Mac and Windows, but this article covers the Mac version only. The app needs macOS 12 or later. Older versions of macOS are not supported, so check your version before you look for the feature.

The guide says the desktop app gives you the same features as the browser. It does not say whether split tab view also works in a browser tab. Some third-party write-ups call it desktop only. Figma's help does not confirm that either way, so the safe path is the desktop app.

- A Mac running macOS 12 or later
- The Figma desktop app installed and signed in
- Two file tabs open in the navigation bar, or one file you want to split against itself

If you have only one file open, open a second one first. Split view needs a tab to drag. Without a second file, you can still split the one you have, as shown further down.

![Designer at a Mac laptop checking two Figma files side by side](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/view-two-tabs-side-by-side-in-figma/how-to-view-two-figma-tabs-side-1-e828f3.jpg)

## Split two different files on Mac

This is the setup most people want. One file sits on the left, and another sits on the right. Start by pressing and holding the mouse button or trackpad on a tab in the navigation bar. Drag it toward the left or right edge of the canvas. When you get close to an edge, Figma shows a blue highlight. That highlight tells you which side the tab will snap to. Let go, and the two files sit next to each other.

| Where you drop the tab | What you get |
| --- | --- |
| Near the left edge of the canvas | The dragged file opens in a pane on the left |
| Near the right edge of the canvas | The dragged file opens in a pane on the right |
| Middle of the canvas | Nothing splits. Move the tab nearer an edge and watch for the blue highlight |

_Where to drop a tab for split tab view_

Here is a pattern that works well. Say you have Checkout flow open in one tab and Design system open in another. Drag Design system toward the right edge, and release when the highlight shows on the right. Now you can click through the checkout screens on the left and copy a button style from the design system on the right. You never flip between tabs, and you never lose your place.

> **Watch the highlight:** The blue highlight is your cue. If you release too early, the tab may land somewhere you did not expect. Move slowly near the edge, and wait for the highlight before you let go.

## Split one file against itself

Sometimes you want two views of one file. Right-click its tab in the navigation bar and choose Open in Split Tab. Figma opens the same file in two panes. Any change you make in one pane shows up in the other, because both panes read the same file.

This helps most when two frames sit far apart on a large canvas. Put the screen you are building in one pane and the component it uses in the other. You stop panning back and forth across the canvas to compare them. It also helps when you want one pane zoomed in on details and the other zoomed out to see the whole layout.

## Resize the panes and exit split view

To resize, find the center handle between the two panes. Drag it left or right to give one pane more room. Give more space to whichever file you read the most. Resizing changes only how much of each file you see. The files themselves stay the same.

Figma's guide gives two ways out of split view. Right-click the tab and choose Separate tabs. Or click the X on one of the tabs. Both end the split. Read the tab name before you click an X, so you do not close a file you still need.

## Menus and shortcuts on Mac

Here is the honest answer on shortcuts. Figma's desktop guide does not list a Mac keyboard shortcut for split view. It does not list one for opening a new window either. So every step on this page uses the mouse, the trackpad, and the right-click menu. Do not trust a shortcut you find on a forum until you see it in Figma's own help.

You can also get two windows instead of two panes. The guide says you can drag a tab out of the current window to open a new window. You can also drag tabs between open windows. This works well with two monitors, where each window gets its own screen.

![Two monitors on a desk showing design work, the setup for split view](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/howto/view-two-tabs-side-by-side-in-figma/how-to-view-two-figma-tabs-side-3-d75407.jpg)

## Keep tabs visible while you present

When you present a prototype, Figma can hide the tabs so the screen fills up. On Mac, you can keep them visible. Choose View > Always Show Tabs When Presenting from the toolbar. Figma's guide says this option exists only on Mac. On Windows, the app adjusts the window size instead.

- **macOS 12** Oldest macOS version the Figma desktop app supports, according to Figma's guide ([source](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/5601429983767-Guide-to-the-Figma-desktop-app))
- **6 months** Time after a desktop app release before Figma removes support for that older version ([source](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/5601429983767-Guide-to-the-Figma-desktop-app))

## Tab groups are a different feature

Figma also offers tab groups. They let you group file tabs and collapse them in the tab bar, so a long row of files takes less space. Creator's Toolbox reports that tab groups are available to all desktop users. Tab groups do not place two files side by side. Use them to tidy up, and use split tab view to compare.

## Common mistakes and how to avoid them

- Dropping the tab in the middle of the canvas. Move it close to an edge, and wait for the blue highlight.
- Using Open in Split Tab when you meant two different files. Both panes then show the same file. Separate the tabs, and drag in the other file.
- Forgetting the center handle. Drag it to give the pane you read more room.
- Clicking an X on the wrong tab. Read the tab name before you click.
- Looking for a shortcut. Figma's desktop guide does not list one for split view on Mac.

## A worked example: prototype next to its spec

Say a teammate sends you two files, Onboarding prototype and Onboarding specs. You want to check each screen against the spec while you click through the prototype. Open both files in tabs. Drag the spec tab to the right edge, and release when the highlight shows on the right.

Now the prototype sits on the left, and the spec sits on the right. Click through the prototype, and read the spec beside it. If the spec pane is too narrow to read, drag the center handle to the left. When you finish, right-click either tab and choose Separate tabs. Both files go back to normal tabs.

## If split view is missing or broken

Start with the basics. Check that your Mac runs macOS 12 or later. Then make sure the Figma desktop app is up to date. Figma's guide says it removes support for old desktop app versions six months after a release, so an old app can fall out of support. The guide does not name the version that added split tab view, so updating is the safest default.

If the feature still does not show up, go through the steps in order, one at a time. Most problems come from a drop in the wrong spot, or from using the same-file option by accident. The troubleshooting notes on this page cover those cases.

## Where to go next

Once two files sit side by side, you may want to link their screens. The guide on [creating a prototype in Figma on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-a-prototype-in-figma) walks through linking frames. When the flow is ready, [presenting a prototype in Figma on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/present-a-prototype-in-figma) covers the presenting steps and the tab options.

If you are setting up Figma for daily design work, the [Figma for designers on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/for/designers/figma) page covers desktop setup and memory. Pick the page that matches your next task.

## If it does not work

- **The tab will not snap to a side.** Drop it nearer the left or right edge of the canvas, not the middle. Wait for the blue highlight before you release the mouse button.
- **Both panes show the same file.** You used Open in Split Tab. Right-click a tab and choose Separate tabs. Then drag the file you want from the navigation bar into the split.
- **One pane is too narrow to read.** Drag the center handle between the panes toward the pane that needs more room.
- **Tabs disappear when I present a prototype on Mac.** Choose View > Always Show Tabs When Presenting from the toolbar. The guide says this option is available on Mac only.
- **Split view is missing on an older Mac.** The desktop app requires macOS 12 or later. Update macOS first. Figma's guide does not confirm split view in the browser, so use the desktop app.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where do I drag this tab from?”: Lazur circles the navigation bar and labels it. You still drag the tab yourself. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Can I view two Figma files side by side on Mac?

Yes, in the Figma desktop app. Drag a tab from the navigation bar to the left or right edge of the canvas. A blue highlight shows where it will snap. Figma's guide calls this split tab view.

### Is there a keyboard shortcut for split view on Mac?

Not one that Figma's desktop guide lists. Use the drag method or the right-click menu instead. Check Figma's own help before you trust a shortcut from another site.

### Does split view work in the browser?

Figma's guide does not say. It only says the desktop app gives the same features as the browser. Use the desktop app if you need split tab view to work.

### Can I split the same file into two panes?

Yes. Right-click its tab in the navigation bar and choose Open in Split Tab. Edits in one pane show up in the other, because both panes display the same file.

### How do I turn off split view?

Right-click the tab and choose Separate tabs. You can also click the X on one of the tabs. Read the tab name first, so you do not close a file you still need.

### What macOS version do I need for split view?

The Figma desktop app needs macOS 12 or later, according to Figma's desktop guide. Older macOS versions are not supported for the app.

### Which Figma version added split tab view?

The guide does not give a version number or a release date for split tab view. Update the desktop app to the latest release, then check the feature from there.

### Is split view the same as tab groups?

No. Tab groups collapse file tabs in the tab bar. Split view shows two panes at once. Creator's Toolbox reports that tab groups are available to all desktop users.

## Sources

1. [Guide to the Figma desktop app](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/5601429983767-Guide-to-the-Figma-desktop-app), Figma Help Center, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Figma groups multiple file tabs into one on desktop](https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/figma-tab-groups), Creator's Toolbox, checked 2026-11-07