Comparing two websites usually means jumping between tabs or arranging separate browser windows. Firefox Split View offers a simpler option: it puts two tabs side by side inside one Firefox window, with a divider you can drag to give either page more room.
Mozilla introduced Split View with Firefox 149 in March 2026. It’s useful when you’re comparing prices, checking instructions while working, or reading a source beside your notes. Here’s how to set it up, manage it, and avoid a few surprises.
What Firefox Split View actually does
Split View displays two existing browser tabs together in one window. It doesn’t merge the websites or create a new combined page. Each side remains its own tab, and you can click into either side to work with it. This distinction matters if you’re expecting one shared address bar or a single web page.
You can create multiple split-view pairs, but each individual split view holds two tabs. Mozilla also notes that pinned tabs cannot currently be added to a split view.
Method 1: Open Split View from one tab
- Open Firefox on your computer and visit the first website you want to compare.
- Right-click that page’s tab. On a Mac, you can also Control-click the tab.
- Choose Add Split View from the tab menu.
- The current page appears on the left. On the right, choose an open tab from the list, or select the right pane and enter a new website address.
This is the easiest approach when you’ve found a useful page and decide you want a second reference beside it. For example, keep a laptop’s specifications on the left and a retailer’s listing on the right.
Method 2: Combine two tabs you’ve already opened
- Open both websites in separate Firefox tabs.
- Select the two tabs in the tab bar.
- Right-click the selection and choose Open in Split View.
Mozilla also documents a faster gesture: while one tab is active, hold Alt on Windows or Linux, or Option on a Mac, and click another tab in the same window. The pair opens together in Split View.
If the tabs were far apart in your tab bar, Firefox places the new split view near the active tab. You haven’t lost the other tabs; they’re simply reorganized.
Resize the two websites
Move your pointer to the vertical divider between the pages and drag it left or right. Give more space to whichever site needs it. A narrow product page may collapse its navigation into a mobile-style menu, while a wider pane may show a desktop layout. That is normal responsive website behavior, not necessarily a Firefox error.
For research, an even split is often comfortable. For writing or following instructions, a wider working pane and a narrower reference pane may be more practical. The feature is most useful when your screen is wide enough to keep both pages readable.
Swap, separate, or close the tabs
Firefox provides split-view controls through its address-bar icon, the three-dot menu in the split-view footer, and the tab’s right-click menu. Depending on which control you open, you can:
- Reverse Tabs: swap the left and right pages without rebuilding the pair.
- Separate Tabs: end Split View while keeping both pages open as ordinary tabs.
- Close Both Tabs: close the pair when you’re finished.
Closing either tab also dissolves the split view. If you only want to return to normal browsing without losing either page, choose Separate Tabs instead of closing the pair.
Three useful ways to work with Split View
Compare products without losing your place
Put two retailer pages beside each other and compare model numbers, dimensions, warranty terms and shipping policies. If one listing says a product is compatible with your device, use the other pane to check the manufacturer’s specifications rather than relying on the seller’s summary.
Follow a tutorial while you work
Keep setup instructions open on one side and the relevant web application on the other. For coding tasks, you might use documentation beside an online editor. If you’re just getting started, our beginner’s guide to AI-assisted web app development covers how to approach the build and test process.
Check claims against the original source
When an article cites a study, policy or announcement, open the original source next to the article. It becomes much easier to spot missing qualifications, dates or context. Split View is a convenience tool, not a substitute for reading the source carefully.
Limitations and troubleshooting
I don’t see Add Split View
Check that Firefox is up to date. Mozilla says the feature began rolling out with Firefox 149 on March 24, 2026. If your installation is older, the menu may not be available. Check the Firefox version through the browser’s About Firefox screen and use its normal update process.
Can I use three websites in one split view?
No. Mozilla’s documented limit is two tabs per split view. You can create additional pairs, or use separate browser windows if you need more pages visible at once.
What happens to tab groups?
Split View works with tab groups, but the location of the resulting pair depends on which tab is active and whether the selected tabs belong to groups. Mozilla documents that a tab can move out of its original group when paired with an ungrouped tab. Check your tab bar if a grouped tab appears to have moved.
Will Firefox restore the pair after a restart?
Split views can return when Firefox restores previous windows and tabs. However, Mozilla says reopening recently closed tabs with Ctrl+Shift+T on Windows or Linux, or Command+Shift+T on Mac, does not reconstruct a closed split-view pair. You may need to recreate the pairing manually.
Why does Find in Page search only one side?
Firefox’s Find in Page command applies to the active pane. Click the page you want to search first, then use Ctrl+F or Command+F. It won’t search both pages together.
Is Split View worth using?
For side-by-side comparisons and reference-heavy work, yes. It reduces tab switching without forcing you to manage two separate windows. It is less helpful on a narrow display, and it won’t replace a proper multi-window setup for tasks that need three or more pages visible simultaneously.
If you mostly browse one site at a time, you can ignore it until you need it. When you do, the right-click menu is a good place to start. Explore more practical browser and device advice in our How To section.
Sources and verification
This guide was checked against Mozilla’s official documentation on October 30, 2026. Interface wording may change with later Firefox updates. Featured image: Domenico Loia / Unsplash (illustrative workspace photo, not a screenshot of Firefox).
- Mozilla Support: Split View in Firefox — creation methods, controls, tab groups, restoration and limitations.
- Mozilla Firefox Blog: Split View in Firefox — feature announcement dated March 23, 2026 and rollout from Firefox 149.
