How to View Two Pages Side By Side in Google Docs?

Viewing Google Docs side by side can be useful in many situations (such as while comparing two Google Docs files or referring to one file while working on the other).

Although Google Docs does not have this functionality to show two files side by side, there are workarounds to get this done.

If you are writing a document and would like to see another one as a reference, it is quite cumbersome to switch back and forth between the two.

If only they were placed side by side, it would be really easy to simply write in one document while having the other one displayed on the side.

So in this tutorial, I will show you different methods by which you can view two pages side by side in Google Docs. One of these methods makes use of an add-on/extension while the other ones will simply require some window manipulation.

Method 1: View Two Google Docs Pages Side by Side Using Multiple Browser Windows

In this method, we will use multiple browser windows to view our Google Docs side by side.

This method is not limited to the use of any single browser in particular (and works for any browser). In this case, however, I will be using the Google Chrome web browser.

1. Open your web browser. (In my case, it is Google Chrome)

2. In the window bar at the top, click on the Restore Down button as shown.

This will bring the window out of fullscreen as shown below. (Note: If instead of the restore down button you see a maximize button, then skip the above step.)

3. On the browser toolbar, click on the customize button as shown. (This is indicated by the three little dots.)

4. The following menu will appear.

5. Click on the New Window button.

6. A new browser window will appear on top of the previous one as shown.

7. Now drag both windows using the window bar, till they are side by side as shown.

8. Move your mouse to the edge of a window till the cursor changes to the resize cursor.
9. Click and drag to resize the window from the sides (or the bottom if you want).
10. The final result will look like this.

11. Now you can open your Google Docs in each window separately and view them side by side.

So in this method, we have seen how to open two browser windows side by side and open our Google Docs on each separately to view them side by side.

This method is not limited to the use of any particular browser. I have used the Google Chrome web browser. You may use others like Opera, Safari etc.

Note: You can also open the same Google Docs files in both browsers. This could be useful when you want to see different pages of the same Google Docs file next to each other

Method 2: Using Multiple Browser Windows and Keyboard Shortcuts

If you are on a Windows PC, this step is perhaps the most convenient to use.

You don’t have to fiddle around with the two windows after opening them.

You can simply use keyboard shortcuts to snap the windows side by side. In this case, I am on a Windows 10 PC and using the Google Chrome web browser.

1. Open your web browser. (In my case it is Google Chrome)

2. Press the following keys on your keyboard: (Windows Key) + (Right Arrow)
3. This will snap the window to the right of the screen as shown.

4. On the browser toolbar, click on the customize button as shown. (This is indicated by the three little dots.)

5. The following menu will appear.

6. Click on the New Window button.

7. A new browser window will appear on top of the previous one as shown.

8. Press the following keys on you keyboard: (Windows Key) + (Left Arrow)
9. This will snap the window to the left of the screen as shown.

10. Now you can open your Google Docs in each window separately and view them side by side.

This method is more convenient than the previous method that we covered earlier.

Not only is it faster, it also saves the hassle of having to manipulate the individual windows and have them resize to your liking.

Please note however that this technique works well on a Windows PC and may not work if you are using a Mac or Linux operating system.

Method 3: View Two Google Docs Pages Side by Side Using a Browser Extension

This method makes use of a browser extension called Tab Resize.

It is available on the Chrome Web Store for the Google Chrome Browser. Follow the steps below to install and use the extension for viewing two pages side by side.

1. Open the Google Chrome web browser.

2. Go to the chrome web store by going to the following link:
   http://chrome.google.com/webstore
3. The web store will appear as shown.

4. In the search bar at the top, type Tab Resize and press Enter.

5. The search results will appear as shown.

6. Click on the Tab Resize search result as shown.

7. A new page will appear as shown.

8. Click on the Add to Chrome button.

9. The following pop-up window will appear in your browser window.

10. Click on the Add extension button.

11. This will install the extension and the following window will pop up.

12. Close it by clicking on the X in the top right corner.

13. Close your browser and open it again.
14. From the browser bar, click on the Extensions button.

15. The following menu will appear.

16. Click on the Tab Resize extension (as shown below).

17. The following menu will appear if you have opened the extension for the first time.

18. Click on the ‘I understand’ button.

19. The next window will appear and then click on the Let’s Go button.

The windows that appear in steps 17 to 19 will only appear when the extension is run for the first time.

The next time you will run the extension, these windows will not appear. Instead, the following window will appear directly.

20. Click on the 1×2 layout option as shown.

21. You will see that two windows have appeared side by side as shown.

22. Now you can open your Google Docs in each window separately and view them side by side.

In this method, we have seen how to use the Tab Resize extension which is available for the Chrome Web Browser on the Chrome Web Store.

If you are using any other browser such as Opera, Safari, etc. then this method will not be suitable for you.

In conclusion, we have seen three different methods of viewing two pages side by side in Google Docs.

While Google Docs does not have any built-in functionality, these methods may be used as workarounds.

Method 1 and Method 2 are not browser-specific and so you may use any browser for those methods.

Method 3 requires the use of the Google Chrome browser but is the easiest one to use among all methods.

Other Google Docs articles you may also like:

• How to Create New Folder in Google Docs?
• Copy Formatting in Google Docs (Shortcut)
• How To Change The Background In Google Docs?
• How to Make Google Docs View Only?