Google Chrome adds Split View and PDF annotation with Drive upload

Source: 9to5Google

Google is officially announcing three new desktop Chrome productivity features: Split View, PDF annotation, and Save to Google Drive.

Split View

Split View lets you open two tabs side‑by‑side, reducing “back‑and‑forth tab fatigue.” Activate it by right‑clicking a link and selecting Open Link in Split View (alongside New Tab, New Window, and Incognito).

A dual‑pane interface appears beneath the Omnibox, with the URL updating based on the active pane. A new Split View icon—pin‑by‑right‑click—appears to the left of the address bar, offering Separate, Close, and Reverse options. You can adjust the pane width by dragging the center divider, and the split view is reflected in the tab strip.

Typical use cases include watching a video while taking notes, or keeping a meeting window open alongside a Google Doc.

PDF Annotation

The Chrome PDF Viewer now supports annotation. You can highlight text and add notes by tapping the squiggle icon in the top row. A panel on the right provides size and color options. This eliminates the need to download the file and open a separate application for quick notes or signatures.

Save to Google Drive

A Save to Google Drive button has been added to the top bar of Chrome’s PDF Viewer. Choose which Google account to upload to, and the file is automatically placed in a “Saved from Chrome” folder.

Availability

These three features have been rolling out for some time and should be widely available as of Chrome 145.