You've found yourself in the wonderful world of iPad multitasking, haven't you? Split View can be incredibly productive, allowing you to have two apps open side-by-side, but there are times when you just want one app to dominate the screen. No worries, we've all been there! Let's dive into how you can easily close Split View on your iPad and reclaim your full screen real estate.
Step 1: Acknowledge the Split!
First things first, can you confirm that you're currently in Split View? You'll see two apps side-by-side, with a distinctive black or grey vertical divider line in the middle. If you're seeing an app floating over another (that's Slide Over) or just one app, these steps might not apply directly, but don't worry, we'll cover those too if you stick around!
Step 2: The Grand Escape - Different Methods to Close Split View
There are a few ways to bid farewell to Split View, each with its own subtle gesture. Let's explore them!
Sub-heading: Method 1: The Drag-and-Conquer Maneuver
This is arguably the most common and intuitive way to close Split View.
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Locate the Divider: Find that vertical black or grey bar right in the middle of your screen, separating the two apps.
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Touch and Hold: Place your finger firmly on this divider. You'll notice it might slightly highlight or a small handle might appear.
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Drag to the Edge: Now, drag the divider all the way to either the left or the right edge of the screen.
- If you drag it to the left edge, the app on the right side will close, and the app that was on the left will take over the entire screen.
- If you drag it to the right edge, the app on the left side will close, and the app that was on the right will expand to full screen.
Which app stays? The one you drag the divider away from will close. The one you drag the divider towards will expand.
Sub-heading: Method 2: The App Switcher Approach
This method is particularly useful if you want to close one of the apps in Split View and then switch to a different app entirely, or just revert to the last full-screen app.
- Swipe Up for App Switcher: From the very bottom of your iPad screen, swipe up from the Home indicator (the small horizontal bar). Don't go all the way to the Home screen, just enough to bring up the App Switcher (where you see all your open apps as cards).
- Identify the Split View Card: In the App Switcher, you'll see your Split View as a single, combined card showing both apps side-by-side.
- Swipe Away the Split View: Just like you would close any other app in the App Switcher, swipe the Split View card upwards off the screen. This will close both apps that were in Split View. When you go back to your Home screen or open a new app, it will be in full-screen mode.
Sub-heading: Method 3: The "I Just Want the Other App Full Screen!" Swipe
This is a quick trick if you have a preference for which app stays open.
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Find the Small Handle: Look closely at the top of the divider bar. You might see a small, subtle horizontal handle (three dots).
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Swipe Down on the Desired App: If you want the app on the left to go full screen, swipe down on the handle that's closer to the left app. If you want the app on the right to go full screen, swipe down on the handle closer to the right app.
Note: This method isn't always as consistently available or obvious as the others, but it's a neat little gesture to know!
Step 3: What If It's Not Split View? Understanding Other Multitasking Features
Sometimes, what you think is Split View might actually be another multitasking feature. Knowing the difference will help you apply the correct closing method.
Sub-heading: Understanding Slide Over
- What it looks like: A smaller, floating app window that hovers over another full-screen app. It's like a pop-up.
- How to close it:
- Swipe to the Right: Grab the small handle at the top of the Slide Over window (three dots).
- Drag the Slide Over window off the screen to the right. It will disappear, and your underlying app will remain full screen.
- Alternatively, Swipe Up: If you have multiple apps in Slide Over, you can swipe up from the bottom of the Slide Over window to reveal a "stack" of Slide Over apps. Then, swipe individual app cards upwards to close them.
Sub-heading: Understanding Picture in Picture (PiP)
- What it looks like: A small video window that floats over any app, allowing you to watch content while doing other things.
- How to close it:
- Tap the PiP window: Tapping it will bring up controls.
- Tap the 'X' icon: You'll see an 'X' or a close button in one of the corners of the PiP window. Tap it to close the video.
- Pinch to close: In some cases, you can pinch inwards on the PiP window to make it disappear.
Step 4: Practice Makes Perfect!
Now that you've got the knowledge, try it out! Open two apps in Split View (you can do this by dragging an app from the Dock to the side of the screen, or by using the multitasking menu at the top of an app), and then practice closing it using the different methods. You'll quickly find the one that feels most natural to you.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to open split screen on iPad?
You can open Split View by dragging an app icon from the Dock to the left or right edge of the screen, or by tapping the three dots at the top of an open app and selecting the Split View icon.
How to switch apps in split screen on iPad?
While in Split View, tap the three dots at the top of one of the apps, then tap the Split View icon (two rectangles). This will allow you to choose a different app for that side of the split.
How to resize split screen on iPad?
Drag the vertical black or grey divider line in the middle of the screen to the left or right to adjust the size of each app's display area.
How to move split screen to the other side on iPad?
Drag the divider bar all the way to one side to close one app, then reopen a new app on the opposite side to effectively "switch" the positions.
How to get rid of the three dots on iPad multitasking?
The three dots are the multitasking menu. You can't "get rid of" them as they are integral to managing Split View and Slide Over. They appear when you tap the top of an app.
How to use Slide Over instead of Split View on iPad?
To use Slide Over, drag an app from the Dock or App Library and release it in the center of the screen, not at the edge. It will then float as a smaller window.
How to put two Safari windows in split screen on iPad?
Open Safari, then drag a tab from the tab bar to the left or right edge of the screen, or long-press a link and choose "Open in New Window" and then drag that new window to Split View.
How to close all apps on iPad including split screen?
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the App Switcher. Then, swipe up on each individual app card (including the combined Split View card) to close them.
How to prevent apps from opening in split screen on iPad?
You can't directly prevent apps from opening in Split View if you initiate the gesture. The iPad is designed to allow this multitasking. However, if you accidentally open it, you now know how to close it!
How to troubleshoot split screen not working on iPad?
Ensure your iPad is updated to the latest iPadOS. Try restarting your iPad. Check if multitasking features are enabled in Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking > Multitasking. If the issue persists, a factory reset might be necessary after backing up your data.