Imagine you're trying to compare prices on two different shopping websites, or perhaps you're on a video call with a friend while simultaneously looking up directions for your next meetup. Wouldn't it be amazing if you could do both at the same time on your iPad? Well, guess what? You absolutely can! The iPad's multitasking features, specifically Split View and Slide Over, are game-changers for productivity and convenience.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using split screen on your iPad, making you a multitasking maestro in no time!
Unleashing Your iPad's Multitasking Power: A Step-by-Step Guide
Before we dive in, let's clarify the two main ways you can use multiple apps simultaneously:
- Split View: This allows you to have two apps open side-by-side, sharing the screen. You can adjust the size of each app, making one larger than the other, or giving them equal space. It's perfect for tasks that require constant interaction with both apps.
- Slide Over: This feature lets you open a third app as a smaller, floating window that hovers over your main app or Split View. It's great for quick checks, like replying to a message or consulting a calculator, without fully leaving your primary work.
Step 1: Check Your iPad's Multitasking Readiness
First things first, let's make sure your iPad is ready to rumble with split screen. While most modern iPads support multitasking, it's always good to verify.
Sub-heading: Compatibility Check
Ensure your iPad model and iPadOS version are up to date. Generally, iPads running iPadOS 13 or later, including:
- iPad mini (4th generation and later)
- iPad (5th generation and later)
- iPad Air (2nd generation and later)
- All iPad Pro models
...should support Split View and Slide Over. If you're unsure, you can always check your iPad's model number in Settings > General > About.
Sub-heading: Enabling Multitasking Features
Sometimes, these features might be accidentally turned off. Let's make sure they're enabled:
- Go to Settings on your iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on Home Screen & Multitasking (or sometimes just Multitasking & Gestures).
- Under the "Multitasking" section, ensure that "Allow Multiple Apps" (or "Split View & Slide Over") is toggled on (green).
Step 2: Initiating Split View: The Classic Side-by-Side
Now for the fun part! There are a few ways to get into Split View, each with its own advantages.
Sub-heading: Method 1: Using the Multitasking Menu (iPadOS 15 and later)
This is the most straightforward method for newer iPadOS versions:
- Open your first app. This will be one of the two apps you want to use in Split View.
- Look for the three small dots (...) at the very top center of the app's screen. Tap on them.
- A small menu will appear. You'll see three icons:
- Full Screen: The left icon (a single large rectangle).
- Split View: The middle icon (two overlapping rectangles). Tap on this one.
- Slide Over: The right icon (a smaller rectangle overlapping a larger one).
- Once you tap Split View, the current app will slide to the side, revealing your Home Screen and Dock.
- Choose your second app from the Home Screen or Dock by tapping its icon. It will automatically open alongside your first app in Split View.
Sub-heading: Method 2: Drag and Drop from the Dock (A Timeless Favorite)
This method is quick and intuitive, working across many iPadOS versions:
- Open your first app.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen just enough to reveal the Dock. Don't swipe too far, or you'll go to the Home Screen!
- Touch and hold the icon of the second app you want to open from the Dock.
- Drag the app icon towards either the left or right edge of the screen. As you drag, you'll see a black vertical bar appear, indicating where the app will snap into place.
- Release your finger when the app is in the desired split-screen position. Voila! You're in Split View.
Step 3: Mastering Slide Over: The Floating Assistant
Slide Over is fantastic for quick interactions without disrupting your main workflow.
Sub-heading: Opening a Slide Over App
- Open your primary app (or two apps already in Split View).
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Dock.
- Touch and hold the icon of the app you want to open in Slide Over.
- Drag the app icon towards the center of the screen. Instead of snapping to the side, it will appear as a smaller, floating window.
- Release your finger.
Sub-heading: Managing Slide Over Windows
- Move it around: You can drag the top of the Slide Over window (the three small dots or a gray bar) to move it to different sides of the screen.
- Hide it: Swipe the Slide Over window off the screen to the left or right edge. It will still be active and accessible.
- Bring it back: If a Slide Over app is hidden, swipe from the edge of the screen inward from the side where you hid it (e.g., if you swiped it off to the right, swipe from the right edge inward).
- Switch between multiple Slide Over apps: If you have multiple apps in Slide Over (yes, you can stack them!), swipe left or right along the bottom edge of the Slide Over window to cycle through them.
Step 4: Adjusting and Managing Your Split Screen Layouts
Flexibility is key! You're not stuck with a rigid 50/50 split.
Sub-heading: Resizing Apps in Split View
- When two apps are in Split View, you'll see a vertical divider bar in the middle of the screen.
- Touch and hold this divider.
- Drag it to the left or right to adjust the amount of screen space each app occupies. You can typically choose between a 50/50 split, or a 70/30 (or 30/70) split.
Sub-heading: Swapping Apps in Split View
Want to replace one of the apps in Split View?
- In Split View, tap the three dots (...) at the top of the app you want to replace.
- Tap the Split View icon (two rectangles).
- The current app will slide away, revealing your Home Screen and Dock.
- Tap the new app you want to open in its place.
Sub-heading: Turning Split View into Slide Over (and vice versa)
- Split View to Slide Over: Tap the three dots (...) at the top of the app you want to turn into a Slide Over window. Tap the Slide Over icon (the smaller rectangle on top of a larger one). The app will shrink and float over the other.
- Slide Over to Split View: If an app is in Slide Over, tap its three dots (...). Tap the Split View icon. The app will then snap into a side-by-side Split View arrangement.
Step 5: Closing Split Screen or Slide Over
When you're done with multitasking, it's easy to get back to a single, full-screen app.
Sub-heading: Closing Split View
- Touch and hold the vertical divider bar between the two apps.
- Drag the divider all the way to the left or right edge of the screen. The app on that side will close, and the remaining app will expand to fill the entire screen.
- Alternatively, you can tap the three dots (...) at the top of one of the apps and tap the Full Screen icon (the single large rectangle). That app will take over the screen.
Sub-heading: Closing Slide Over
- Swipe the Slide Over app off the screen to the left or right. It will disappear from view but will remain open in the background (accessible via the App Switcher).
- To completely close the app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the App Switcher, then swipe up on the Slide Over app's card to dismiss it.
Pro Tips for Maximum Multitasking!
- Drag and Drop Content: One of the most powerful features of Split View is the ability to drag and drop text, images, links, and even files between apps. For example, drag a photo from the Photos app directly into an email in the Mail app!
- Customize Your Dock: Keep your most frequently used apps in the Dock for quick access when initiating Split View or Slide Over.
- App Compatibility: While many apps support Split View and Slide Over, some older or less-updated apps may not. If you don't see the three dots or the drag-and-drop functionality isn't working, that particular app might not support it.
- Keyboard Shortcuts: If you use an external keyboard with your iPad, many multitasking actions can be performed with keyboard shortcuts, speeding up your workflow even further!
- Stage Manager (for compatible iPads): For certain iPad Pro and iPad Air models, Apple introduced Stage Manager, an even more advanced multitasking system that allows for resizable, overlapping windows and external display support. While beyond the scope of this "split screen" guide, it's worth exploring if your iPad supports it for even more flexibility.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to: Enable Multitasking on my iPad?
Go to Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking (or Multitasking & Gestures) and make sure "Allow Multiple Apps" (or "Split View & Slide Over") is turned on.
How to: Open two Safari windows in Split View?
Open Safari, then either drag a new tab out to the side of the screen or tap the three dots at the top and select Split View, then open a second Safari window.
How to: Adjust the size of apps in Split View?
Touch and hold the vertical divider bar between the two apps and drag it left or right to resize.
How to: Close one app in Split View?
Drag the vertical divider bar all the way to the left or right edge of the screen, or tap the three dots at the top of the app you want to keep and select the "Full Screen" icon.
How to: Get rid of a Slide Over window?
Swipe the Slide Over window off the screen to the left or right.
How to: Switch between apps in Slide Over?
If you have multiple apps in Slide Over, swipe left or right along the bottom edge of the floating window to cycle through them.
How to: Know if an app supports Split View?
If an app supports Split View, you will usually see the three dots (...) at the top center of its window when it's open. Not all apps are optimized for it.
How to: Move content between two apps in Split View?
You can often drag and drop text, images, links, and files directly from one app to the other by touching and holding the item and dragging it to the desired location in the other app.
How to: Turn a Split View app into a Slide Over app?
Tap the three dots (...) at the top of the app you want to change, then tap the Slide Over icon (the smaller rectangle on top of a larger one).
How to: Troubleshoot Split View if it's not working?
Ensure multitasking is enabled in Settings, check if your iPad model is compatible, verify the app supports Split View, and try restarting your iPad.
