Is your iPad feeling a little cramped? Do you find yourself constantly switching between Safari tabs, losing your place, or wishing you could compare two webpages side-by-side without the endless tapping? If so, then split screen on iPad Safari is about to become your new best friend! This powerful multitasking feature, also known as Split View, lets you view two Safari windows simultaneously, transforming your iPad into a true productivity powerhouse.
Ready to dive in and unlock a whole new level of efficiency? Let's get started!
Step 1: Ensuring Multitasking is Enabled
Before we get to the fun part of splitting screens, let's make sure your iPad is ready for some serious multitasking. Think of it as making sure all the necessary switches are flipped before you start your engine.
- Your iPad's Compatibility: First things first, ensure your iPad supports Split View. Generally, iPads running iOS 10 or later (like iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 or newer, and iPad mini 4 or newer) are compatible. If your iPad is older, you might not have this feature.
- Check Your Settings:
- Go to the Settings app on your iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on Home Screen & Multitasking (or sometimes just Multitasking & Gestures).
- Under the "Multitasking" section, make sure that "Allow Multiple Apps" (and often "Split View & Slide Over") is toggled On. If it's off, simply tap the switch to enable it. This is crucial for Split View to function.
Once you've confirmed these settings, your iPad is primed for multitasking magic!
Step 2: Opening Two Safari Windows in Split View
There are several intuitive ways to initiate Split View with Safari. Choose the method that best suits your workflow!
Sub-heading A: Using the Multitasking Menu (The Three Dots)
This is the most universal method and works for any app that supports Split View.
- Open Safari: Launch the Safari app and navigate to your first desired webpage.
- Tap the Multitasking Button: Look for the three small dots
…at the very top center of your Safari window. Tap on them. - Select Split View: A menu will pop up with three options:
- Full Screen (a single square icon)
- Split View (a two-part rectangle icon, often with one side shaded)
- Slide Over (a smaller rectangle icon) Tap the Split View icon.
- Choose Safari Again: Your current Safari window will move to one side, revealing your Home Screen. Now, tap the Safari icon again from your Dock or Home Screen. Voila! You'll now have two Safari windows open side-by-side.
Sub-heading B: Dragging a Tab into Split View
This method is incredibly efficient if you already have multiple tabs open in Safari.
- Open Safari with Multiple Tabs: Open Safari and have at least two tabs loaded.
- Drag and Drop a Tab: Tap and hold down on the tab you want to move to the other side. As you hold it, drag it towards either the left or right edge of your iPad screen.
- Release to Split: As you drag, you'll see a black bar appear, indicating where the new window will snap into place. When the black bar appears on the side you want, release your finger. The tab will now open in Split View alongside your original Safari window.
Sub-heading C: Opening a Link Directly in Split View
This is perfect for researching or comparing information when you find a link on a page you're already viewing.
- Browse a Webpage: In Safari, navigate to a webpage that contains a link you want to open in a new window.
- Press and Hold the Link: Tap and hold down on the link you want to open.
- Select "Open in Split View": A contextual menu will appear. Look for and tap on the option that says "Open in Split View". The link will open in a new Safari window on the opposite side of your screen.
Sub-heading D: Using the Dock for Split View (General Multitasking)
While not Safari-specific, this is a versatile method for bringing a second app (which can be Safari) into Split View.
- Open Safari: Start with Safari open to your first webpage.
- Reveal the Dock: Gently swipe up from the very bottom edge of your screen until the Dock appears.
- Drag Safari from the Dock: Tap and hold the Safari app icon in the Dock. Without lifting your finger, drag the icon up and to either the left or right edge of the screen.
- Snap to Split View: As before, a black bar will indicate the Split View area. Release your finger when the black bar appears on the desired side.
Step 3: Managing Your Split Safari Windows
Once you're in Split View, you have a lot of flexibility to customize your Browse experience.
Sub-heading A: Resizing the Windows
Sometimes one webpage needs more attention than the other.
- Drag the Divider: In the middle of your screen, you'll see a black vertical divider line. Tap and drag this divider left or right to adjust the width of each Safari window. You can make one window occupy a smaller portion of the screen (e.g., 1/3) while the other takes up more (e.g., 2/3), or have them equally split (1/2 each).
Sub-heading B: Swapping Window Positions
Decided you want the left page on the right and vice-versa? No problem!
- Use the Multitasking Button: Tap the three dots
…at the top of the Safari window you wish to move. From the menu, tap the Split View icon again. You'll then see two shaded options within the Split View icon itself – one shaded left, one shaded right. Tap the one corresponding to the side you want that window to move to. - Drag from the Multitasking Button: You can also tap and hold the three dots
…at the top of a Safari window and then drag the window to the opposite side of the screen.
Sub-heading C: Interacting with Each Window
Each Safari window in Split View functions independently.
- Separate Navigation: You can browse different websites, open new tabs, and use the back/forward buttons within each individual Safari window.
- Bookmarks and History: Each window has its own set of tabs, bookmarks, and history.
- Drag and Drop: This is a fantastic feature! You can drag text, images, or even links from one Safari window and drop them into another app (like Notes, Mail, or Messages) or even into the other Safari window. Simply tap and hold the item until it "lifts," then drag it to its new destination.
Step 4: Exiting Split View in Safari
When you're done with multitasking and want to return to a single, full-screen Safari window, you have a couple of easy options.
Sub-heading A: Dragging the Divider
This is often the quickest and most intuitive way to exit Split View.
- Identify the Window to Keep: Decide which Safari window you want to remain in full screen.
- Drag the Divider: Tap and drag the black vertical divider all the way to the edge of the screen where the window you want to close is located.
- Release: When the divider reaches the edge, release your finger. The unwanted Safari window will close, and the remaining window will expand to fill the entire screen.
Sub-heading B: Using the Multitasking Menu to Return to Full Screen
Another reliable method for exiting Split View.
- Tap the Multitasking Button: At the top of the Safari window you wish to keep in full screen, tap the three dots
…. - Select Full Screen: From the pop-up menu, tap the Full Screen icon (the single, fully shaded square). The selected Safari window will expand to full screen, and the other will close.
Sub-heading C: Merging All Tabs (Safari Specific)
If you've opened multiple Safari windows in Split View using the tab-dragging method, you can merge them back into a single window.
- Tap and Hold the Tabs Button: In Safari, look for the Tabs button (it looks like two overlapping squares) in the top right corner. Tap and hold this button.
- Select "Merge All Windows": A menu will appear with the option "Merge All Windows". Tap this. All your open Safari windows will consolidate back into tabs within a single Safari window.
And there you have it! You've now mastered the art of splitting screens in Safari on your iPad. This feature truly unlocks the iPad's potential for efficient Browse and multitasking. Experiment with these methods to find what works best for you, and enjoy a more productive iPad experience!
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to check if my iPad supports Split View?
To check if your iPad supports Split View, go to Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking (or Multitasking & Gestures). If you see options like "Allow Multiple Apps" or "Split View & Slide Over," your iPad likely supports it. Generally, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 or newer, and iPad mini 4 or newer, running iOS 10 or later, are compatible.
How to open a link in Split View from an app other than Safari?
To open a link in Safari Split View from another app, tap and hold the link in the source app (if the app supports this). A contextual menu should appear, often with an option like "Open in Split View" or you can drag the link to the edge of the screen until Safari appears in Split View.
How to tell which Safari window is active in Split View?
The active Safari window in Split View will have a slightly brighter or more pronounced top bar (where the address bar and tabs are), indicating it's currently in focus and ready for your input.
How to switch an app from Split View to Slide Over?
While in Split View, tap the three dots … at the top of the app you want to change to Slide Over. From the multitasking menu, tap the Slide Over icon (the smaller rectangle, usually with one third shaded). The app will then become a floating window.
How to close only one Safari window in Split View?
To close only one Safari window, drag the black vertical divider all the way to the side of the screen where the window you want to close is located. The other window will then expand to full screen.
How to use Drag and Drop between two Safari windows?
To use Drag and Drop, tap and hold on text, an image, or a link in one Safari window until it "lifts." Then, without lifting your finger, drag it to the other Safari window and release your finger to drop it.
How to prevent accidental Split View activation?
To prevent accidental Split View activation, be mindful of where you tap and drag. The primary triggers are dragging tabs to the screen edge, pressing and holding links for the "Open in Split View" option, or dragging apps from the Dock to the screen edge.
How to open a new blank Safari window in Split View?
While in Safari, tap and hold the Tabs button (the two overlapping squares) in the toolbar. In the menu that appears, tap "New Window" to open a fresh Safari instance in Split View.
How to adjust the size ratio of the two Safari windows?
To adjust the size ratio, simply tap and drag the black vertical divider located in the middle of the two Safari windows. You can move it left or right to allocate more screen space to one window over the other.
How to get out of Split View and back to a single full-screen app if the divider method doesn't work?
If the divider method isn't working, tap the three dots … at the top of the Safari window you want to keep. Then, from the multitasking menu, tap the Full Screen icon (the single, fully shaded square). This will close the other window and expand your chosen Safari window to full screen.