Alright, let's dive into the wonderful world of multitasking on your iPad! Have you ever wished you could have two apps open side-by-side, making it a breeze to take notes while watching a video or compare information from different websites? Well, you're in luck! Your iPad is a multitasking powerhouse, and learning to use Split View is a game-changer.
Follow along, and you'll be a split-screening pro in no time!
Step 1: Getting Your First App Ready
First things first, let's open the app you want to use as your primary app. This is the app that will likely take up the majority of your screen. Go ahead and tap its icon on your Home Screen or in your App Library to launch it.
Step 2: Invoking the Multitasking Magic
Now comes the exciting part – bringing in your second app! There are a couple of ways to do this, so let's explore both:
Using the Dock (The Drag and Drop Method)
This is often the quickest and most intuitive way to enter Split View:
-
Reveal the Dock: If you're not already seeing it, swipe up slightly from the very bottom edge of your screen and hold briefly. The Dock, which houses your favorite and recently used apps, will slide up.
-
Find Your Second App: Locate the icon of the second app you want to use in Split View.
-
Drag and Drop: Tap and hold on the icon of the second app. Without lifting your finger, drag the app icon out of the Dock and onto the side of your currently open primary app.
- Dragging to the Left or Right: If you drag the second app to either the left or right edge of your screen, it will snap into place alongside your primary app, creating a Split View. You'll see a vertical divider between the two apps.
Using the App Switcher (The More Controlled Method)
This method gives you a broader view of your recently used apps:
- Open the App Switcher: Swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen and hold in the middle until the App Switcher appears. You'll see previews of all your recently opened apps.
- Select Your Primary App (If Necessary): If the app you want as your primary app isn't the one currently in focus, tap on its preview to bring it to the forefront.
- Initiate Split View: Look for the three small dots at the very top of the primary app's window. Tap these dots. You'll see three options appear:
- Center: This will usually turn the app into a Slide Over window (we'll talk about that later!).
- Left: Tapping this will move your current app to the left side of the screen, preparing for a second app on the right.
- Right: Tapping this will move your current app to the right side, preparing for a second app on the left.
- Choose Your Second App: After selecting either "Left" or "Right," your primary app will slide to that side, and your Home Screen or App Library will appear on the other side. Now, simply tap on the icon of the second app you want to open in Split View.
Step 3: Mastering Your Split View
Once you have two apps side-by-side, you can customize your Split View experience:
Adjusting the App Sizes
The vertical divider between the two apps isn't fixed! You can easily change how much screen real estate each app occupies:
- Locate the Divider: Find the gray vertical line that separates your two apps.
- Drag the Divider: Tap and hold on the divider. Now, drag it left or right.
- Dragging towards the left will make the left app wider and the right app narrower.
- Dragging towards the right will do the opposite.
- You can usually set the split to be roughly 50/50, or you can make one app take up about two-thirds of the screen and the other one-third.
Switching the App Positions
Decided you want the app on the left to be on the right, and vice versa? No problem!
- Identify the App You Want to Move: Look at the top of the app's window. You'll see the same three small dots we used earlier.
- Drag the App: Tap and hold on these three dots. Now, drag the entire app window to the other side of the screen. It will smoothly switch places with the other app.
Closing Split View
When you're done multitasking, you can easily return to a single full-screen app:
- Locate the Divider: Find the gray vertical line between the apps.
- Drag to the Edge: Tap and hold on the divider and drag it all the way to either the left or the right edge of your screen. The app you drag towards will expand to fill the entire display, and the other app will close.
Beyond Split View: Introducing Slide Over
While Split View keeps two apps side-by-side, Slide Over allows you to have a smaller, floating app window on top of your main app. This is great for quickly checking a message or controlling music without fully leaving your current task.
How to Use Slide Over
- Open Your Primary App: Just like with Split View, start by opening the app you want to be your main focus.
- Invoke the Dock: Swipe up slightly from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Dock.
- Drag and Drop to Slide Over: Tap and hold on the icon of the app you want to use in Slide Over. Instead of dragging it to the edge of the screen, drag it towards the center of the screen and then release. The app will appear in a smaller, floating window.
Managing Your Slide Over Window
- Moving the Window: Tap and hold on the gray bar at the top of the Slide Over window and drag it to move it to either the left or right side of your screen.
- Resizing the Window (Limited): Slide Over windows have a fixed size and cannot be resized like Split View apps.
- Hiding the Window: Swipe the Slide Over window off the left or right edge of the screen to temporarily hide it. A small tab will appear on that edge. Swipe the tab back towards the center to bring the Slide Over window back.
- Turning Slide Over into Split View: Tap the three dots at the top of the Slide Over window and then tap the left or right Split View icon. This will move the Slide Over app to the side and turn it into a Split View alongside your original app.
- Closing Slide Over: Tap the three dots at the top of the Slide Over window and then tap the close button (the 'X').
Step 4: Practice Makes Perfect!
The best way to become comfortable with Split View and Slide Over is to use them! Experiment with different app combinations and find what works best for your workflow. Don't be afraid to try dragging and dropping or using the App Switcher – you'll get the hang of it quickly.
Step 5: Check Compatibility
While most modern iPad apps support Split View and Slide Over, some older apps might not. If you try to drag an app into Split View and it doesn't work, it's likely that the app hasn't been updated to support these multitasking features.
Frequently Asked Questions (How to...)
How to know if an app supports Split View?
Quick Answer: Try dragging the app from the Dock or using the App Switcher method described in Step 2. If it snaps to the side, it supports Split View. If it doesn't, it likely doesn't.
How to open two of the same app in Split View?
Quick Answer: Not all apps allow this, but some do (like Safari or Files). Try opening the app normally, then use the Dock to drag another instance of the same app to the side.
How to save a Split View app pair for later use?
Quick Answer: iPadOS doesn't have a direct feature to save Split View pairs. However, the system often remembers your recent Split View combinations, so they might reappear if you open one of the apps again.
How to adjust the volume when in Split View?
Quick Answer: Use the physical volume buttons on the side of your iPad, or swipe down from the top-right corner to access Control Center and adjust the volume slider. This controls the overall system volume.
How to take a screenshot when in Split View?
Quick Answer: Simultaneously press the top button (or Sleep/Wake button) and the volume up button. The screenshot will capture the entire screen, including both apps in Split View. You can then edit or crop it as needed.
How to close just one app in Split View?
Quick Answer: Drag the divider all the way to the edge of the screen in the direction of the app you want to close. The other app will then take over the full screen.
How to use Split View with an external keyboard and mouse?
Quick Answer: Using an external keyboard and mouse doesn't change the way you initiate or manage Split View. You can still use the Dock or App Switcher methods with your mouse and keyboard.
How to get the Dock to appear if it's hidden?
Quick Answer: Swipe up slightly from the very bottom edge of your screen and hold briefly. The Dock should slide up. You can also adjust the settings to have the Dock always visible.
How to switch between Split View and Slide Over quickly?
Quick Answer: If you have an app in Slide Over, tap the three dots at the top and choose a Split View option (left or right). To go from Split View to Slide Over, tap the three dots at the top of one of the Split View apps and choose the Center option (if available for that app).
How to troubleshoot if Split View isn't working?
Quick Answer: First, ensure your iPad model supports Split View (most modern iPads do). Then, make sure the apps you're trying to use are compatible. Restarting your iPad can sometimes resolve temporary software glitches. Also, check if you have too many apps open in the background, as this can sometimes affect multitasking performance.
There you have it! You're now equipped with the knowledge to master Split View and Slide Over on your iPad. Go forth and multitask like a pro! Enjoy the increased productivity and convenience these features offer.
