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How To Split the Screen on Your iPad: A Masterclass

Want to supercharge your iPad multitasking and become a productivity powerhouse? Splitting your screen is the key! You can run two apps side-by-side, drag and drop content between them, and essentially double your efficiency. Here’s how to become an iPad multitasking ninja. You can split the screen on your iPad using Slide Over and Split View. To use Slide Over, open an app, then swipe up slightly from the bottom edge of the screen to reveal the Dock. Touch and hold the icon of a second app you want to use, then drag it upwards and release it. The second app will appear in a smaller, floating window on top of the first app. To use Split View, follow the same steps to reveal the Dock and drag a second app upwards. When you drag the icon, instead of releasing it immediately, drag it to the left or right edge of the screen until the first app shrinks to fill half the screen. Release the icon, and the second app will fill the other half, creating a true split-screen experience.

Mastering iPad Multitasking: A Deep Dive

While the basic instructions above get you started, there’s much more to squeezing every ounce of productivity out of your iPad’s multitasking capabilities. This isn’t just about running two apps at once; it’s about seamlessly integrating your workflow and unlocking the full potential of your tablet.

Understanding Split View and Slide Over

The iPad offers two primary ways to run multiple apps concurrently: Split View and Slide Over. Understanding the nuances of each is critical to choosing the right method for the task at hand.

Split View: This mode dedicates half of the screen (or roughly a third, depending on your iPad model and app compatibility) to each app. Both apps are fully active and interactive. Think of it as having two independent windows side-by-side, perfect for tasks that require constant interaction with both applications, such as researching on Safari while taking notes in Pages, or referencing data in Numbers while composing an email.
Slide Over: This mode presents one app in a floating window that sits on top of the main app. The main app remains visible and partially interactive in the background, but focus is primarily on the app in the Slide Over window. Slide Over is ideal for quickly checking messages, controlling music playback, or accessing other utilities without fully interrupting your primary workflow. You can easily swipe the Slide Over window off the screen to the right when you need to focus entirely on the underlying app.

The Dock: Your Multitasking Launchpad

The Dock is your central hub for launching apps in both Split View and Slide Over. Here’s how to leverage it effectively:

Customize your Dock: The Dock adapts to your usage, showing apps you recently opened on the right side. You can also pin your frequently used apps to the left side for quick access. To pin an app, simply tap and hold its icon on the Home Screen until the contextual menu appears, then select “Edit Home Screen.” Once the icons are jiggling, drag the app icon to the Dock.
Dragging Apps from the Dock: This is the heart of initiating Split View and Slide Over. A long press and drag is key. Don’t just tap! After you have the icon selected, move it toward the right or left edge of the screen to activate Split View or just above the active app to activate Slide Over.

Drag and Drop: The Ultimate Productivity Booster

One of the most powerful features of iPad multitasking is the ability to drag and drop content between apps. This functionality streamlines workflows and eliminates tedious copying and pasting.

Text, Images, and Files: You can drag and drop text, images, and files between apps in Split View or Slide Over. For example, you can drag an image from Safari directly into a Keynote presentation, or a quote from a PDF into a Pages document.
Multi-Item Dragging: In some apps, you can even select multiple items and drag them all at once. For example, you can select multiple images in Photos and drag them into a shared note in Notes, streamlining your workflow.

Mastering the Multitasking Controls

Familiarize yourself with the multitasking controls to quickly switch between Split View and Slide Over, adjust window sizes, and close apps.

The Multitasking Bar: The small gray bar at the top of each app in Split View is your gateway to control. Dragging this bar to the left or right will adjust the relative size of the app windows. Dragging it all the way to one side will close the app.
Switching Apps in Split View: Swipe down from the top of an app in Split View to replace it with another app. This brings up the app switcher, allowing you to select a new app to take its place.

iPad Multitasking: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about using split-screen on your iPad:

1. Which iPads Support Split View and Slide Over?

Generally, any iPad running iPadOS 13 or later supports both Split View and Slide Over. This includes all iPad Pro models, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad (5th generation) and later, and iPad mini 4 and later. Always ensure your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS for optimal performance and compatibility.

2. How Do I Know If An App Supports Split View?

Not all apps support Split View. A simple test is to try dragging the app icon to the edge of the screen as described above. If the existing app on the screen shrinks to make room, then Split View is supported. If nothing happens, the app likely doesn’t support it.

3. Can I Use Three Apps At Once?

Yes, but indirectly. You can have two apps in Split View and one app in Slide Over simultaneously. This gives you access to three apps at once, although the Slide Over app will be in a floating window.

4. How Do I Adjust the Size of the Split View Windows?

Drag the multitasking bar (the small gray bar at the top of the divider) to the left or right. This will adjust the relative size of the two apps. Some apps only allow for certain size configurations.

5. How Do I Close Split View?

Drag the multitasking bar all the way to the left or right. This will close the app on the side you dragged towards and return the other app to full-screen mode.

6. How Do I Turn Off Slide Over?

To dismiss Slide Over, simply swipe the app window off the right side of the screen. To bring it back, swipe from the right edge of the screen towards the center.

7. How Do I Change the App in Slide Over?

Swipe up from the bottom of the Slide Over window to reveal the app switcher. You can then select a different app to use in Slide Over.

8. Can I Use Split View in Landscape and Portrait Mode?

Yes, Split View works in both landscape and portrait mode, depending on the app and iPad model.

9. Why Is Split View Not Working?

Several reasons might prevent Split View from working:

Unsupported App: The app may not support Split View.
iPad Model: Older iPad models might not support Split View.
Disabled Multitasking: Ensure multitasking is enabled in Settings > Home Screen & Dock > Multitasking.

10. How Do I Drag and Drop Between Apps?

Tap and hold the item you want to drag (text, image, file) until it lifts from the screen. Then, drag it to the other app. Some apps may have specific drag-and-drop targets.

11. Is There A Keyboard Shortcut For Split View?

While there isn’t a dedicated keyboard shortcut to directly initiate Split View, you can use keyboard shortcuts within apps that support them while in Split View. For example, Command+N in Pages will create a new document, even when it’s in Split View.

12. Can I Save A Split View Configuration?

Unfortunately, iPadOS does not offer a native feature to save specific Split View configurations. This is a frequently requested feature, and third-party apps may offer some workaround solutions. However, in iPadOS 17 (and later) Stage Manager will allow you to group apps together.

Mastering Split View and Slide Over will transform your iPad from a simple tablet into a powerful productivity tool. Experiment with different app combinations and workflows to discover how multitasking can streamline your tasks and boost your efficiency.