Want to supercharge your iPad's productivity and truly multitask like a pro? Ever wished you could have a research paper open while taking notes, or watch a tutorial video while practicing a new skill? You're in luck! Your iPad is a powerful multitasking machine, and this comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to unleash its full potential by running two apps side-by-side. Get ready to transform your workflow and boost your efficiency!
Step 1: Understanding the Multitasking Bar (The Dock)
Before we dive into opening two apps, let's make sure you're comfortable with the heart of iPad multitasking: the Dock. The Dock is that row of app icons at the bottom of your screen, always accessible, no matter what app you're in.
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Accessing the Dock: While in any app, simply swipe up slowly from the very bottom edge of your screen. You'll see the Dock appear. If you swipe up too quickly, you might activate the App Switcher (which we'll get to later). Practice this a few times until it feels natural.
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Understanding What's in the Dock:
- Your Favorite Apps: The main part of the Dock contains apps you've placed there for quick access. These are your go-to apps.
- Recently Used Apps: On the far right side of the Dock, you'll see a small separator line, and then a few icons. These are apps you've recently used, even if they aren't permanently in your Dock. This is crucial for multitasking!
Step 2: Mastering Split View – The Side-by-Side Powerhouse
Split View is the primary way to have two apps open on your iPad simultaneously. It divides your screen into two adjustable sections, allowing you to interact with both apps at once.
Sub-heading 2.1: Initiating Split View from the Dock
This is the most common and often the easiest method.
- Open your first app: Start by opening the app you want to be on one side of your screen. Let's say you're writing an email in the Mail app.
- Bring up the Dock: Slowly swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Dock.
- Drag the second app: Tap and hold the icon of the second app you want to open (e.g., Safari for research) from the Dock.
- Position the second app:
- To the side: As you drag the icon, move your finger towards either the left or right edge of the screen. You'll see the first app shrink slightly, and a vertical black bar will appear, indicating where the second app will snap into place.
- Release: Release your finger when the second app is in the desired position. Voila! You now have two apps open side-by-side in Split View.
Sub-heading 2.2: Adjusting Split View Sizes
Once in Split View, you're not stuck with a fixed split.
- Look for the gray divider: In the middle of the screen, between your two apps, you'll see a thin gray vertical bar.
- Drag to adjust: Tap and hold this gray bar, then drag it left or right. You can adjust the split to be 50/50, 75/25, or 25/75, depending on which app you need more screen real estate for.
Sub-heading 2.3: Swapping Apps in Split View
Decided you need a different app on one side? No problem!
- For the app you want to replace:
- Swipe down from the top: For the app you want to replace, swipe down from the very top edge of its section. The app will temporarily slide down slightly, revealing a small grab handle at the top.
- Drag out the old app: Drag this app downwards completely off the screen.
- Bring in the new app: Now, either open a new app from the Dock using the method described in Sub-heading 2.1, or use the App Switcher (explained in Step 4) to bring in a different app.
Step 3: Exploring Slide Over – The Floating App
Slide Over is a fantastic feature for when you need a quick glance at a second app without fully splitting your screen. It allows a compact version of an app to float on top of your main app.
Sub-heading 3.1: Initiating Slide Over
Similar to Split View, the Dock is your best friend here.
- Open your primary app: Have your main app open (e.g., watching a video in YouTube).
- Bring up the Dock: Slowly swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Dock.
- Drag the second app: Tap and hold the icon of the second app you want to use in Slide Over (e.g., Messages for a quick reply).
- Position the second app:
- To the center: Instead of dragging to the edge like Split View, drag the icon towards the center of the screen. You'll see a smaller, rectangular window appear, indicating where the app will float.
- Release: Release your finger, and the second app will appear as a floating window.
Sub-heading 3.2: Moving and Managing Slide Over
Slide Over apps are quite flexible.
- Moving the window: Tap and hold the gray bar at the top of the Slide Over window, then drag it left or right across the screen to reposition it.
- Hiding and revealing: To temporarily hide the Slide Over app, swipe it off the screen to the right. To bring it back, swipe in from the right edge of the screen.
- Switching Slide Over apps: When a Slide Over app is active, swipe right on the bottom edge of its window to cycle through other recently used Slide Over apps.
- Converting to Split View: If you decide you want the Slide Over app to become a full Split View app, tap and hold the gray bar at the top of the Slide Over window, then drag it to either the left or right edge of the screen. It will then snap into Split View.
- Closing a Slide Over app: To close a Slide Over app, tap and hold the gray bar at the top, then drag it off the screen. Alternatively, you can swipe up from the bottom of the Slide Over window and then swipe up on the app's preview in the App Switcher (explained next).
Step 4: The App Switcher – Your Multitasking Hub
The App Switcher is like a control center for all your open apps, including those in Split View or Slide Over.
Sub-heading 4.1: Accessing the App Switcher
- Swipe up and hold: From the very bottom of the screen, swipe up and hold your finger in the middle of the screen for a moment. You'll see a grid of all your open apps and app pairings (Split View spaces).
Sub-heading 4.2: Managing Apps in the App Switcher
- Closing apps: To close an app (or a Split View pairing), simply swipe its preview card upwards off the screen.
- Switching between apps/spaces: Tap on any app preview to jump directly into it. If you have Split View spaces, tapping on one will open both apps in that configuration.
- Creating Split View from App Switcher: This is a less common but still useful method.
- In the App Switcher, find the first app you want to use.
- Tap and hold on the preview of the second app you want to open in Split View.
- Drag this second app onto the side of the first app's preview. You'll see them snap together. Then tap the combined preview to open them.
Step 5: Multitasking Menu (The Three Dots) – A Newer Way
With recent iPadOS versions, a new "three dots" icon at the top of apps offers another way to manage multitasking.
- Locate the three dots: When an app is open, look for three small gray dots at the very top center of the screen.
- Tap the dots: Tap on these dots to reveal a small menu.
- Choose your multitasking option:
- Split View: Tap the Split View icon (two rectangles side-by-side). The current app will move to one side, and you'll be prompted to choose a second app from your Home Screen or App Library.
- Slide Over: Tap the Slide Over icon (one rectangle on top of another). The current app will become the main app, and you'll be prompted to choose an app to float over it.
- Full Screen: If you're in Split View or Slide Over, you'll also see a Full Screen option to return to a single app.
Pro Tips for Advanced Multitasking!
- Drag and Drop: Many apps support drag and drop between them. For example, you can drag a photo from the Photos app directly into an email or document in Split View. This is a massive time-saver!
- App Library: When prompted to select a second app for Split View or Slide Over (especially when using the three dots menu), remember you can also access your entire App Library by swiping left on the Home Screen.
- Gestures are Key: The more you use the swipe gestures for the Dock and App Switcher, the faster and more intuitive multitasking will become.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to have two Safari windows open side by side?
You can open two Safari windows in Split View just like any other app. Open Safari, then drag a second Safari icon from the Dock (or use the three dots menu) to either side of the screen. You can also open a new Safari window from within Safari by tapping and holding on a link and choosing "Open in New Window," then dragging that new window to Split View.
How to close one app in Split View without closing the other?
To close one app in Split View, drag the gray divider bar (in the middle of the screen) all the way to the edge where the app you want to close is located. This will make the remaining app go full screen.
How to get out of Split View?
To exit Split View, drag the gray divider bar in the middle of the screen all the way to either the left or right edge. The app that remains on the screen will then go full screen.
How to change which side an app is on in Split View?
To switch the sides of two apps in Split View, tap and hold the three dots at the top of one of the apps, then drag that app to the opposite side of the screen.
How to see all open apps on iPad?
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold your finger in the middle for a moment. This will bring up the App Switcher, showing all your currently open apps and Split View spaces.
How to quickly switch between recent apps on iPad?
Swipe horizontally across the very bottom edge of your screen. This gesture quickly switches you between your most recently used full-screen apps or Split View pairings.
How to use three apps on iPad simultaneously?
You can't have three apps fully open side-by-side in Split View. However, you can have two apps in Split View and then have a third app open in Slide Over, floating on top of one of the Split View apps.
How to tell if an app supports Split View or Slide Over?
Most modern apps support Split View and Slide Over. If an app doesn't support it, it simply won't cooperate when you try to drag it to the side or center for multitasking. Apple's built-in apps almost always support it.
How to disable multitasking features on iPad?
While you can't fully "disable" multitasking, you can limit it. Go to Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking > Multitasking. Here you can toggle off options like "Allow Multiple Apps" (which affects Split View and Slide Over) and "Show Suggested and Recent Apps in Dock."
How to copy and paste between two apps on iPad?
With two apps open in Split View, you can easily copy and paste between them. Simply select the text or content in one app, tap "Copy," then switch to the other app and tap "Paste" where you want to insert it. Alternatively, in many apps, you can use drag and drop directly.
