Is your iPad feeling a little cramped? Do you find yourself constantly switching between apps, wishing you could see two things at once? Well, you're in luck! Your iPad is a powerful multitasking machine, and learning to split your screen can revolutionize how you work and play.
Imagine jotting down notes while watching a lecture, or comparing prices on a shopping website while Browse a review site. All of this, and more, is possible with Split View on your iPad. Let's dive in and unlock your iPad's full potential!
The Power of Multitasking: Split View vs. Slide Over
Before we jump into the steps, it's helpful to understand the two main multitasking features on your iPad:
- Split View: This is what most people mean by "split screen." It allows you to display two apps side-by-side, sharing the screen real estate. You can adjust the size of each app to suit your needs, making it ideal for direct comparison or parallel work.
- Slide Over: This feature lets you open a third app in a smaller, floating window that sits on top of your main app (or even two apps in Split View). It's perfect for quickly checking a message, calculator, or other quick-reference app without leaving your primary task.
For this guide, we'll focus primarily on Split View, but we'll also touch on how Slide Over can enhance your multitasking experience.
Step 1: Let's Get Ready! - Ensure Multitasking is Enabled
Before you can split your screen, you need to make sure the feature is turned on in your iPad's settings. For most modern iPads running recent iPadOS versions, this will be enabled by default, but it's always good to check.
Sub-heading: Checking Your iPad's Multitasking Settings
- Tap the "Settings" icon on your Home Screen. It looks like a set of gray gears.
- In the Settings menu, scroll down and tap on "Home Screen & Multitasking" (or sometimes just "Multitasking & Gestures" or "Multitasking").
- Under the "Multitasking" section, ensure that "Allow Multiple Apps" (or "Split View & Slide Over") is toggled ON. If it's off, simply tap the toggle to turn it on.
- Pro Tip: While you're here, familiarize yourself with other multitasking settings. You might find other useful options!
Step 2: Opening Your First App
This one's easy! Simply open the first app you want to use in your split screen setup. This will be your primary app for now. For example, if you want to write a document while looking at a webpage, open your word processor (like Pages or Microsoft Word).
Step 3: Bringing in the Second App (The Main Event!)
There are a few popular and easy ways to bring in your second app for Split View. Choose the method that feels most intuitive for you!
Sub-heading: Method A: Using the Multitasking Menu (The Easiest Way for Many)
This method is perhaps the most straightforward and consistent across recent iPadOS versions.
- Open your first app. (As in Step 2).
- Look for the three small dots (•••) at the very top center of your iPad screen. This is the Multitasking button. Tap it.
- A small menu will appear with three options:
- Full Screen (a solid square icon)
- Split View (a divided square icon with two vertical rectangles)
- Slide Over (a smaller rectangle floating on a larger one)
- Tap the Split View icon (the middle one).
- Your current app will slide to the side, revealing your Home Screen and Dock.
- Tap the second app you want to open from your Home Screen or Dock. Voila! The two apps will now appear side-by-side in Split View.
Sub-heading: Method B: Using the Dock (Quick & Efficient)
This method is great if your second app is already in your Dock (the row of icons at the bottom of your screen).
- Open your first app.
- Swipe up gently from the very bottom edge of your screen to reveal the Dock. Be careful not to swipe too far up, or you'll go to the Home Screen!
- Touch and hold the icon of the second app you want to open in Split View from the Dock.
- While still holding, drag the app icon towards either the left or right edge of the screen. As you drag, you'll see a dark, shadowy area appear on the side, indicating where the app will snap into place.
- Release your finger when the shadowy area shows the split screen. The two apps will then appear in Split View.
Sub-heading: Method C: Using the App Library or Spotlight Search (For Hidden Apps)
If the app you want isn't in your Dock or on your immediate Home Screen, you can still use Split View.
- Open your first app.
- Tap the Multitasking button (•••) at the top of the screen, then select the Split View icon. Your Home Screen will appear.
- Now, you have a couple of options to find your second app:
- App Library: Swipe left on your Home Screen until you reach the App Library. You can browse through categories or use the search bar at the top to find your app. Once found, tap the app icon to open it in Split View.
- Spotlight Search: If you have a keyboard connected, press Command + Space bar to bring up Spotlight Search. Type the name of the app. If you don't have a keyboard, swipe down from the middle of your Home Screen to access Spotlight Search. Once the app appears in the search results, touch and hold its icon and drag it to the left or right edge of the screen until it snaps into Split View.
Step 4: Adjusting Your Split View
Once you have two apps in Split View, you're not stuck with a fixed size. You can easily adjust how much space each app takes up.
- Look for the thin gray divider line in the middle of your screen, between the two apps.
- Touch and hold this divider line.
- Drag the divider left or right to resize the app windows. You'll notice that the screen will "snap" into common split ratios (e.g., 50/50, 70/30).
- Release your finger when you're happy with the size.
Step 5: Replacing an App in Split View
Need to swap out one of the apps without closing Split View entirely? Easy!
- While in Split View, identify the app you want to replace.
- Tap the Multitasking button (•••) at the top of the app you wish to replace.
- Tap the Split View icon again.
- The app you selected will slide away, revealing your Home Screen.
- Tap the new app you want to use, and it will take its place in Split View.
Step 6: Exiting Split View and Going Full Screen
When you're done multitasking, you can easily return to a single app in full-screen mode.
Sub-heading: Option A: Dragging the Divider
This is the quickest way to close Split View.
- Touch and hold the gray divider line between the two apps.
- Drag the divider all the way to the left or right edge of the screen, covering the app you want to close.
- Release your finger. The remaining app will expand to fill the entire screen.
Sub-heading: Option B: Using the Multitasking Menu
- Tap the Multitasking button (•••) at the top of the app you want to keep in full screen.
- Tap the Full Screen icon (the solid square, the first option on the left). The selected app will expand to full screen.
Bonus: Introducing Slide Over (for the multitasking pros!)
As mentioned earlier, Slide Over allows you to have a third app quickly accessible.
Sub-heading: How to Open an App in Slide Over
- While in a full-screen app (or even in Split View), gently swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Dock.
- Touch and hold the icon of the app you want to use in Slide Over.
- Drag the app icon to the center of the screen (don't drag it to the edges like Split View).
- Release your finger. The app will appear in a smaller, floating window.
Sub-heading: Managing Slide Over Apps
- Move it: Drag the Multitasking button (•••) at the top of the Slide Over window to move it to the left or right side of your screen.
- Hide it: Swipe the Slide Over app off the screen to the left or right. To bring it back, swipe inward from the edge of the screen where you hid it.
- Switch between Slide Over apps: If you have multiple apps open in Slide Over, you can swipe across the bottom edge of the Slide Over window to switch between them. You can also swipe up from the bottom of the Slide Over window and pause to see all active Slide Over apps and choose.
- Turn Slide Over into Split View: Drag the Multitasking button (•••) at the top of the Slide Over window towards the left or right edge of the screen until it snaps into Split View.
- Close a Slide Over app: Swipe up from the bottom of the Slide Over window and pause to enter the Slide Over app switcher. Then, swipe the app's preview upwards to dismiss it.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to turn off Split View and Slide Over?
Go to Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking (or "Multitasking & Gestures") and toggle off "Allow Multiple Apps" (or "Split View & Slide Over").
How to use Split View with the same app (e.g., two Safari windows)?
Open Safari, then tap the Multitasking button (•••), select Split View. When your Home Screen appears, tap the Safari icon again. This will open a second Safari window for side-by-side Browse.
How to drag and drop content between Split View apps?
Simply touch and hold text, images, or files in one app, then drag them across the divider and release your finger in the other app. A green plus (+) icon indicates it can be dropped.
How to quickly switch between apps in Split View?
You can swipe left or right on the very bottom edge of the screen (the thin bar) to quickly cycle through your recently used full-screen or Split View app pairs.
How to tell if an app supports Split View or Slide Over?
Most modern apps support these features. If an app doesn't, you won't see the Split View or Slide Over options in the Multitasking menu (•••) when that app is open, or it won't snap into place when you try to drag it from the Dock.
How to get rid of a Slide Over app quickly?
You can grab the Slide Over app by its top bar (where the ••• is) and quickly swipe it off to the left or right edge of the screen until it disappears.
How to change the side of an app in Split View?
While in Split View, touch and hold the Multitasking button (•••) at the top of one of the apps, then drag it to the opposite side of the screen.
How to fix Split View if it's not working?
First, ensure "Allow Multiple Apps" is enabled in Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking. If it's still not working, try restarting your iPad, as this can often resolve minor software glitches.
How to use three apps at once on iPad?
You can combine Split View and Slide Over. First, open two apps in Split View. Then, open a third app in Slide Over by dragging it from the Dock to the center of the screen.
How to move the Dock while in Split View?
The Dock will automatically hide and reappear as needed. If you want to access it while in Split View, simply swipe up gently from the very bottom edge of the screen.
