- Working with Apps
- Finding New Apps in the App Store
- Managing Installed Apps
- Multitasking on Your iPad
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Multitasking on Your iPad
You can have multiple apps open simultaneously on your iPad. Normally, you use one app full screen while the other apps hide in the background; you then use the App Switcher to change from one app to another.
You also can choose to run two or more apps (or two or more windows from the same app) onscreen at the same time. This ability to multitask between two open apps has been made significantly simpler in iPadOS 15.
Display Multiple Windows with Split View
The Split View feature lets you display and use two apps, or two windows from the same app, at the same time. The apps appear in two equally sized panels on the screen.
With the first app open, tap the Multitasking (three dots) button at the top of the screen.
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Tap the center (split-screen) icon.
You are prompted to open the second app. Tap that app’s icon to do so.
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The two apps are displayed side by side. To change the space assigned to each app, drag the handle between the two apps left or right, as necessary.
To return to single-app view, tap the Multitasking button for the app you want to view full screen.
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Tap the left (full screen) icon to view this app full screen.
Open a Floating Window with Slide Over
The second way to multitask between two apps is with the Slide Over feature, which lets you open a second app onscreen without closing the one you’re currently in. The second app (called the side app) appears in a separate panel or window that floats on top of the first app.
Open the app you want to appear in the floating window; then tap the Multitasking (three-dot) button.
Tap the right (slide over) icon.
You are prompted to select the second app. Tap that app’s icon to do so.
The first app now appears as a floating window above the second app you selected. You can interact with the main app and the Slide Over app at the same time; they’re both “live.”
Sometimes the Slide Over panel hovers over important information on the full-screen app, and you might need to move it to use the other app. To move the Slide Over panel to the other side of the screen, press the handle at the top of the panel and drag it to the other side.
To display either app full screen, tap the Multitasking button for that app.
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Tap the left (full screen) icon.
Drag and Drop Text and Pictures Between Apps
Your iPad’s multitasking features let you easily copy text and pictures between apps using either Slide Over or Split View. (Personally, I find Split View easier for these tasks.) You do this with simple drag and drop.
In either Slide Over or Split View, press to select the text or picture you want to copy.
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While still holding down the selection, drag it to the point in the other app where you want to copy it.
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Release your finger, and the item is placed in the second app.
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View All Open Windows with App Exposé
Some apps let you open multiple windows. For example, Safari lets you open multiple web pages in different tabs; Pages lets you open multiple word processing documents; and Numbers lets you open multiple spreadsheet documents. You can use your iPad’s App Exposé feature to quickly view all open windows for any given app. Here’s how it works.
Display the Dock and tap and hold the icon for the open app; then tap Show All Windows.
All open windows for that app are displayed. Tap a window to display that instance full screen.
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