The iPad's multitasking capabilities allow you to work on multiple apps simultaneously, enhancing your productivity and making the most of your iPad's large screen. Split screen feature on iPad lets you divide the screen into two halves, allowing you to view and interact with two apps side-by-side. Whether you want to take notes while watching a lecture, compare documents, or multitask between different tasks, split screen functionality provides a convenient and flexible way to work efficiently.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps on how to split screen on iPad, including both the traditional split screen mode and the newer Slide Over feature. We'll also provide tips for making the most of split screen multitasking and troubleshooting common issues. So, let's get started and discover the power of split screen on your iPad.
To begin using split screen multitasking on your iPad, you'll need to ensure that you have compatible apps and that your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS. Once you've met these requirements, you can proceed with the following steps:
How to Split Screen on iPad
Follow these steps to split screen on your iPad:
- Open two apps
- Drag one app over the other
- Adjust the split screen
- Use Slide Over
- Swipe to change apps
- Close split screen
- Use keyboard shortcuts
- Troubleshoot issues
With these tips, you can easily split screen on iPad and multitask like a pro.
Open Two Apps
To start split screen multitasking, you must first open the two apps you want to use side-by-side.
- Open the first app:
Tap on the app icon on your iPad's home screen to open the first app you want to use.
- Open the second app:
While the first app is open, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right corner on an iPad with Face ID) to reveal the Dock. Then, tap and hold the icon of the second app you want to use.
- Drag the second app over the first:
Without lifting your finger, drag the icon of the second app over to the side of the screen until you see a black bar appear. This indicates that the second app can be opened in split screen mode.
- Drop the second app:
Once you see the black bar, release your finger to drop the second app into place. The two apps will now be displayed side-by-side in split screen mode.
You can also open two apps in split screen mode using the App Switcher. To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right corner on an iPad with Face ID) to reveal the App Switcher. Then, tap and hold the icon of the first app you want to use and drag it to the left or right edge of the screen. Next, tap on the icon of the second app you want to use. The two apps will open side-by-side in split screen mode.
Drag One App Over the Other
Once you have opened two apps, you can drag one app over the other to enter split screen mode.
- Locate the second app:
Make sure the second app is open and visible on your screen.
- Tap and hold the second app:
Tap and hold the icon of the second app in the Dock or on the Home screen.
- Drag the second app:
Without lifting your finger, drag the icon of the second app over to the side of the screen until you see a black bar appear. This indicates that the second app can be opened in split screen mode.
- Drop the second app:
Once you see the black bar, release your finger to drop the second app into place. The two apps will now be displayed side-by-side in split screen mode.
You can also drag one app over the other from the App Switcher. To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right corner on an iPad with Face ID) to reveal the App Switcher. Then, tap and hold the icon of the first app you want to use and drag it to the left or right edge of the screen. Next, tap on the icon of the second app you want to use. The two apps will open side-by-side in split screen mode.
Adjust the Split Screen
Once you have two apps open in split screen mode, you can adjust the size of each app by dragging the black bar in the middle of the screen.
- Drag the black bar:
Tap and hold the black bar in the middle of the screen and drag it up or down to adjust the size of each app.
- Resize the apps:
You can resize the apps so that one app takes up more space than the other. To do this, drag the black bar all the way to the left or right edge of the screen.
- Make one app full screen:
To make one app full screen, drag the black bar all the way to the left or right edge of the screen until the other app disappears. The app that remains on the screen will now be in full screen mode.
- Return to split screen:
To return to split screen mode, simply drag the black bar back to the center of the screen.
You can also adjust the split screen by using keyboard shortcuts. To do this, press and hold the Command key and then press the Left Arrow or Right Arrow key to resize the apps. You can also press and hold the Command key and then press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to move the black bar up or down.
Use Slide Over
Slide Over is a multitasking feature on iPad that allows you to quickly access and use a second app without leaving the current app you're in. It's similar to split screen multitasking, but instead of having two apps open side-by-side, the second app appears in a small window that slides in from the side of the screen.
To use Slide Over, follow these steps:
- Open the first app:
Open the app that you want to use as the main app. - Open the second app:
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right corner on an iPad with Face ID) to reveal the Dock. Then, tap and hold the icon of the second app you want to use. - Drag the second app over the first:
Without lifting your finger, drag the icon of the second app over to the side of the screen until you see a black bar appear. This indicates that the second app can be opened in Slide Over mode. - Drop the second app:
Once you see the black bar, release your finger to drop the second app into place. The second app will now appear in a small window that slides in from the side of the screen.
You can also use Slide Over to quickly switch between apps. To do this, simply swipe in from the right edge of the screen to reveal the Slide Over window. Then, tap on the icon of the app you want to switch to.
To close the Slide Over window, simply swipe it off the screen to the right.
Swipe to Change Apps
Once you have two apps open in split screen mode, you can easily switch between them by swiping left or right on the black bar in the middle of the screen.
To switch to the app on the left, swipe right on the black bar.
To switch to the app on the right, swipe left on the black bar.
You can also swipe up on the black bar to close the split screen view and return to the Home screen.
Here are some additional tips for using the swipe gesture to change apps in split screen mode:
- You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Tab to switch between apps in split screen mode.
- If you have multiple apps open in Slide Over, you can swipe left or right on the bottom of the Slide Over window to switch between them.
- You can also use the App Switcher to switch between apps in split screen mode. To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right corner on an iPad with Face ID) to reveal the App Switcher. Then, tap on the icon of the app you want to switch to.
Close Split Screen
To close split screen mode, you can use one of the following methods:
- Drag the black bar to the top or bottom of the screen:
Tap and hold the black bar in the middle of the screen and drag it all the way to the top or bottom of the screen. The split screen view will close and you will be returned to the app that was open before. - Swipe up on the black bar:
Swipe up on the black bar in the middle of the screen. The split screen view will close and you will be returned to the app that was open before. - Press the Home button:
If your iPad has a Home button, press the Home button to close the split screen view and return to the Home screen. - Use the keyboard shortcut:
Press and hold the Command key and then press the M key to close the split screen view and return to the app that was open before.
Once you have closed the split screen view, you can reopen it by following the steps outlined in the "Open Two Apps" section of this article.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to control split screen multitasking on your iPad.
Here are some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts:
- Open Split Screen:
Command + M - Close Split Screen:
Command + M - Switch Between Apps in Split Screen:
Command + Tab - Resize the Split Screen:
Command + Left Arrow or Command + Right Arrow - Move the Split Screen Divider:
Command + Up Arrow or Command + Down Arrow - Make One App Full Screen:
Command + Shift + F
These keyboard shortcuts can be used with both the built-in iPad keyboard and an external keyboard.
Here are some additional tips for using keyboard shortcuts with split screen multitasking:
- You can also use the arrow keys to move the focus between different elements in the split screen view.
- You can use the Tab key to cycle through the different apps in the Slide Over window.
- You can use the Spacebar to open the app switcher.
Troubleshoot Issues
If you are having trouble using split screen multitasking on your iPad, here are a few things you can try:
- Make sure your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS:
Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates. - Make sure the apps you want to use in split screen mode are compatible:
Not all apps support split screen multitasking. To check if an app is compatible, open the App Store and look for the "Supports Split Screen" badge. - Restart your iPad:
Sometimes, a simple restart can fix split screen multitasking issues. - Reset your iPad's settings:
If you are still having trouble using split screen multitasking, you can try resetting your iPad's settings. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will not erase any of your data, but it will reset all of your settings to their default values.
If you are still having trouble using split screen multitasking after trying the above steps, you can contact Apple Support for help.
Here are some additional tips for troubleshooting split screen multitasking issues:
- If you are trying to use split screen multitasking with an app that is not compatible, you may see a message that says "This app does not support Split View." If you see this message, you will not be able to use split screen multitasking with that app.
- If you are having trouble dragging an app over to the side of the screen to enter split screen mode, try using the App Switcher instead. To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right corner on an iPad with Face ID) to reveal the App Switcher. Then, tap and hold the icon of the first app you want to use and drag it to the left or right edge of the screen. Next, tap on the icon of the second app you want to use.
- If you are having trouble adjusting the size of the apps in split screen mode, try using the keyboard shortcuts Command + Left Arrow or Command + Right Arrow. You can also use the mouse or trackpad to drag the black bar in the middle of the screen.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how to split screen on iPad:
Question 1: What is split screen multitasking?
Answer: Split screen multitasking is a feature on iPad that allows you to use two apps side-by-side on the same screen.
Question 2: How do I open two apps in split screen mode?
Answer: To open two apps in split screen mode, first open the first app you want to use. Then, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right corner on an iPad with Face ID) to reveal the Dock. Tap and hold the icon of the second app you want to use and drag it over to the side of the screen until you see a black bar appear. Drop the second app into place to enter split screen mode.
Question 3: How do I adjust the size of the apps in split screen mode?
Answer: To adjust the size of the apps in split screen mode, drag the black bar in the middle of the screen up or down. You can also resize the apps by using the keyboard shortcuts Command + Left Arrow or Command + Right Arrow.
Question 4: How do I switch between apps in split screen mode?
Answer: To switch between apps in split screen mode, swipe left or right on the black bar in the middle of the screen. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Tab to switch between apps.
Question 5: How do I close split screen mode?
Answer: To close split screen mode, drag the black bar to the top or bottom of the screen. You can also swipe up on the black bar or press the Home button to close split screen mode.
Question 6: What should I do if I'm having trouble using split screen mode?
Answer: If you are having trouble using split screen mode, try the following:
- Make sure your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS.
- Make sure the apps you want to use are compatible with split screen mode.
- Restart your iPad.
- Reset your iPad's settings.
These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about how to split screen on iPad. If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact Apple Support.
Now that you know how to use split screen multitasking on your iPad, here are a few tips for getting the most out of this feature:
Tips
Here are a few tips for getting the most out of split screen multitasking on your iPad:
Tip 1: Use keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can be a quick and easy way to control split screen multitasking. For example, you can use the Command + M keyboard shortcut to open or close split screen mode. You can also use the Command + Tab keyboard shortcut to switch between apps in split screen mode.
Tip 2: Use Slide Over for quick access to apps
Slide Over is a feature that allows you to quickly access and use a second app without leaving the current app you're in. To use Slide Over, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or down from the top-right corner on an iPad with Face ID) to reveal the Dock. Then, tap and hold the icon of the app you want to use and drag it to the side of the screen until you see a black bar appear. Drop the app into place to enter Slide Over mode.
Tip 3: Use split screen multitasking for productivity
Split screen multitasking can be a great way to boost your productivity. For example, you can use split screen mode to take notes while watching a lecture, compare documents, or multitask between different tasks. You can even use split screen mode to drag and drop content between apps.
Tip 4: Customize your split screen experience
You can customize your split screen experience to suit your needs. For example, you can adjust the size of the apps in split screen mode by dragging the black bar in the middle of the screen. You can also choose to have one app take up more space than the other. You can even use different apps in split screen mode at the same time.
These are just a few tips for getting the most out of split screen multitasking on your iPad. Experiment with different ways to use this feature to find what works best for you.
Split screen multitasking is a powerful feature that can help you get more done on your iPad. By following the tips in this article, you can learn how to use split screen multitasking like a pro.
Conclusion
Split screen multitasking is a powerful feature that can help you get more done on your iPad. By following the steps in this article, you have learned how to open two apps in split screen mode, adjust the size of the apps, switch between apps, close split screen mode, use keyboard shortcuts, and troubleshoot common issues.
With a little practice, you will be able to use split screen multitasking like a pro. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Use split screen multitasking for productivity: Split screen mode is a great way to boost your productivity by allowing you to work on multiple tasks at the same time.
- Customize your split screen experience: You can customize your split screen experience to suit your needs by adjusting the size of the apps and choosing which apps to use.
- Use keyboard shortcuts: Keyboard shortcuts can be a quick and easy way to control split screen multitasking.
- Troubleshoot common issues: If you are having trouble using split screen multitasking, try the troubleshooting tips provided in this article.
Overall, split screen multitasking is a versatile and powerful feature that can help you get the most out of your iPad. Experiment with different ways to use this feature to find what works best for you.