Multitask on your iPad

Your iPad is becoming more and more like your Mac – just take a look at these powerful new multitasking tools

The way you work with two apps side-by-side has changed for the better in iOS 11, which means learning some new tricks to get things where you want them. Don’t worry though, that’s where we come in.

You can stash more apps and folders in the Dock now, in the area left of its dividing line – much like you can on your Mac already. To the right you’ll see up to three other app icons: those you’ve recently used; which Siri thinks you might need; or to which one of your nearby devices can hand off a task. These can be hidden using Settings > General > Multitasking & Dock > Show Suggested and Recent Apps if you prefer.

The Dock can be called up at anytime with a short swipe from the bottom of the screen. A longer swipe opens the app switcher and Control Centre. These are vital to the techniques shown here. Let’s get started with improving multitasking.

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Dragging app icons is a fundamental part of multitasking on the iPad in iOS 11, which means there are some changes to timings and visual cues. When you hold a finger on an app’s icon, the icon soon grows in size; that’s your cue to start dragging. On the Home screen, holding an icon for even longer will set them all jiggling so you can delete apps, as before. Thankfully, the delay before this kicks in is long enough to comfortably accommodate the faster drag and drop behaviour.