Complete Guide to iPad Multitasking
THE COMPLET E GUIDE TO SPLIT SCREEN, SLIDE OVER, PICTURE IN PICTURE & DRAG AND DROP
Your iPad has multitasking functions you may not have explored yet. It's time to master your device and dial up your productivity! With this article, you'll learn to effortlessly use apps in tandem, switch from one task to another, and navigate your iPad like a pro.
HOW TO USE SLIDE OVER
Want to open a second app on top of one you're already using? To do this, open an app, then swipe up to view the Dock. Drag the app you want to open from the dock to the middle of the screen and let go (fig.1). Move the second app by touching the gray bar at the top and dragging it left or right (fig. 2). To close, with the Slide Over window on the right of your screen, swipe right to dismiss and left to bring it back.
HOW TO USE SPLIT VIEW (A. K. A, SPLIT SCREEN)
Switching from Slide Over to Split View will allow you to work in two apps simultaneously.
To enter Split View, swipe down on the gray bar at the top of the Slide Over window, and the window will expand
to fill half the screen (fig. 3). To return to Slide Over, swipe down again on the gray bar. To open Split View while using an app, swipe up to open the Dock, then drag an app from the dock to either side of the screen (fig. 4). To close Split View, drag the app divider to the edge of the screen. To resize the app, you can drag the app divider right or left.
OPEN THREE APPS AT ONCE
It's possible to open two apps in Split View and a third in Slide Over. To do this, open Split View and swipe up to open the Dock, then drag a third app to the center of the screen so you don't replace one of the Split View apps (fig. 5).
From here, swipe right to dismiss the Slide Over app while you use other apps and swipe left to bring the app back. This is ideal for apps you don't need on screen all the time but may want to quickly access.
HOW TO USE PICTURE IN PICTURE
With Picture in Picture, you can watch a video or chat on FaceTime while working in other apps. From a compatible video player or FaceTime call, find the Picture in Picture icon.
Tap this icon to scale the video down and move it to the corner. To move or resize the video, drag it to another part of the screen; make it larger or smaller by pinching two fingers. To return to the page where the video was playing, tap the Picture in Picture icon again (fig. 7).
ADD APPS TO THE DOCK
Your iPad's dock can hold up to 13 apps in addition to your most recently used ones on the far right. To add apps to the dock for fast access, hold your finger on an app icon for a few seconds until it pops out a little. Drag the app into the dock and drop it by lifting your finger off the screen. (fig. 8) Your dock is accessible both on the Home screen and in apps. When you open an app, the dock disappears; swipe up from the bottom of your screen to bring it back. This makes app switching and multitasking quick and seamless.
DRAG AND DROP
Drag and drop allows you to drag files, photos, text selections, and reminders from one app and drop them into another. For example, instead of selecting an image in the Photos app and sharing it to Messages, just drag the picture from the Photos app directly into a text message.
It's easiest to use drag and drop in iPad Split View. To start, place and hold your finger on a piece of content (such as an image or a text selection) until it pops out slightly, then drag your selection into the other app and drop it where it's needed.
If you're moving an item into an app that isn't open, hold the popped-out file with one finger and use another finger to swipe up and open the dock. Tap on the app you want to move the item to, and once it opens, drop the item in place.
You can also drag and drop multiple
items. For example, to add several images to a note, you can tap and hold one image to pop it out, then drag it slightly to the side while continuing to hold the image. With your other hand, tap the other images you want to add to the first (fig. 9).
A blue number will appear in the top corner of the bundle, letting you know how many pieces of content you've selected. If you're using Split View or Split Screen, drag the content from one app to the other open app.
USING GESTURES TO OPEN THE APP SWITCHER
iPhone X gestures are now on the iPad—including a new way to open the app switcher. No need to worry, however—you can still access the app switcher on iPads with a Home button by pressing the Home button twice.
To open the app switcher using gestures, swipe up from the bottom to the center of the screen and then lift your finger (fig. 10). You can also move your hand to the side as you pinch an app closed to open the app switcher. The App switcher shows you a grid with all apps open in the background, whether active or inactive (fig. 11). Any apps that you've used together in Split View mode will show up together, which makes it easy to return to what you were working on previously. Control Center is no longer available in the app switcher. Instead, it can be opened by swiping down from the top right corner of the iPad screen.
You can return to the Home screen by swiping up from the bottom of any screen that is not the Home screen. Return to your most recent app from the Home screen by swiping the Home screen with four or five fingers.
You can also use gestures to switch between apps. To do this, swipe along the bottom of the screen from left to right or right to left to switch between apps (fig. 12).
HOW TO CUSTOMIZE OR TURN OFF IPAD MULTITASKING
If you suspect multitasking is draining your battery or you're triggering the features accidentally, you have the option to turn off multitasking functions altogether by opening Settings, tapping General, and selecting Multitasking & dock. From there, toggle off Allow Multiple Apps to remove split screen capabilities on your iPad (fig. 13). Toggle off Picture in Picture to keep videos from playing when you switch to another app. Toggle off Gestures to disable the gestures that allow you to quickly switch between apps. Toggle off Show Suggested and Recent Apps to stop your most recent apps from appearing in the dock.
WHICH IPAD MODELS CAN MULTITASK? Slide Over:
iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation and later), iPad Air and later, or iPad mini 2 and later.
Split View:
iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation and later), iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 4.
Picture in Picture:
iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation and later), iPad Air and later, or iPad mini 2 and later.
Drag and Drop:
Compatible with all iPads running iOS 11 or later.