How to Split Screen on iPad: Master Multitasking and Productivity

Multitasking on an iPad can really save you time. You don’t have to keep flipping between apps just to get things done.

To split the screen on your iPad, open one app, tap the multitasking button at the top, and pick Split View to add another app next to it. It’s handy for browsing the web while taking notes, checking email while editing a document, or just comparing two apps side by side.

Once you get the hang of Split Screen, you can tweak the layout for your own style. Drag the divider to give one app more room, or swap which side an app sits on.

With iPadOS updates, you’ll also find things like Slide Over and Stage Manager. Those give you even more ways to multitask.

Understanding Split Screen on iPad

Split screen on iPad lets you run two apps at once. You can adjust their sizes and use both without jumping back and forth.

This multitasking feature, called Split View, works on iPads that support iPadOS or iOS versions with multitasking.

What Is Split View

Split View is Apple’s way of dividing your iPad screen into two parts. Each part shows a different app, so you can work with both at the same time.

For example, you can open Safari on one side and Notes on the other. The divider in the middle lets you change how much space each app gets.

Split View isn’t the same as Slide Over. Slide Over puts a floating window on top, while Split View locks both apps on the screen together.

You can swap apps or close one by sliding the divider all the way across. It kind of makes your iPad feel more like a laptop.

Benefits of Split Screen Mode

Split screen mode saves you from flipping between apps all the time. It helps you keep your focus and finish things faster.

Here are some ways people use it:

• Studying: Read a webpage in Safari while jotting notes in Notes.
• Work: Keep Mail open while working in Pages or Word.
• Entertainment: Watch a video while chatting in Messages.

You can resize the apps, so if you want to keep a video small and focus on writing, that’s easy. Split View also cuts down on interruptions since you don’t have to close one app just to check another.

Supported iPad Models and iOS Versions

Not every iPad can do split screen. You need a model that runs iPadOS or recent iOS with multitasking.

Supported iPads include:

• iPad Pro (all models)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)
• Standard iPad (5th generation and later)

Split View first showed up in iOS 9, but Apple keeps making it better. In iPadOS 26, they made multitasking even easier to use.

If you can’t find the option, your iPad might be too old, or maybe the app just doesn’t support multitasking. Some apps only work full screen and won’t let you use Split View.

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How to Enable Split Screen on iPad

You can start split screen mode in a few different ways. The most common are the multitasking button, the Dock, or sometimes opening two windows of the same app if it supports it.

Each way gives you some control over how your apps sit side by side.

Using the Multitasking Button

The multitasking button sits at the top of most app windows. It looks like three dots in a row.

Tap it and you’ll see options like Full Screen, Split View, or Slide Over. Pick Split View, and your app moves to one side. The other half of the screen shows your Home screen and Dock so you can pick another app.

This method doesn’t need any fancy gestures. If you don’t see the multitasking button, the app probably doesn’t support split screen.

Accessing Split View with the Dock

Another way is with the Dock. Open the main app you want, then swipe up a little from the bottom to show the Dock.

Touch and hold the second app and drag it to the left or right edge, then let go. Now both apps share the screen in Split View.

You can move the divider to resize the windows. If you keep your favorite apps in the Dock, this way is pretty quick once you get used to it.

Opening Two Instances of the Same App

Some apps let you open two windows of themselves in Split View. Safari is a good example—you can look at two websites at once. Apple calls this multi-window support.

Open the app, then either tap the multitasking button or drag the app icon from the Dock. If it works, you’ll have two windows side by side.

Not every app does this. Apple’s own apps like Safari, Notes, and Mail usually do. For third-party apps, you’ll just have to try it and see.

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Adjusting and Managing Split Screen

When you use split screen, you’ll want to control how much space each app gets. You’ll also want to swap apps or go back to a single window when you’re done.

Once you know the gestures and buttons, managing multitasking feels pretty easy.

Resizing App Windows

Both apps share your screen, but you pick how much space each one gets. There’s a vertical divider between them.

To resize, tap and hold the divider and drag it left or right. Move it toward one side to give the other app more space.

You can set it up as 50/50 or two-thirds/one-third. If you drag the divider all the way across, one app fills the screen and the other closes.

Swapping or Replacing Apps in Split View

You don’t need to close Split View to switch which apps you see. You can swap or replace them pretty quickly.

To switch sides, touch and hold the top of an app window and drag it across the divider. The apps will trade places.

To replace an app, swipe up a bit from the bottom to show the Dock. Then drag a new app into the Split View window and drop it where you want it.

This makes multitasking flexible. You can keep Mail open while swapping between Safari, Files, or Notes on the other side without leaving split screen.

Exiting Split Screen Mode

When you’re ready to go back to one app, you can close Split View fast.

Just drag the divider all the way to the edge of the screen. The app you keep will go full screen and the other closes.

You can also tap the Multitasking Controls button (three dots at the top) and pick Full Screen.

Another way is to swipe up from the bottom to open the App Switcher and close one of the apps. The other keeps running in single-app mode.

Split Screen on Other Apple Devices

Apple designs multitasking differently on each device. On iPad, you get full Split View support. On iPhone, it’s more limited and works another way.

Knowing these differences helps if you switch between devices a lot.

Split View on iPhone

iPhone doesn’t support Split View. You can’t run two apps side by side on the same screen.

Instead, you use app switching. Swipe up from the bottom and pause to open the app switcher, then move between apps quickly.

Some features give you a little multitasking:

• Picture in Picture (PiP): lets you keep a small video window open while using another app.
• Quick Reply in Messages: lets you answer texts without leaving your current app.

You can also adjust settings in Settings > General > Picture in Picture to control how PiP acts. It’s not the same as Split View, but it helps you juggle more than one thing.

Differences Between iPad and iPhone Multitasking

The biggest difference? Only the iPad supports Split View. You can drag an app from the Dock to one side and use two at once. On iPhone, that just doesn’t work.

Screen size matters too. The iPad’s bigger display makes multitasking possible. On iPhone, two full apps would feel way too cramped.

Here’s a quick comparison:

If you want real multitasking with Split View, you’ll need an iPad. The iPhone is more about single-tasking, with quick switching and PiP for a little multitasking.

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Make Multitasking Even Easier With Chesona Cases

Split screen is powerful, but it works even better when your iPad is set up like a mini laptop. That’s where a Chesona keyboard case comes in. Chesona cases give you a detachable Bluetooth keyboard, trackpad support, and multiple viewing angles—perfect for working on two apps side by side.

Whether you’re taking notes while browsing, editing documents while checking email, or watching a video while chatting, a Chesona case helps you stay comfortable and productive. It also protects your iPad, so you can multitask anywhere without worry.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the steps to use multitasking on an iPad?

First, check that multitasking is on under Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking > Multitasking. Then open one app, swipe up to show the Dock, and drag a second app onto the screen. Pick Split View or Slide Over.

How can I open two apps side by side on my iPad?

Open your first app, then swipe up a little to show the Dock. Drag the second app from the Dock to the left or right edge. Now both apps show up side by side in Split View.

Is it possible to adjust the size of apps in split view on an iPad?

Yep. Just drag the black divider between the two apps left or right. You decide how much space each one takes up.

Can I use split screen with all apps on my iPad?

Nope. Not every app supports Split View. If one doesn’t work, try another that does multitasking.

What is the difference between Split View and Slide Over on an iPad?

Split View puts two apps next to each other, so they both share the screen.

Slide Over pops a second app into a small floating window. You can drag this window to either side of the display.

How do I switch apps while using split screen on an iPad?

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Dock.

Drag a new app into the split view to swap out one of the current apps.

You can also use the App Switcher if you want to change apps fast.