How Do I Split Screen on iPad: The Modern Way to Actually Get Work Done

You’re staring at your iPad, trying to juggle a Zoom call and a spreadsheet, and you’re probably thinking: Why is this so hard? Honestly, if you’ve been away from the iPad world for a minute, or if you just updated to iPadOS 26, things look a lot different than they used to. The old "three dots at the top" system hasn't disappeared entirely, but it’s definitely sharing the spotlight with a new, much more Mac-like windowing system.

Basically, the answer to how do i split screen on ipad depends entirely on whether you want the classic "locked-in" side-by-side view or the newer, messy-but-flexible floating windows.

First, Check Your Settings (Seriously)

Before you start frantically swiping and getting nowhere, you've got to make sure your iPad is actually set up for multitasking. Apple changed the game recently. There’s now a dedicated "Multitasking & Gestures" section in your Settings app.

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If you’re on the latest software, you’ll see three choices: Full Screen, Windowed Apps, and Stage Manager.

• Full Screen: This is "distraction-free" mode. It kills the ability to split the screen. If you're stuck here, you won't be able to drag anything anywhere.
• Windowed Apps: This is the new default for most people. It lets you resize things by dragging the corners, much like a laptop.
• Stage Manager: This is for the power users who want a "strip" of recent apps on the left side and overlapping windows in the middle.

If you want the traditional Split View experience where apps snap perfectly into place, you usually want Windowed Apps toggled on. It’s kinda the "best of both worlds" now.

The "Flick" Method for Quick Split Screen

The fastest way to get two apps side-by-side in 2026 is what I call the "Flick and Snap."

1. Open your first app. Let’s say it’s Safari.
2. If it opens in full screen, grab the top edge of the window (there’s a little horizontal bar or a set of "traffic light" dots there now).
3. Fling it to either the left or right side of the screen.
4. The app will snap to fill exactly half the display.
5. Now, your Home Screen or App Library will peek through on the empty side. Just tap the second app you want to open—maybe Notes or Slack—and it’ll fill that remaining half.

It sounds simple because it finally is. You don't have to be a surgeon with your finger placement anymore. Just a quick flick to the side, and the iPad knows what you’re trying to do.

Using the "Traffic Lights" (The macOS Way)

If you prefer clicking to dragging, Apple brought the Mac’s window controls over to the iPad. At the top left of your app windows, you’ll see three little colored circles (Red, Yellow, Green).

Don't just tap the green one; long-press it.

A menu called "Fill & Arrange" will pop up. From here, you can choose "Left Half" or "Right Half." Once you click one, the iPad automatically shrinks that app and asks you which other open app you want to put on the other side. It’s much more formal, but it works every time without you having to master any weird gestures.

The Return of Slide Over

Some people hate the split screen because it makes both apps feel cramped. That’s where Slide Over comes in. This is that "floating" window that sits on top of your main app.

To do this, open an app normally. Then, swipe up just a tiny bit from the bottom to bring up your Dock. Grab an app icon from the Dock and drag it into the middle of your screen. Don’t drag it to the edge! Just drop it right in the center. It’ll become a narrow, floating pane you can slide back and forth.

In the newest updates, you can actually minimize these Slide Over windows into a little "arrow" tab on the side of the screen. Swipe the arrow out when you need to check a text, then flick it away when you’re done. It’s honestly the best way to keep a calculator or a music player handy without giving up half your screen real estate.

Managing the Middle Divider

Once you’ve actually managed to get two apps side-by-side, you aren't stuck with a 50/50 split. There is a vertical gray bar right in the middle.

Pro tip: Drag that bar. You can go to a 70/30 split or a 30/70 split. If you drag it all the way to one side, you’re basically "closing" that app and going back to full screen.

What About Stage Manager?

Stage Manager is a different beast. It’s meant for when you have an iPad Pro or a newer Air and you're using it with a keyboard and mouse.

When Stage Manager is on, you don't really "split" the screen in the traditional sense. Instead, you just keep opening apps, and they pile up like pieces of paper on a desk. You can have up to four apps visible at once on the iPad screen. If you plug into an external monitor, you can have even more.

It’s great for research, but honestly? It can feel a bit chaotic if you’re just using your fingers. Most people asking "how do i split screen on ipad" are usually looking for the snap-to-grid Split View, not the "pile of windows" Stage Manager view.

Real-World Shortcuts for Power Users

If you have a Magic Keyboard or any Bluetooth keyboard connected, stop using your fingers. Use the Globe key (🌐).

• Globe + Control + Left/Right Arrow: Instantly snaps your current app to half the screen.
• Globe + Up Arrow: Shows all your open "stages" or windows.
• Command + Space: Opens Spotlight. You can find an app, start dragging it while Spotlight is still open, and drop it right next to your current app.

This keyboard workflow is significantly faster than the touch gestures, especially if you’re doing heavy data entry or academic research.

Common Frustrations (And How to Fix Them)

Not every app supports split screen. Instagram, for example, has historically been a nightmare on iPad. If you try to drag an app and it just won't "snap" or it keeps popping back to full screen, the app developer probably hasn't enabled multitasking.

Another common headache: the apps "disappearing." If you’re in a split-screen view and you go back to the Home Screen, the iPad remembers that "pair." When you open one of those apps again from the Dock, it might bring the whole pair back. If you want to break them up, just grab the top of one app and drag it down and away, or use the divider bar to flick one off the screen.

Actionable Steps to Master Your iPad Screen

If you want to get good at this, don't just read about it. Try these three things right now:

1. The Snap Test: Open Safari, grab the top bar, and flick it to the right. See how it "glows" before it snaps? That’s your cue.
2. The Dock Trick: While Safari is open, swipe up slowly to see your Dock. Drag the Mail app onto the right edge. Now try to move the middle divider to see how small you can make the Mail window.
3. The Slide Over Stack: Open a third app (like Messages) and drag it into the dead center of your already-split screen. You now have two apps in the back and one floating on top. This is the "God Mode" of iPad productivity.

Mastering these moves turns the iPad from a giant iPhone into a legitimate computer. It takes about five minutes of "fiddling" to get the muscle memory down, but once you do, you’ll never go back to single-tasking.