On iOS 9 and later, iPad Air 2 with Split View multitasking, 9.7-inch iPad Pro and iPad Pro 12.9, you can now use two apps at the same time. It is very easy to use and we will show you how it works on iPad so you can increase your productivity or just watch a video while surfing the web.
Apple calls it Split View, but many users simply call it multitasking, multi-window mode, or just another variation of the ability to use two apps simultaneously on the iPad.
You’ll need iOS 9 or higher, and you’ll need an iPad Air 2 or an iPad Pro. You can do some of the iPad multitasking features on older iPads, but side-by-side multitasking only works on these two latest iPads.
Learn how to use two apps at once on iPad with iOS 9.
For this to work, make sure you’re on iOS 9 or later and have updated your apps to the latest versions. Many apps are compatible with it and the feature will support using two Safari windows on iOS 10.
How to Use Split View on iPad
The Split View feature can be accessed while in an app. So the first thing you need to do is choose the main app you want to use. Both apps must support the new Split View multitasking, otherwise you won’t be able to swipe to run two apps side by side on iPad.
For this demonstration we will mainly use Apple apps, as well as Twitter, which is already compatible with the new mode. The video above explains how Split View works on iPad Air 2 with iOS 9. This works with many more apps than the video above.
Open Safari or another compatible app. Now swipe in from the right side of the screen.
This puts you in a mode that takes up roughly a third of your screen and may already show an item. If it’s showing an app you don’t want, swipe down from the top of the third screen to reveal more apps. Swipe and select the app you want to use side by side on iPad with iOS 9.
This is what iOS 9 multitasking looks like.
After selecting an app, it will fill only a small part of the screen to get started. Now tap and drag the little bar to enlarge it by covering half or more of the screen. If there is no bar to drag, the app in your main window is not yet compatible.
While in multitasking mode, you can work in both windows and continue to use the on-screen keyboard. I prefer using a Bluetooth keyboard to have more room to use two screens and to do a lot more when using full screen Split View.
When you’re done, swipe the right window all the way to the right or press the home button to exit Split View.
