Top 9 iPad Split View Not Working Fixes

Split View definitely makes life on the iPad so much easier. The ability to use two apps side by side is an absolute game changer. Frankly, it’s pretty frustrating that split view doesn’t work properly on iPad.

If you’ve been using Split View for a while but are relatively new to using this functionality, there are several reasons and examples of why multitasking on the iPad gets messy.

If that’s the case for you, check out the fixes below and you should be able to fix any Split View related issues right away.

1. Not All Apps Support Split View

Let’s get this out of the way first – not all apps support Split View. The functionality has been around for a while. Some apps (mostly from third-party developers) have yet to transition to multitasking with other apps.

Therefore, if an app is not running in Split View, dragging such an app over another app will cause the app to take up the entire screen, and on the other hand, an app that supports Split View will simply drag over an app that is not running. It results in Slide Over.

2. Force Quit Apps

Sometimes apps may hang after starting Split View. In such a case, the quickest way to fix the problem is to force quit the apps in question.

To do this, open the app switcher (swipe up from the bottom of the screen). Then swipe up on the card containing both Split View apps to forcefully exit memory.

You should then be able to launch both apps in Split View without any issues.

3. Restart iPad

If force quitting problematic apps didn’t help fix the problem, or if you encounter other weird visual anomalies after launching Split View, restarting your iPad will likely help.

Press and hold the Power button (or one of the Power button and Volume button on iPads with Face ID functionality) to restart your iPad, and then perform the Swipe to Shutdown gesture as prompted.

After your iPad turns off, press and hold the Power button to restart it.

4. Update iPadOS

Your iPad will only support Split View if it’s running iOS 9 or later. While there’s a good chance you’re using a newer version (at the time of writing iPadOS, aka iOS 13), it’s always a great idea to update your iPad to the latest version no matter what.

Newer iPadOS updates often contain loads of bug fixes that can help fix core functionality. If you continue to experience persistent issues with Split View not working (freezes, crashes, slowdowns, etc.), updating your iPad is vital.

Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update. If there are updates available, download and install them.

5. Update Apps

Aside from updating iPadOS, don’t forget to keep your arsenal of apps up to date as well. App developers perform various optimizations to improve how apps run in Split View, so it’s always a good idea to have the latest updates installed.

Long press the App Store icon and then tap Updates to update your apps.

6. Use Gestures Correctly

It’s often difficult to properly pin Split View gestures. This gets worse, because Apple tweaks them a little bit frequently with every major update to the iPad’s operating system. So, if you’re having trouble launching Split View after maybe upgrading from iOS 12 to iPadOS, here’s how to do it properly.

Turn on the dock, then tap and hold for less than a second the icon of the app you want to bring up in Split View. Pull it out and then momentarily hold on either side of the screen. Release to start Split View.

If you were unable to enable Split View, the application will usually launch in Slide Over mode instead. In such a case, pull the app down using the top handle towards the bottom of the screen and then release to launch Split View.

7. Enable Multitasking

If the apps refuse to open in Split View no matter what, you should make sure that multitasking is enabled on your iPad. This is not usually the case, but it is always possible that you or someone else turned it off before and then forgot about it.

Open the Settings app, tap Home & Dock, then Multitask. On the next screen that opens, make sure the switch next to Allow Multiple Apps is enabled.

8. Check iPad Model

You must use an iPad model that supports Split View. Only iPad Air 2 (2014) and newer support Split View. If you are using an older model such as iPad Air (2013), Split View will not work.

Note:

To check if your iPad model supports Split View, open the Settings app, tap General, then tap About. Finally, tap Model Number to reveal a string of characters starting with the letter ‘A’.

If it reads a value greater than A150xx, your iPad supports Split View. The only exception is the iPad Mini 3 with model numbers A1599 and A1600 (which does not support the functionality).

9. Reset iPad Settings

You should have fixed all Split View related issues by now. But if not, resetting the settings on your iPad will help as a last resort to get rid of misconfigured settings that conflict with functionality.

To do this, open the Settings app, tap General, tap Reset, then tap Reset All Settings.

Note that the reset procedure will return all iPad settings to their defaults. For more details, see our guide on what happens when you reset your iPhone or iPad.

Multitask Like a Pro

Split View is an essential function that makes the iPad the productive powerhouse it is. Hopefully, these fixes helped you get things right. Time to get back to work.

Next: Is the battery on your iPad draining faster than usual? Check out the next article for fixes.