Split-screen lets you view two apps, files, or documents side-by-side. It’s a great feature for folks that need to reference two things at the same time.
Recent iPadOS and iOS versions (11+) really changed the way split-screen works on our iPads, and it’s easy to get confused and find that all those things we used to do, no longer work!
iOS 11 introduced new ways to access split-screen using the iPad Dock. And with iPadOS, those features get even more refined with App Expose!
So if your iPad’s split view isn’t working as you expect, read on for tips on how to fix your iPad.
Or, if you’re asking yourself how do I get rid of the split-screen on my iPad, we show ways to get rid of all those annoying split-screens!
Quick tips
Follow these quick tips to get split-screen or slide-over working on your iPad
Check your multitasking settings and toggle on Allow Multiple Apps
When adding a second app, drag and drop it on the right or left edge of your screen to open the app into a split-screen view
Temporarily change your screen’s orientation from portrait mode to landscape or vise-versa
Notably, not all apps support split view (split-screen.) In particular, a lot of third-party apps do not support split-screen, so before you assume split view isn’t working, test it out using some of Apple’s native apps like Safari, Notes, or Messages.
When testing out the split view feature, make sure you pull that second app close to your iPad’s left or right edge.
Upgrading from iOS 10 and below? These multitasking gestures & slide over features no longer work in iOS11+ and iPadOS
Opening the last app you used by swiping left on the middle right edge of the screen
Changing the app by swiping down on the top-right side of the screen and tapping the app you want to use
The old Slide Over method of swiping an app in from the right (and then choosing from a list of available apps by swiping down from that same split window) does not work.
With an app already open and on-screen, when you drag an app up from the dock to the right or left edge and drop it, iPadOS automatically places that app into split-view (or floating slide-over) mode.
Multiple app windows in Split Screen and Slide Over
And with iPadOS, you can now have multiple instances and windows of a single app open side-by-side in split view–like two different notes in the Notes app. You can even open a third instance using slide-over mode!
This iPadOS only features allows you to see all the open windows for an app by tapping its icon in the Dock.
How to open an iPad Split-Screen session using your Dock
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and reveal your Dock
Tap an app in the Dock
Drag the app out of the Dock into the screen
Release the drag, and your app slides over to the right side of the screen, creating a floating iPad split-screen!
OR drag the app to your screen’s left or right edge, and your main app moves aside, creating room for an iPad split-view!
Release your drag, and the app fits into that space
How to use split view on iPad
Turn a Floating Slide Over into Split View
Move your floating app’s window to the side of the screen you’d like it on
Tap the top gray handle and pull down until it pops into place
Turn a Split View into a Floating Slide Over
Pull the vertical gray handle (in the black space between the apps) until the app is 50% or less of the screen
Tap the top gray handle and pull down until the app floats above
Split Screen on iPad Not Working?
Verify that Allow Multiple Apps is toggled on. Go to Settings > General > Multitasking
Change your screen’s orientation and see if you’re now able to use split-screen. With iOS 11+ and iPadOS, split-screen works in both landscape and portrait mode. Sometimes a quick change of orientation jump starts your system and gets split-view working again.
Toggle the Multitasking Settings off and on. Go to Settings > General > Multitasking
Reset All Settings to remove any personalized setting conflicts. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings
Force Restart your iPad
Users report they often need to do this a few times before it reboots Multitasking
Try Your Home Screen Instead of Your Dock
Go to the home screen, press and hold an app then immediately start dragging it (press on the app until it starts to float NOT wiggle)
With another hand or finger, open another app from the Dock or open the app switcher via double-click the on the home button or using the swipe up gesture
Drag the first app onto the other app’s preview in the switcher. That app spring loads and lets you place it on screen
Try Spotlight Search
Swipe Down on your screen (not in the black border) to reveal Spotlight Search
Type in the app name
In the search results, press and drag the app icon
While touching on the app icon, open another app from the Dock or via the app switcher
Drag the app icon over an app preview
Allow app preview to open an app
Release app icon for floating window or drag to one side to open in split-view
How To Turn Off Split Screen on iPad
As I said, some folks just really DON’T want a split-screen.
And it’s relatively easy to open split-screen sessions inadvertently. So, if you are one of those finding no way out of split-screen view, try the following:
Close Split Screen on iPad
Look for a gray handlebar in the black space between the screens. Tap and Hold that Handle until the screen shows just the app icon (surrounded by white) then maintain this hold swipe the app you don’t want completely off the screen (left or right)
Turn off all the multitasking features in Settings. Go to Settings > General > Multitasking and turn off Allow Multiple Apps, Persistent Video Overlay, and Gestures
In split-screen (not float mode,) swipe the app you don’t want all the way off the display
If you want to hide a window, go into float mode and swipe the app all the way right, until it’s off the display. The app remains available by swiping to the left from the right edge of the screen
activate float mode by pressing the top gray handle and swiping down
If that doesn’t work, close the app window with the split view. Double Tap Home or swipe up from the bottom the Dock to bring up your iPad’s App Switcher. Find the screen tile that shows the split-screen and swipe up to close
Turn Split View completely off so it doesn’t work at all
Go to Settings > General > Multitasking & Dock
Toggle off Allow Multiple Apps if you don’t want to use Slide Over or Split View
Stuck On iPad Split Screen Safari? How to turn off safari split screen
Look in the upper right of the screen and tap on the tabs icon ( 2 overlapping white boxes.) Tap the Upper Left “X” to close all of the open pages in the Split view area on one of the sides. Once all of the windows on that side are closed, Safari returns to a single screen, full-screen mode.
Alternatively, press and hold the icon of the tabs icon–the two overlapping boxes (doesn’t matter which side of the split-screen, both should work), and after a second a so you should get a popup with an option to Merge All Tabs
Drag your Safari tab(s) from one of the screens to the other. Once the last tab has been dragged to the opposite side, Safari returns to full-screen Tips
Wrap-Up
We hope these tips help you better understand how to use split view on iPads using iPadOS or iOS 11+.
Although it takes some time getting used to using the iPad Dock, once we got the hang of things, we really love using iOS multitasking and in particular, the iPad split-screen features with the dock.
But for those that don’t want this feature or just can’t get used to it, just follow the tips on how to close split view on iPad. But we urge you to give the dock and split view a chance!
Reader tips
Slide up the dock and drag any docked app to the side and hold there for a few seconds until the app opens. Then drag the new app to that same position to get your split-view. For me, this fixed my iPad split-screen not working problems!
To open apps in split view or slide over that aren’t in the Dock, swipe down on the screen to bring up Spotlight Search. Type the name of the app you want to add to your screen, then tap and immediately move its icon. Then with your other hand swipe up from the bottom to view the dock or open the app switcher, tap and app there and drop the other app onto it
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
I have an app (Natural Reader) that refuses to share and the second one only floats.
If the floating app could be resized this wouldn’t matter – it is a document and I can’t see the full width and annotate while I listen to Natural Reader read it out loud.
It is a really great app coz it plays the whole file/doc not parts you have to constantly highlight.
It also shows you where in the text the narrator is. Perhaps there is another one…
Since upgrading my iPad from iOS 10.2 to iOS 11 and now iPADOS, I absolutely HATE the split-screen feature.
Split screen, aka Multitasking, used to work with OneNote, YouTube, Excel, Word, Calendar, Calculator, Maps, and other installed apps, and now it doesn’t.
Before the upgrade, I loved working on my iPad.
Now I want to slam it into a wall and chuck it into a trashcan and am on the verge of going back to using my laptop where at least I can have the programs I use at the same time up and running and listen to YouTube in the background.
Apple took a great feature and made it where it only works with their apps.
Let’s first try and close the Safari app on your iPad:
1. On an iPhone or an iPad with no home button from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen
2. On an iDevice with a home button, double-click the Home button and swipe right or left to find Safari
3. Swipe right or left to locate Safari you want to close
4. Swipe up on the Safari’s preview to close it
5. Restart your device
After closing Safari and restarting, launch Safari again–this time it should not be in split-screen. If it is, let’s turn off multitasking.
Go to Settings > General > Multitasking & Dock and toggle off Allow Multiple Apps. This action disables split-screen and slide-over.
I tried everything you mentioned. But whenever I reopen the app or restart my iPad, Safari is still in split screen. It has only been doing this for the last few days.
When I drag a second app from the dock it automatically goes into slide mode and moving the top slide bar does not convert into spilt screen. How do I get to split screen mode?
Sally says
The suggested “fix” in settings is not available.
Mark says
This was helpful, many thanks
Denise Mcdonough says
Thanks for the helpful overview.
I have an app (Natural Reader) that refuses to share and the second one only floats.
If the floating app could be resized this wouldn’t matter – it is a document and I can’t see the full width and annotate while I listen to Natural Reader read it out loud.
It is a really great app coz it plays the whole file/doc not parts you have to constantly highlight.
It also shows you where in the text the narrator is. Perhaps there is another one…
Avacarho says
Since upgrading my iPad from iOS 10.2 to iOS 11 and now iPADOS, I absolutely HATE the split-screen feature.
Split screen, aka Multitasking, used to work with OneNote, YouTube, Excel, Word, Calendar, Calculator, Maps, and other installed apps, and now it doesn’t.
Before the upgrade, I loved working on my iPad.
Now I want to slam it into a wall and chuck it into a trashcan and am on the verge of going back to using my laptop where at least I can have the programs I use at the same time up and running and listen to YouTube in the background.
Apple took a great feature and made it where it only works with their apps.
James says
Are there any third party apps that allows you to split screen apps that don’t support split screen themselves?
Indra Remsberg says
This page has been helpful and I can turn off the Safari split-screen now.
But whenever the Safari app is closed and I reopen it, it is always in split-screen and I have to go through the steps all over again.
How can I prevent this? Thanks
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Indra,
Let’s first try and close the Safari app on your iPad:
1. On an iPhone or an iPad with no home button from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen
2. On an iDevice with a home button, double-click the Home button and swipe right or left to find Safari
3. Swipe right or left to locate Safari you want to close
4. Swipe up on the Safari’s preview to close it
5. Restart your device
After closing Safari and restarting, launch Safari again–this time it should not be in split-screen. If it is, let’s turn off multitasking.
Go to Settings > General > Multitasking & Dock and toggle off Allow Multiple Apps. This action disables split-screen and slide-over.
Indra says
I tried everything you mentioned. But whenever I reopen the app or restart my iPad, Safari is still in split screen. It has only been doing this for the last few days.
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Indra,
Try the following:
Tap and hold the tabs icon (looks like two overlapping sheets) then tap Merge All Tabs or Close All Tabs.
Hope this works for you,
Liz
Emily says
Thank you this was so helpful!
Sandie Hea says
Too complicated for a beginner like me. Since I don’t know what app switcher is or some of these other terms, it’s too hard to follow.
Deckard says
The reboot (power+home) tip made it work.
David says
When I drag a second app from the dock it automatically goes into slide mode and moving the top slide bar does not convert into spilt screen. How do I get to split screen mode?
:) says
Thank you, this helped me fix my issues 🙂
Ethan Cheng says
I tried to turn a floating slide over into a split view but it didn’t work.
Elizabeth says
Hi Ethan,
Yes, it is a bit tricky and takes some practice!