The iPad is more than just a tablet for surfing or streaming. With iPadOS, it offers numerous features that enable true multitasking—ideal for work, study, or organizing your everyday life. Knowing these features and using them effectively saves time, makes you more productive, and gets more out of your device. This article provides six concrete tips for using multitasking effectively on your iPad. All features are available with iPadOS 15 or later.
Multitasking on the iPad means being able to use multiple apps simultaneously, move content between them, and quickly switch between tasks. Features like Split View, Slide Over, Drag & Drop, and system-wide gestures and keyboard shortcuts help you do this. The key is to know how to access and use them. With a little practice, you can set up your iPad to help you work significantly faster – whether you're writing texts, researching, editing emails, or organizing files.
Split View: Use two apps side by side
With Split View, you can divide the screen into two equal or different sized areas. For example, you can open Safari on the left and a Notes app or Pages on the right. To do this, first open one app. Then swipe up from the bottom of the screen, press and hold the icon of a second app from the Dock, and drag it to the right or left half of the screen. The iPad places both apps side by side. You can adjust the size ratio using the center bar. This works with many apps, including Safari, Mail, Files, Notes, Calendar, and third-party apps like Microsoft Word or Outlook.
Slide Over: Use an app in a floating window
Slide Over allows you to use a third app in a small window above the Split View apps. You can move this floating app to the right or left edge and hide or show it as needed. You activate Slide Over in a similar way to Split View. Drag an app from the Dock, but place it on top of the screen instead of on one half of the screen. The app appears in a small window that you can quickly open or close with a swipe gesture. This is ideal, for example, for quickly replying in a messaging app or using a calculator without leaving your main window.
Drag & Drop: Move content directly between apps
With drag & drop, you can transfer content such as text, images, links, or files between two apps – without the need for a clipboard. Both apps must be visible at the same time, for example, in Split View or with Slide Over. You highlight the desired content by long-pressing, drag it with your finger to the other app, and then release it. The preview of the content remains visible under your finger until you release it. This is especially useful when doing research, editing emails, or organizing files.
App switcher via gesture: Jump between apps faster
iPad allows you to quickly switch between recently used apps without using the Home screen or the app switcher. Swipe left or right across the screen with four or five fingers to go to the previous or next app. Alternatively, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to display the app switcher. These gestures save time and help you stay organized when using many apps at once.
External keyboard: Speed up multitasking with keyboard shortcuts
If you use an external keyboard with your iPad, you have numerous keyboard shortcuts at your disposal. These allow you to switch between apps more quickly and access functions without touching the display. Use ⌘ + Tab to switch between open apps. ⌘ + H takes you directly to the Home screen. In Split View, use ⌘ + Shift + Tab to jump between the two active apps. These keyboard shortcuts are easy to remember and are particularly useful for productive keyboard work—for example, when writing longer texts or editing documents.
Adjust multitasking gestures and settings
In Settings, you can specify which multitasking features are active. This helps you avoid unnecessary gestures or adapt the operation to your work style. To do this, go to Settings under "Home Screen & Dock" and select "Multitasking." Here you can enable or disable features like Slide Over and Split View. If you don't need certain gestures or accidentally trigger them, you can turn them off here. This ensures clearer operation and avoids interruptions while working.
Use multitasking correctly – how to turn your iPad into a work tool
With the right features and a little practice, you can effectively multitask on your iPad. Split View, Slide Over, Drag & Drop, gesture control, and keyboard shortcuts help you work faster, stay focused, and switch between tasks more flexibly. Set up your iPad to suit your workflow—then it will become a true tool for efficient work. Discover a whole host of useful tips and tricks related to Apple Intelligence! Here you'll find everything you need to make the most of the smart features of your Apple devices—have fun browsing and trying them out! The best products for you: Our Amazon Storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Pratchaya.Lee)
- Optimize iPad display: More space for content
- Safari: Copy links to selected text – here's how
- macOS update: Sidecar brings portrait mode for iPad displays
- How to Manage, Edit, and Save PDFs on iPad
- PDF forms on iPhone and iPad: Fill out and sign
