Multitask on iPad with iPadOS 26

Learn how to use windowed apps on iPad to use multiple apps at the same time.

To use Windowed Apps on iPad, make sure your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS.

Turn on Windowed apps

  1. Open the Settings app.

  2. Scroll down and tap Multitasking & Gestures.

  3. Select Windowed Apps.

    Settings app open to the Multitasking & Gestures section

Open and switch apps

To open an app, tap an app from the Home Screen, Dock, or App Library.

In some apps like Safari or Notes, you can open multiple windows from the same app. To open another window, tap and hold the app icon, then tap New Window.

To switch to another open app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, pause in the center of the screen and lift your finger, then tap a window.

If you have an external keyboard, depending on your keyboard you can press the Exposé key or hold the Globe key then press the Up Arrow key to see your recent apps.

Resize and move windows

Open an app, then drag any corner or the handle in the bottom right corner of the window to resize it.

app open on iPad with grab handle in lower right corner

To move an app, drag the top edge of the window to a new location.

Close and rearrange windows

Tap the window controls at the top of an app. If an app is in full screen and you don't see the controls, swipe down from the top of the screen to see the controls in the menu bar.

  • To close a window, tap the Close button .

  • To minimize a window, tap the Minimize button.

  • To make an app full screen, tap the Zoom button.

  • To rearrange windows, tap and hold the window controls button, then choose an option.

Use two windows side by side

When an app is in full screen, you can drag another app from the Dock, App Library, or Spotlight to the left or right edge of the screen to use them side by side. To resize the apps, drag the bar in the middle to adjust the size of the app windows.

If you already have some windows open, you can also quickly swipe a window to the left or right side of the screen, then quickly swipe another window to the other side of the screen to use them side by side.

Add a Slide Over window

In iPadOS 26.2 or later, you can set one window as a Slide Over window to stay open on top of other windows. You can also move the Slide Over window off screen and bring it back when you need it.

App open on iPad in Slide Over mode

  1. Open an app, tap and hold the window controls button, then tap Enter Slide Over. Or while you have another app open, drag an app from the Dock, App Library, or Spotlight to the left or right edge on top of the arrow.

  2. With the Slide Over window open, you can do any of the following:

    • Move the Slide Over window: Drag the top edge of the window to move it to the other side of the screen.

    • Resize the Slide Over window: Drag the handle in the bottom corner of the window to resize it.

    • Move the Slide Over window off screen: Swipe the top of the window or its left or right edge off screen. An arrow appears at the edge of the screen, indicating where the window appeared.

    • Bring the Slide Over window back: Swipe from the edge of the screen where you moved your Slide Over window to bring it back into view.

    • Change the Slide Over window to a different app: Drag an app from the Dock on top of the Slide Over arrow or the Slide Over window.

  3. To exit Slide Over, drag the app to the middle of the screen then let go. Or tap and hold the window controls button, then tap Exit Slide Over.

Use the menu bar

You can access and search all the commands available within an app in the menu bar.

  1. Tap or click the app you want to see the menu bar for.

  2. Swipe down from the middle of the top of the iPad screen or move your pointer to the top part of the screen.

Learn more

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