I’m having trouble figuring out how to open two apps side by side on my iPad. I tried dragging one app over another, but it’s not working. Any tips or step-by-step instructions on using split screen would be really helpful.
Split screen on the iPad can be kinda confusing at first tbh, it’s not as intuitive as just dragging one app over another like you’d expect (Apple, why???). Here’s what you gotta do: open up the first app you want to use. THEN, swipe up from the bottom to bring up the Dock (not all the way up, just to see the Dock). Hold your finger on the second app you wanna use (that’s gotta be in your Dock, otherwise you gotta put it in there first), then drag it up to the right or left side of the screen. Let go when it kinda snaps into place and, booom, you get two apps side by side. If you only get it on top as a floating window, not full split, that’s Slide Over, which is like a mini app window. If you want the full split, drag to the far edge until the main window makes space for it.
Word of warning, not all apps support split-screen (glaring at you Instagram), so if it’s not working with a certain app, that might be why. You can make the split bigger or smaller by dragging the divider between the apps. And if you wanna get rid of one, just drag that little divider all the way off the screen. Hope this helps! Try it a few times, it takes a little practice but then it’s pretty clutch.
Ugh, Split View on iPad is like, almost great, but can be so needlessly obtuse! Props to @ombrasilente for the solid rundown—honestly, wish Apple just made it so you could drag anything anywhere without jumping through 57 hoops, right? Anyway, maybe try this, cuz I think everyone overcomplicates it:
- Open the first app (let’s say Safari, cuz what else are you doing besides lurking forums)
- PEAK move: Swipe up gently from bottom to expose the Dock, but don’t go full Home Screen or you’ll lose your zen.
- Now, press-&-HOLD the second app (it HAS to be in your Dock or it’s a no-go—truly annoying, Apple) and DRAG it to the very right or left. If you see it hovering like a little ghosty over your main app, you’re in “Slide Over” (baby mode), but pull it to the edge until it looks like the main app slides away. Release, and BOOM, official “Split View.”
- Divider in the middle: drag it to change sizes, but heads up—some configurations just refuse to work. Thanks, iOS.
- KILL a pane? Drag that divider all the way to a side.
But real talk, not all apps play nice. Sometimes you’ll try to split and the app just won’t go, or it’s grayed out in the Dock. If it’s Instagram, TikTok, or some boomer-bait app, don’t mourn—Apple and the devs just didn’t bother.
I do wanna point out, if you use the App Switcher (hit Home or swipe up all the way and hold), you can shuffle your windows and create new splits there, too, but IMO it’s even less intuitive than the Dock drag. Try it if you wanna feel confused and mildly betrayed.
Fwiw, the iPad split screen thing is NOT multi-tasking Nirvana, but once you wrangle it, you won’t wanna go back. And in true Apple fashion, someday they’ll change the whole system and none of this will matter—so, ya know, cherish the confusion while it lasts.
Split View on iPad is wild—almost feels like it’s designed to keep you guessing. Props to earlier posts for covering Dock-drag basics, but there are some quirks worth highlighting if you’re hitting a wall.
Let’s break out the real-world pros and cons to the whole process (with a shout at the product title—though Apple’s “split screen” isn’t exactly official-branded, ha):
Pros:
- When it works, it actually rules—notes on one side, browser on the other, ultimate “pretend to work” setup.
- Split view resizes fluidly, and the seamlessness (within Apple’s made-up rules) feels modern.
- Supports most first-party and a bunch of productivity bro apps.
Cons:
- Not all apps get along with split screen. High chance your favorite entertainment app just laughs at multitasking.
- If an app isn’t in the Dock, good luck—extra steps move icons just to pull this off.
- iPadOS gestures are sometimes… random. Pull too high? Home Screen! Not high enough? No Dock!
- Window management in App Switcher is somehow even messier.
Here’s a secret move neither previous post covered: Long press on an app in the Dock, then select “Open in New Window” (if available). This doesn’t always split, but throws you another instance which you can drag into Split View. Not a game-changer, but sometimes solves weirdness when dragging doesn’t work. Also: in the latest iPadOS, check for the three-dots (…) atop the app. Tap it, and you might see Split View/Slide Over options. It’s random, but sometimes easier than gestures.
Competitor @andarilhonoturno did a ace rundown, though definitely glossed over the randomness of non-supported apps, and @ombrasilente was dead-on about App Switcher confusion. If you want peak efficiency, honestly, stick to productivity apps—Safari, Mail, Notes, Files—these rarely misbehave.
TL;DR: Split View is slick when you pull it off, but “just works” is a stretch. If you hit repeated fails, double-check whether the app supports split-screen at all. And keep tweaking, because Apple likes to shuffle these features every other year.