Split View / Slide Over on iPad

Updated: May 12, 2026

If Split View, Slide Over, or the multitasking button disappeared on your iPad, the cause is usually one of three things: multitasking was turned off in Settings, Stage Manager changed the window behavior, or the app you opened only supports full screen.

This page is a practical checklist for getting iPad multitasking back without guessing. It applies whether you are using touch, a trackpad, or an external keyboard.

Quick checks first

• Restart the iPad once if gestures suddenly stopped after an update or app crash.
• Confirm you are not testing with a game or phone-only app, because many of those do not support Split View.
• Update iPadOS and the affected apps if the problem started after installing a new release.
• If you use a hardware keyboard, disconnect it briefly and test with touch gestures to rule out accessory quirks.

Make sure multitasking is enabled

Open Settings and look for the iPad multitasking controls under Home Screen & Multitasking or the equivalent menu for your iPadOS version.

• Turn on the option that allows multiple apps or multitasking.
• Leave gesture support enabled if your iPad shows a separate gestures toggle.
• If Stage Manager is enabled and the layout feels wrong, switch it off temporarily and test classic Split View again.

On newer iPadOS releases, Stage Manager can make it look like Split View is broken when the system is actually using a different window model.

How to start Split View and Slide Over

• Open the first app, reveal the Dock, then drag a second supported app to the left or right edge until the screen makes space for two apps.
• To create Slide Over, drag the second app so it lands as a floating window instead of docking into one side.
• If your iPad shows a multitasking button at the top of the app, use that menu to choose full screen, Split View, or Slide Over.

When an app refuses to split

Some apps simply do not support iPad multitasking. This is common with games, older apps, streaming apps with DRM restrictions, and iPhone-sized apps running in compatibility mode.

• Test with Apple apps such as Safari, Notes, Files, or Mail first. If those work, the problem is probably app support, not your iPad.
• If only one specific app fails, update it from the App Store and check whether the developer documents multitasking limitations.
• If an app opens in a narrow phone-shaped window, it is often an iPhone app that cannot behave like a full iPad app.

Trackpad, keyboard, and Stage Manager quirks

External accessories can change how windowing feels. Keyboard shortcuts, pointer focus, and Stage Manager all add another layer of behavior on top of the normal touch gestures.

• Disconnect the keyboard case or Bluetooth keyboard once and retry by touch.
• If you use a trackpad, click back into the active window before dragging another app into place.
• With Stage Manager on, move extra windows aside and reduce clutter before deciding the feature is broken.

What to do if it still will not work

• Force close the problem apps and open them again.
• Restart the iPad, then test with two built-in Apple apps.
• Install the latest iPadOS point release if you are one or two updates behind.
• If the problem started only after a specific update, keep notes on the exact version and test again after the next patch.

For nearby iPad issues, see iPad won’t rotate, floating keyboard fixes, Guided Access recovery, and managing multiple iPads.

← All guides