Apple will dramatically improve multitasking on the iPad when iPadOS 15 is released later this year. This move was expected after the launch of the M1 iPad Pro in April, which contains the same processor as its latest Mac computers. The new features are geared towards usability changes rather than a complete overhaul of the windowing system, but should help boost productivity of iPad owners greatly.

For many years, the iPad shared the same iOS operating system as the iPhone. Although apps were customized for each device's screen size and aspect ratio, the operating system features of each device were identical, sharing the same mobile browser, gesture controls and other details. This was a source of frustration among iPad owners that knew their devices were capable of so much more. When iPadOS launched in 2019, Apple's tablet gained new abilities that brought it closer than ever to becoming a true laptop replacement, notably having a desktop Safari browser, which allowed many web apps to perform the same on an iPad as a Mac computer.

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At the 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced changes coming to iPad multitasking that make the feature much easier to use. Currently, drag gestures are required which can be a bit finicky in practice and slow the process down. With iPadOS 15, Apple added a multitasking button that will appear at the top of every app, allowing Split View or Slide Over view to begin with a simple tap. The Home Screen is available to select apps as well, rather than requiring the user to choose from the limited number of apps that are in the dock. This is a huge improvement over previous versions and the new version will be available later this year.

How To Multitask In iPadOS 15

Apple iPadOS 15 Multitasking Split View iPad

Multitasking in iPadOS 15 is much improved, providing an on-screen button that appears at the top of the open app that looks like a short line. Tapping this control will open a menu that shows full-screen, Split View, and Slide Over icons. Tapping one will enter that mode. With the latter two, the current app slides to the edge of the screen allowing access to the Home Screen so any other app can be selected to run alongside. Swiping down on one of the apps in Split View dismisses that app and allows selecting a different one for multitasking. Some apps, such as Mail can open documents in the center of the screen over top of a Split View.

iPadOS 15 will also introduce a new user interface area called the Shelf, which shows all open windows at the bottom in a similar way to the dock. The Shelf allows Split View multitasking windows to be seen as well, a very powerful feature that should speed up access to exactly the right window or combination of app windows. Split views can also be created in the app switcher view by dragging and releasing one app over another. It will be one of the biggest changes to multitasking ever and it is coming later this year in Apple's iPadOS 15.

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Source: Apple