Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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For years, we’ve seen Apple struggle to define what multitasking should look like for a touch-first computer. These days, multitasking on iPad is as powerful as its ever been, but still confusing for many.

In this video, I break down how iPad multitasking works today, including Full Screen Apps, Split View, Slide Over, Windowed Apps, and Stage Manager, and help you decide which modes make the most sense for how you use your iPad.

This guide is based on the current iPad multitasking system, updated for iPadOS 26.

Written version: slatepad.org/2026/01/24/ipados-26-multitasking-guide

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Intro
00:39 – Requirements
01:48 – Full Screen Apps
03:57 – The Shelf
04:46 – Corner Shortcuts
06:14 – Windowed Apps
07:02 – Floating iPhone Apps (soapbox / rant)
08:01 – Getting Started with Windowed Apps
09:22 – Double Tap to Maximize a Window
09:31 – Window Tiling
10:37 – Different Layouts per Orientation
11:19 – Split View
13:08 – Using Shortcuts to Launch Apps in Split View
15:40 – Slide Over
18:06 – Resizable Slide Over Window
18:25 – Any App Can Be a Slide Over App
18:58 – Keyboard Shortcuts and the Menu Bar
20:15 – Stage Manager
22:21 – Conclusion