On iPadOS 27, turn on Windowed Apps, then drag a second app’s icon onto the left or right side of a full-screen app. The two tile side by side, and you drag the divider between them to resize. Apple’s iPadOS 27 pages also still describe Slide Over.
The short answer
- Turn it on: Settings > Multitasking & Gestures > Windowed Apps (or Stage Manager).
- Split: drag an app icon to the right or left on top of a full-screen app to tile the two side by side.
- Resize: drag the divider between two tiled windows. For a single window, drag the resize handle in the bottom-right corner.
- Preset layouts: touch and hold the window control in the top-left corner and choose a layout.
- Back to one app: double-tap the top of the window, or drag the divider all the way to one edge.
The steps come from Apple’s iPadOS 27 support pages, read on 21 October 2026.
How do you split the screen step by step?
- Open Settings, tap Multitasking & Gestures, then select Windowed Apps. You can select Stage Manager instead.
- Open the first app. You can open it from the Dock, a Home Screen or App Library.
- Drag a second app’s icon from the Dock, Home Screen, App Library or Spotlight to the right or left side, on top of the full-screen app. The two apps tile side by side.
- Drag the divider between the two windows to adjust both sizes at once.
What other ways can you arrange windows?
- Two windows you already have: drag one window from its top, hold it briefly, then swipe it quickly to one side. Do the same with the other window toward the other side.
- Preset layouts: tap a window to bring it to the front, touch and hold the control in its top-left corner, and choose a preset layout. For more options for the active app, tap Window in the menu bar, then Move & Resize.
- Full screen for one of two tiled windows: drag the divider all the way to one edge.
- Replace an edge window: drag an app icon from the Dock or Home Screen on top of a window that touches the right or left edge. The new app opens in it.
How do you resize, move, minimize and close windows?
- Resize: drag the resize handle in the bottom-right corner of the window.
- Move: drag the window from the top.
- Back to full screen: tap the window controls at the top and then the full-screen button, double-tap the top of the window, or drag the window down from the top, hold, then swipe it quickly up.
- Minimize or close: tap the window controls at the top, then tap minimize or close. Quick tip: to minimize all windows, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then swipe up again.
- See the Home Screen: swipe up from the bottom edge. The windows move temporarily to the screen edges.
How does Slide Over work on iPadOS 27?
In Windowed Apps or Stage Manager, you can designate one window as a Slide Over window. It stays on top of your other windows or full-screen apps, at the right or left side. You can drag it off screen and bring it back.
- Start: touch and hold the window control and tap Enter Slide Over, or drag an app icon to the left or right edge on top of the arrow.
- Hide: drag the top of the window past the left or right edge. An arrow appears. Tap the arrow or swipe from that edge to bring it back.
- Leave: touch and hold the window control and tap Exit Slide Over.
Should you choose Stage Manager instead of Windowed Apps?
Pick Stage Manager if you want groups of windows for a task or project. Go to Settings > Multitasking & Gestures and select it. The app you are working in moves to the front, and your other open apps form a list of recent apps along the left side. Drag windows from that list into the center to make groups.
Pick Windowed Apps if you only want free-floating or tiled windows without that list.
Which iPads run iPadOS 27?
Apple’s compatibility page lists these models:
- iPad mini: 6th generation and A17 Pro.
- iPad: 9th generation, 10th generation and A16.
- iPad Air: 4th and 5th generation, and the 11-inch and 13-inch M2, M3 and M4 models.
- iPad Pro: 11-inch 2nd to 4th generation, M4 and M5; 12.9-inch 4th to 6th generation; 13-inch M4 and M5.
To check yours, go to Settings > General > About. Not covered: which models support Windowed Apps or Stage Manager, and nothing here was tried on a device.
What should you do first?
- Check your model in Settings > General > About against the list above.
- Turn on Windowed Apps under Multitasking & Gestures.
- Drag a second app’s icon onto a full-screen app, then drag the divider to the sizes you want.
Questions and answers about splitting the screen on iPad
Does Split View still exist on iPadOS 27?
Apple’s iPadOS 27 pages describe tiling two apps side by side inside Windowed Apps or Stage Manager. They do not use the name Split View, but the result is two apps sharing the screen.
How do I make two apps share the screen?
Turn on Windowed Apps, open one app, then drag a second app’s icon to the right or left on top of it. Drag the divider to change the sizes.
How do I get back to one app?
Double-tap the top of a window to make it full screen, or drag the divider all the way to one edge.
How do I minimize everything at once?
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then swipe up again. That minimizes all windows quickly.
How do I bring back a hidden Slide Over window?
Tap the arrow at the screen edge, or swipe from that edge.
Sources
- Apple Support: Work with multiple windows at the same time on iPad (iPadOS 27)
- Apple Support: Change the layout of windows on iPad (iPadOS 27)
- Apple Support: Organize windows with Stage Manager on iPad (iPadOS 27)
- Apple Support: iPad models compatible with iPadOS 27
Facts read on 21 October 2026.
