Multitask on an iOS Device

This article teaches you how to use multitasking features, such as split-screen, slide-over, and picture-in-picture, on an iPad. While you can't use any of these multitasking features on any iPhone model, you can use traditional multitasking to switch back and forth between multiple running apps on both iPhones and iPads.

Steps

Multitasking on an iPad

  1. Confirm that your iPad supports multitasking. Older iPads don't support multitasking, but the following model numbers do:
    • iPad Pro: A1584, A1652, A1673, A1674, or A1675.
    • iPad Air 2: A1566 or A1567.
    • iPad Air: A1566 or A1567.
    • iPad Mini 4: A1538 or A1550.
    • iPad Mini 3: A1599 or A1600.
    • iPad Mini 2: A1489, A1490, or A1491.
    • Most newer iPads can use other multi-tasking functions like "slide over" and "picture in picture" functions, but "split-screen" is reserved for the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and iPad Mini 4.[1]
  2. Open your iPad's Settings. It's the grey app with gears that's most likely on the Home Screen.
  3. Tap General. It's near the top of the "Settings" page.
  4. Scroll down and tap Multitasking. It's near the bottom of the "General" page.
  5. Slide Allow Multiple Apps right to the "On" position. Its toggle switch will turn green, signifying that the multitasking features are enabled.
    • If the toggle switch shows green, multitasking is already enabled.
  6. Open multiple apps to test your multitasking. To do so, tap one app, wait for it to open, tap the "Home" button, and then tap another app.
  7. Swipe your left from the middle-right side of the screen. This will activate the "slide-over" feature, pulling your next running app over the currently open app. Your right app will occupy about a third of the screen, so you can view your original app while using your right app.[2]
    • To change the app on the right, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen and then select a different app.
    • "Slide-over" pauses the app on the "bottom" (the left side of the screen by default) in favor of the "top" app (the app you just opened on the right side).
    • This feature is useful for quickly researching a location while browsing a map, or checking social media while taking notes.
  8. Tap and drag the screen divider left toward the center of the screen. The screen divider is between the left and right apps; dragging it left will activate the "split-screen" feature, in which both of your apps can run at the same time.[3]
  9. Try "picture-in-picture" by playing a video, then tapping the home button. This will minimize the video into a small window, activating the "picture in picture" feature. Your video will stay on top of any other apps you open, allowing you to use other apps in full-screen while watching your video.
    • The "picture in picture" feature can be used for FaceTime as well.

Using Basic iPhone and iPad Multitasking

  1. Open your iPhone's or iPad's Settings. This app is grey with gears on it. You'll usually find it on the Home Screen.
  2. Tap General. It's near the top of the "Settings" page.
  3. Scroll down and tap Background App Refresh. This option is in the middle of the "General" page.
  4. Slide Background App Refresh right to the "On" position. Doing so will enable Background App Refresh, which allows apps that you've minimized--but not closed--to continue running in the background. When you re-open them, you'll be able to pick back up where you left off.
    • If this option is already green, Background App Refresh is enabled.
    • Background App Refresh is automatically disabled when Low Power Mode is enabled.
  5. Press the Home button. Doing so will minimize Settings.
  6. Open one app, then minimize it. You'll want to open another app that can demonstrate app refresh; social media apps like Facebook or Twitter are good choices for this.
  7. Open another app. Basic multitasking will allow you to switch between these apps (or any two apps that are open) without having to reload them.
  8. Double-click the home button. This will display your currently-running apps.
    • On an iPad, you can also swipe upward from the bottom of the screen with four fingers to display apps.
  9. Scroll through your currently-running apps. Do so by swiping left or right across the list of apps on your screen.
  10. Tap the app you want to open. It should resume running, rather than restarting.
    • Though most apps support multitasking, be aware that some apps still don't.
  11. Double-click the home button again to display running apps. Find an app you would like to close.
  12. Close any app by swiping up. The app will cease to run, meaning you'll have to open it from the beginning if you want to multitask with it.

Tips

  • Clear out your background apps regularly to save battery life and processing power.
  • The larger your phone's hard drive, the more apps you'll be able to run!
  • While advanced multitasking isn't available on early models of iPad, you can still perform routine multitasking as long as the iPad's iOS is up to date.

Warnings

  • Running multiple apps will quickly drain your battery.
  • iOS will close any background apps you're running if your iPhone/iPad's hard drive reaches maximum capacity. Keep this in mind if you have unfinished work in an app!

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202070
  2. ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2984196/ipad/how-to-use-the-ipads-new-multitasking-features-in-ios-9.html
  3. ↑ http://www.macrumors.com/2015/09/16/ios-9-split-screen-multitasking-ipad/
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