Stage Manager for iPad, this feature allows you to open and organize multiple windows. This gives you a better overview of all open apps and allows you to quickly switch between different windows and applications.
Stage Manager automatically cleans up your iPad screen and is the ultimate tool for full-fledged multitasking on an iPad. We explain how Stage Manager for iPad works and how you can use it.
Stage Manager for iPad
Stage Manager is a feature available since iPadOS 16.1 that lets you open multiple windows at once. This gives you a better overview of all open applications and allows you to switch quickly. The view is ideal for the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, but it is also useful on smaller models. An overview of all functions:
- Overlay multiple apps on the screen.
- Resize the windows to make them the perfect size for a task.
- Focus on the app you are working with without using it in full screen view, windows of other apps are placed on the side.
- Quickly switch between active windows by tapping or clicking them.
- For specific tasks or projects, you can create different app groups, which you can then organize completely to your liking.
Support
Unlike the Mac, Stage Manager on the iPad is limited to a few iPad models. The feature works only with the iPad Pro (2018) or later, and the iPad Air with the M1 chip or later. On a Mac, any computer running macOS Ventura or later can take advantage of the Multitasking view.
Activate Stage Manager on iPad
- Open the control panel on your iPad
- Tap the ‘Stage Manager’ icon (rectangle with three squares on the left)
- Open an application
Change the size of the window
You may not see a change on the screen right away. This is because the app is still in full screen mode. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a white or black marker in the right corner. This indicates that you can change the size of the window. Place your finger on this marker and drag it towards the center of the screen to resize it.
Show or hide dock
When you customize an app window, you can choose to place it above or over the dock. This way, you can show or hide the dock in this view.
Switch between apps
Once Stage Manager is active, you will see (when an app is open) a preview of the last four apps (windows) you used on the left side of the screen. For convenience, we call this preview ‘Stage view’. By tapping the preview, you can quickly switch between windows and apps.
Show or hide minimized apps
Depending on the size of your screen and windows, the Stage view will be hidden or shown. Fortunately, you can show or hide the minimized apps with a swipe. Swipe left from the edge of the screen to show them and swipe the stage view right to hide it.
Show multiple windows in app groups
While using Stage Manager, you can display multiple windows on the screen. These can be different apps, but also multiple Safari windows or notes, for example.
To display multiple windows on the screen, first open a window of the first app you want to use. Then, place your finger on an app in the dock or on a preview in Stage view. Then, drag the app or preview onto the first window and resize it using the marker in the bottom corner.
This way you can display up to four windows on the screen. Adding a fifth will hide one window.
Close, minimize or add extra windows
You can easily add an extra window of the same app, close one, minimize it to the stage view or zoom. To do this, tap the three dots at the top of the window (multitasking menu) and choose a desired option.
Hidden on home screen
Swipe up quickly from the edge of the screen (bottom) to reveal the home screen with apps. Once they are displayed, Stage Manager will be temporarily hidden. Tap an app to open a window in multitask view.
Support for external displays
Available from iPadOS 16.2
Do you own an iPad Air 2022, iPad Pro with M1 chip or later? Then from iPadOS 16.2 you can also use external displays, with a resolution of up to 6K. This way you can work with multiple apps on your iPad and your external display. The external screen becomes, as it were, a large iPad on which you can work, the resolution is automatically adjusted.
The Dock is also displayed on the external screen so you can quickly find your favorite and recently used apps. This can of course also be done via the app library. On the larger screen, Stage Manager will look even better. In addition, you can drag files and windows from your iPad to your external display and vice versa.
On an iPad Pro from 2018 or 2020, Stage Manager is limited to the iPad itself. Of course, you can connect an external screen, but this only shows the image from the iPad and cannot be used as an extra larger screen.
Stage manager close
- Open the control panel on your iPad
- Tap the ‘Stage Manager’ icon (rectangle with three squares on the left)
The display will immediately stop and all windows will be displayed separately as a full screen display. Of course, you can still use Split View or Slide Over.