How To Enable Split Screen On iPad | iPadOS 26 & Legacy Guide

Splitting your iPad screen requires iPadOS 26’s Windowed Apps mode or the legacy Multitasking button, depending on your software version, and lets you run two apps side by side.

Running two apps at once turned the iPad into a real productivity machine years ago, but the method changed in 2026. iPadOS 26 replaced the old three-dot Split View button with a Windowed Apps toggle — and if you just updated, the missing button can feel like a lost feature. It’s still there, just behind a different door. Here is where that door is on every current iPad, along with the legacy steps for anyone running iPadOS 15 through 17.

What Changed in iPadOS 26 — And Why It Matters

iPadOS 26 moved all multitasking controls into a single system setting called Windowed Apps. The old three-dot Multitasking button at the top of every app still appears, but tapping it no longer shows Split View or Slide Over buttons directly. Instead, those options live inside the traffic light icon at the window’s top-left corner — the same style Mac users will recognize. Apple’s documented guidance confirms this change was designed to unify the iPad and Mac multitasking experience under one visual language.

If you have not updated past iPadOS 17, the old button still works exactly as before. The guide below covers both roads.

Devices That Support iPad Split Screen

The feature works on every modern iPad model, though legacy support starts at different generations. iPadOS 26 expanded compatibility to cover every current device, but older versions excluded some entry-level iPads.

No paid plan or subscription unlocks split screen. It is a free capability included with the OS — the only requirement is running a supported version on a compatible device.

How to Enable Split Screen on iPadOS 26 (Windowed Apps Method)

The current iPadOS 26 method uses a two-step process: enable Windowed Apps in Settings, then use the traffic light icon to enter Slide Over before snapping a second app into view.

1. Open Settings and tap Multitasking & Gestures.
2. Tap Windowed Apps and turn the toggle on. Without this, the traffic light icon will not offer the Split View or Slide Over options.
3. Launch your first app — Safari, Notes, or any app you want on half the screen.
4. Tap and hold the traffic light icon (the three dots at the top-left corner of the window). Select Enter Slide Over. The app shrinks into a floating window.
5. Drag a second app from the Dock, the App Library, or Spotlight (press Command + Space to open Spotlight) to the left or right edge of the screen. Release when the window snaps into place. The first app resizes to fill the opposite half.
6. Drag the gray divider bar between the two apps to adjust how much space each one gets.

When this works, you will see both apps side by side, each with its own traffic light icon and resize handle. If the second app does not snap into place, it likely does not support split-screen resizing — some older apps will fail silently.

The Legacy Method (iPadOS 15–17)

If your iPad is still on an older OS version — or you prefer the old interface — the three-dot Multitasking button still opens Split View directly. Apple’s support documents show this route remains active for devices that have not updated to iPadOS 26.

1. Open an app and tap the Multitasking button (the three dots at the top-center of the screen).
2. Tap the Split View button — it looks like a square shaded on one side.
3. Select a second app from your Dock or Home Screen. It opens beside the first one.
4. To swap which app sits on which side, tap the Multitasking button again, tap Split View, and choose Left Split View or Right Split View.

The both apps appear on screen simultaneously, each with its own scroll bar and navigation. If only one app shows, the second app may not support Split View.

iPadOS 26 vs Legacy Split View: Key Differences

Understanding which method applies to your OS version saves time and avoids the “where is the button” confusion that hits people updating to iPadOS 26. The table below maps the differences.

Common Problems and Their Fixes

Split screen usually works the first time, but a few issues trip people up regularly. Here is the checklist for each one.

The Split View option is missing entirely. In iPadOS 26, Windowed Apps must be turned on in Settings before any split-screen controls appear. Open Settings > Multitasking & Gestures > Windowed Apps and flip the toggle. On older OS versions, the button should always be visible — if it is not, the app itself may not support multitasking.

Dragging an app from the Dock does nothing. The window your first app is in must already be in Slide Over mode for the Dock drag to register. Tap and hold the traffic light icon and select Enter Slide Over first, then try the Dock again.

An app crashes or freezes when you try to split it. That app probably does not support window resizing. Try a different app to confirm the feature works, then check the developer’s documentation for the original app. Apple’s official iPadOS 26 multitasking guide notes that some older apps will fail if forced into a split window.

You cannot swap which app is primary. Split View does not let you flip the primary and secondary apps without exiting and re-entering the mode. Close the split view (drag the divider all the way to one edge), then reopen the app you want as primary first.

Checklist: Getting Split Screen Running

Use this sequence to confirm every step is in place before digging into troubleshooting.

• Your iPad model appears in the compatibility table above.
• You have updated to iPadOS 26, or you are still on iPadOS 15–17.
• For iPadOS 26: Settings > Multitasking & Gestures > Windowed Apps is toggled ON.
• Your first app is open. You entered Slide Over via the traffic light icon (iPadOS 26) or tapped the Multitasking button (legacy).
• The second app came from the Dock or Home Screen and snapped into place.
• Both apps show their own content and scroll independently.

Once the split screen is active, you can drag the divider to change proportions or swipe down on a window to return that app to full screen. The feature is free, universal across regions, and requires nothing beyond the supported OS and device.