BulldogXX

Q: 'Stuck' Inside an App With No Way Out

I recently bought an iPad Mini 4, my first iOS device after years of Android. There's plenty to like about the iPad and I can see why it's become so popular. There are things I need to 'unlearn' about Android to succeed with the iPad, and that's what this question is about.

 

When working with apps I sometimes find myself 'stuck' inside an app with no way to move back to where I was before. There are no visible controls that move be back, and swiping left/right/up/down doesn't help. The only thing I can do is exit the app by pressing the Home button.

 

In Android I can tap the Back button to go back to where I was before; I can go back in an app all the way to the first screen. Can I do this with my iPad Mini 4?

iPad Mini, iOS 9.3.4

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 12:33 PM

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Q: 'Stuck' Inside an App With No Way Out

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Rysz,

    Rysz Rysz Sep 8, 2016 12:39 PM in response to BulldogXX
    Level 7 (20,519 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 8, 2016 12:39 PM in response to BulldogXX

    Double-click on the Home button, then tap on the app you want to switch to.

    --------

    iPad User Guide - web:

    https://help.apple.com/ipad/9/#

    iPad User Guide - iBook:

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ipad-user-guide-for-ios-9.3/id1035374126?mt=11

  • by Briansyddall,

    Briansyddall Briansyddall Sep 8, 2016 12:42 PM in response to BulldogXX
    Level 6 (8,672 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 8, 2016 12:42 PM in response to BulldogXX

    Hi

    Go to ibooks in apps store download ipad user guide its free i think that will help you .

    Cheers

    Brian

  • by BulldogXX,

    BulldogXX BulldogXX Sep 8, 2016 12:44 PM in response to Rysz
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Sep 8, 2016 12:44 PM in response to Rysz

    Thanks for responding. (That was quick!)

     

    I wasn't asking how to switch to a different app. I asked how to move back to the previous screen.

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Sep 8, 2016 12:57 PM in response to BulldogXX
    Level 10 (95,532 points)
    iPad
    Sep 8, 2016 12:57 PM in response to BulldogXX

    I Think that you need to define or explain what you mean by go back to the previous screen. Are you talking about a screen in Safari? If not, the previous screen would be another app.

     

    You can enable multitasking gestures in Settings>General>Multitasking>Gestures>On. When you do that, you can use a four finger swipe to the left (or right) to move back and forth between screens/Apps.

  • by bernardn753,Solvedanswer

    bernardn753 bernardn753 Sep 8, 2016 3:52 PM in response to BulldogXX
    Level 1 (44 points)
    Sep 8, 2016 3:52 PM in response to BulldogXX

    Hello BulldogXX,

     

    Depending on what app you are "stuck" in, the navigation may be different. In nearly all Apple apps (both those built into iOS and those on the app store) have their navigation on the top corners of the screen. Additionally Apple apps typically have touch gestures such as swiping from the left edge of the screen to go back. 3rd party apps are different. It is completely up to the developer how they set up their navigation interface. Apple provides them some handy tools in their SDK (Software Development Kit) to give apps a similar feel of appearance and functionality. Not all developers go by this though. They can do whatever they want, and if that means no back button then it can be set up that way. If you were to take a look at the page in the app store (if it is a 3rd party app) a support link is often found in there. You can use that to get in touch with the developer(s) or support team to see if it is a bug you are reporting or if the way back is hidden. They may improve it as well with your input.

  • by BulldogXX,

    BulldogXX BulldogXX Sep 9, 2016 5:13 AM in response to bernardn753
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Sep 9, 2016 5:13 AM in response to bernardn753

    Thanks for your help. The Android 'back' button always moves me back through an app, whether the app comes from Google or a third party. Apparently there is no 'back' button in iOS; app navigation is in the hands of the developer. Two different approaches to app navigation, which is fine. As long as I know I'm not 'missing' something.