Hi
If I open the IOS native mail app on my iPad, a serie of buttons/windows/links appears on the bottom of the screen. Appears to be links to previous (old) communication, messages probably in the past in the folder Concept’s. (Now empty) . What is the function of this (if it’s not a bug), or better to ask: how do I get rid of it.
Many thanks
iPad, iPadOS 16
This isn’t a malfunction - but is an intended feature of iPadOS. You have now encountered the “Shelf” - this being a feature of the revised iPadOS multitasking environment.
iPadOS permits you to have multiple “instances” (or windowed views) of the same App - each being self contained. The shelf, when triggered, shows a thumbnail of each running instance of an App.
For example, if you have three running instances of Safari, each with its own set of open tabs, you will see three thumbnails corresponding to each running instance of Safari - plus a button to open a new instance of Safari. Mail is very similar; each window might show a different mailbox or email draft. Simply tapping a thumbnail will switch directly to that running instance/view of that App.
Each App - such as Mail, Safari, Notes, Calendar, etc. - has its own corresponding shelf.
Individual open instances/windows of an App can be closed directly from the Shelf; just swipe the unwanted thumbnail off the top of the screen. Note however, that Multitasking and associated Shelf functions cannot be disabled.
This article from Appleinsider has a useful explanation of this new feature along with many of the updates to multitasking:
The iPad User Guide is also a rich source of frequently overlooked information. The Guide is available both online using a web browser (such as Safari), or as an Apple Books download:
This isn’t a malfunction - but is an intended feature of iPadOS. You have now encountered the “Shelf” - this being a feature of the revised iPadOS multitasking environment.
iPadOS permits you to have multiple “instances” (or windowed views) of the same App - each being self contained. The shelf, when triggered, shows a thumbnail of each running instance of an App.
For example, if you have three running instances of Safari, each with its own set of open tabs, you will see three thumbnails corresponding to each running instance of Safari - plus a button to open a new instance of Safari. Mail is very similar; each window might show a different mailbox or email draft. Simply tapping a thumbnail will switch directly to that running instance/view of that App.
Each App - such as Mail, Safari, Notes, Calendar, etc. - has its own corresponding shelf.
Individual open instances/windows of an App can be closed directly from the Shelf; just swipe the unwanted thumbnail off the top of the screen. Note however, that Multitasking and associated Shelf functions cannot be disabled.
This article from Appleinsider has a useful explanation of this new feature along with many of the updates to multitasking:
The iPad User Guide is also a rich source of frequently overlooked information. The Guide is available both online using a web browser (such as Safari), or as an Apple Books download:
Hello jjm.smits,
You can remove those icons along the shelf on your iPad simply by swiping up on them. For other questions about the iPad and how it works, feel free to review the iPad User Guide as it can be very helpful in times like this.
We hope this helps. Let us know if we can assist with anything else at all. Take care.
Hello Gena_D
Thank you for replying.
Yes, your suggestion to swipe up all these icons (did take some time because a history of mails in concept built up) is indeed helpful. (Did not specifically find this feature in the iPad user guide as you suggest)
My resuming question is, why do they appear. Yes, I know now that these icons are links to mail messages in concept. But why are they still there, if a concept mail is finished and send… As in the the Mail folder Concepts, the messages should we automatically disappear after successfully being send, is it not ? Although also here they some mails seemed to be sticky
Can you, or another member here, explain: is this a bug ? Or is it a feature, if yes, for what ?
Thanks
Thanks for explaining Shelf / running instances in detail.
The “funny” thing is, after the tip from Gena_D how to close the thumbnails I realized that:
1: I never activated using the shelf functionality, or running more instances of mail
2: I never saw several other instances / windows of the mail app running, while minimize the mail app
Now that I choose MYSELF to run another instance in Mail it all seems to function as described:-)
Thanks to all :-)
IPad mail: several small windows from previous communication on bottom app after opening app
