How to get rid of “floating” apps and bring back split screen

Idk what I accidentally pressed, but one day this extremely frustrating floating app feature was added to my iPad. I’m not sure if “float” is the official term but it’s where the app tabs are not full screen, but can change sizes, and often have a list of app windows on the side. With this I realise split screen no longer works — no matter how much I try, the black line that easily divides the apps doesn’t appear, instead the two apps are floating and you can see the home screen in the background.


It’s the worst, most pointless and frustrating feature I’ve ever encountered on iOS, I want it permanently removed and for normal split screen to come back. Please help me, how do I do this? How was it added to begin with?

Posted on Mar 29, 2024 12:42 AM

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Posted on Mar 29, 2024 3:54 AM

With Stage Manager enabled, you will see the new Windowed UI (User Interface) - and with this you will have different controls for the windows. The corner “handle” that you describe is used to resize the related App window.


With Stage Manager disabled (arguably, this being the more useful mode when using the iPad without a connected external monitor), you will see the established Full, Split and Slide-over views listed and accessible from the three-dot button. In this mode, you will not see the handles that can resize the App windows.


You have enabled Stage Manager. With this view enabled, your Apps will be shown in resizable windows.


Stage Manager Multitasking views can be selected or disabled/enabled from iPad settings:

Settings > Multitasking Gestures > [Multitasking] - select Split View & Slide Over or OFF





You may find that the Split View & Slide Over mode is more to your liking - allowing use of multitasking features, but without the new windowed presentation of Stage Manager. The Stage Manager feature can also be simply enabled/disabled from the iPad Control Centre.


Move, resize, and organize windows with Stage Manager on iPad - Apple Support

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 29, 2024 3:54 AM in response to ma_112

With Stage Manager enabled, you will see the new Windowed UI (User Interface) - and with this you will have different controls for the windows. The corner “handle” that you describe is used to resize the related App window.


With Stage Manager disabled (arguably, this being the more useful mode when using the iPad without a connected external monitor), you will see the established Full, Split and Slide-over views listed and accessible from the three-dot button. In this mode, you will not see the handles that can resize the App windows.


You have enabled Stage Manager. With this view enabled, your Apps will be shown in resizable windows.


Stage Manager Multitasking views can be selected or disabled/enabled from iPad settings:

Settings > Multitasking Gestures > [Multitasking] - select Split View & Slide Over or OFF





You may find that the Split View & Slide Over mode is more to your liking - allowing use of multitasking features, but without the new windowed presentation of Stage Manager. The Stage Manager feature can also be simply enabled/disabled from the iPad Control Centre.


Move, resize, and organize windows with Stage Manager on iPad - Apple Support

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How to get rid of “floating” apps and bring back split screen

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