How can I allow Split View on my iPad running iPadOS 26?

wiggles3331 wrote:

Whomever is responding from Apple Support,

No one from Apple Support is responding here. This is a user-to-user forum.

You are not understanding what we mean by the three dots at the top of the window.

Yes, we see the traffic light buttons — red to close, yellow to minimize, and green to expand. However, the traffic light does NOT provide the same options as the three-dot menu did.

Specifically, there is no option to add or open another window.

Yes, things have changed.

When I am working with two windows, I expect both windows to remain open. Instead, the system is pushing one window aside or sending it down to the bottom, which is causing me to lose data while actively working.

This change is disrupting workflow and causing real issues.

You will most likely get used to it over time.

Please restore the previous behavior or provide a way to open and keep multiple windows active at the same time, the way it worked before.

No one here in this user-to-user forum can do that. Apple doesn't read here for suggestions or feedback. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

With the new update when you’re on your full screen slide down where the red yellow green dot you should see Safari file edit view, history, bookmarks window, and help to split your screen Hit the window then click where it says move and resize and then you should see where it says arrange and you can pick left or right and you should be able to split your screen

Bad enough to move away from Apple and my iPad Pro:

The new OS ‘updated’ this week has destroyed my creative ability by making the old split screen capacity unusable. whichever of the 3 multitasking options I choose, I have lost all kinds of capacity. The rounded corners are annoying and lose screen space, the ‘upgrades’ inside Apple apps - Notes particularly - now bounce out of the menu bar - if they register my touch at all. Feels like some egotistical developer at Apple has decided to have fun at the expense of actual users.

BRING BACK THE SPLIT SCREEN!

BRING BACK CLEAN MENU BARS THAT WORK AND DON’T BOUNCE AROUND

In fact bring back functionality. I hate this.

I still cannot find the split screen buttons from the “simple downward swipe” from the top edge. The left edge reveals the routine menu. Where is the downward swipe from the top edge when viewing apps in full mode?

Sure, the three buttons are there, but they don’t enable split screen anymore. The red button closes out the app, the yellow one takes you to the home screen, and the green one just makes the app fill your screen before. People are still asking the same question because they want to know the way to enable SPLIT screen, not just “where the three buttons are.”

emilyhumke wrote:

Sure, the three buttons are there, but they don’t enable split screen anymore. The red button closes out the app, the yellow one takes you to the home screen, and the green one just makes the app fill your screen before. People are still asking the same question because they want to know the way to enable SPLIT screen, not just “where the three buttons are.”

Touch-and-hold (not tap) the traffic light button to expand the full set of windowing controls - which includes a full set of windowing options and side-over:

aashmansingh_4 wrote:

Ok calm down! See, LotusPilot just copies search results from Google and pastes it in the Post box which are vague and unclear.

Not so. Every element of my replies is crafted by hand, borne of deep understanding through heavy use of the system as a primary device. I never use third-party aggregation sources (such as Google) or AI tools to generate replies.

You'll note that this thread started a year ago with release of iPadOS 26. Multitasking and associated controls were further refined throughout the lifecycle of iPadOS 26 - and finished in a much more usable state than when it started. The iPadOS 27 implementation further refines and improves accessibility and usability - and now closely resembles macOS 27 in its new its also refined form.

So, Aashman Singh, before throwing unjustified and inaccurate accusations at any contributors here (myself included) read and understand the context of a thread before posting. If you need me to clarify a point because you believe my content to be unclear to you or anyone else, just ask politely...

Remember, this thread explicitly relates to iPadOS 26. The fact that it has now spilled into iPadOS 27 doesn't change the relevance and accuracy of information presented at the time of original publication.

firstyke wrote: Many thanks for your help LotusPilot, I’m all good to go, and have set this feature to all systems go again. Your help is much appreciated.

You're very welcome. I'm delighted that you're up-and-running with appropriate guidance - regardless of it source.

Hopefully you'll enjoy many of the enhancements and benefits of iPadOS 27 as you (we) discover them. It's early days for iPadOS 27 - and no doubt there will be wrinkles to both find and iron-out. In the meantime, I strongly recommend that you bookmark and make use of the iPad User Guide:

iPad User Guide - Apple Support

The User Guide is a rich and often overlooked source of information. The Tips App, installed by default on iPad, provides a brief introduction to iPad and iPadOS 27 - and leads you to the User Guide. In case you missed it, here is a link to the Tips App should it need to be reinstalled:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tips/id1069509450

Apple also has a huge YouTube Channel - containing videos and feature guidance:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Apple

If there is a feature that is working, why mess with it! I am not looking for something that looks fantastic. I am looking for something that works and is functional and doesn’t keep changing. If something‘s not broken, don’t mess with it!

hawk324 wrote:

If there is a feature that is working, why mess with it! I am not looking for something that looks fantastic. I am looking for something that works and is functional and doesn’t keep changing. If something‘s not broken, don’t mess with it!

You always have the option of not updating.

Applegrow22 wrote:

Hold the three traffic dots red yellow green and you will see the options to split screen!!!

Indeed. The method that you highlight is just one of the windowing controls available prior to release of iPadOS 27...

I used split view alot with folders application. I hope Apple brings it back. It’s more confusing now and lot more steps to do.

It no longer allows us to screenshot from the corner option when you’re on a multi-task window. It was really helpful for me as a student, since it was quick and easy. :( I hope this gets fixed.

In easy way