How to get Split Screen back

AdamJ247 wrote:

I Agree how do we get old Split View back?

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My Proposal:

I strongly believe that Full-Screen Apps should once again include classic Split View and Slide Over, just as they did before. This would restore the simplicity and speed that made iPad multitasking so effective.

A more flexible approach could offer:

1. Full-Screen Apps with classic Split View and Slide Over (iPadOS 18 style)

2. Windowed Apps

3. Stage Manager

This would give every user the workflow that suits them best. Right now, users who prefer the old system have no option at all, which is frustrating—especially since the previous design was perfect for many of us.

Closing Thoughts:

I regret upgrading to iPadOS 26 because the classic Split View and Slide Over experience was ideal for my needs. I appreciate that those of us who prefer the old system may be in the minority, but I believe it's important that Apple listens to its customers, especially regarding software design and user experience.

I hope Apple will consider restoring classic Split View and Slide Over as an option within Full-Screen Apps in a future update, especially as Apple has stated that upcoming releases will focus on refinements and improvements.

Providing a "legacy" option would give users more choice and freedom to use their devices how they prefer, without forcing them into workflows that don't suit their needs.

Your familiarity with the mechanics of the prior split-screen and slide-over implementation clearly differ from the arguably more complex methods by which you access the equivalent features of iPadOS 26.

While acknowledging the relative simplicity of split-screen/slide-over within the full screen environment of iPadOS 18.x, it should be remembered that this was after many years of evolution over several previous major versions of iPadOS. iPadOS 26 represents the next significant evolution of iPadOS; multitasking and windowing can be expected to evolve over the lifetime of the this major version - and will likely see significant changes again within future versions of iPadOS.

With regular use, the new windowing options do become easier to use with practice and understanding. Speaking of personal experience, reviewing Apple's excellent introductory multitasking video (several times) goes a considerable distance in better understanding how the system works - removing much of the "unpredictability" of which you complain as you become better accustomed and practiced with the new implementation.

Multitask on iPad with iPadOS 26 - Apple Support

To reiterate guidance previously shared, iPadOS multitasking has received a significant makeover from that to which you may be accustomed in iPadOS 18.x and earlier - and may take a little time to learn and adjust your workflows. You would be well advised to review the official iPadOS User Guide and the many available online tutorials (such as YouTube) to become better acquainted with the new multitasking interface and associated gestures and controls.

Work with multiple windows at once on iPad - Apple Support

OS - iPadOS 26 - Apple

As for your proposal and comments, be aware that Apple neither monitors nor participates within the Apple Support Community. Apple's participation here is limited to that of the site Moderators who simply ensure that material posted here complies with the ASC Terms of Use (linked below). As such, your considered and constructive comments here will not be seen or acted upon by Apple or its design teams.

Apple does invite submission of feedback and Feature Requests via its Product Feedback portal. If you would like to see changes in functionality in a future release of iPadOS, this would be the most appropriate channel to see your voice heard. For iPad and iPadOS:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

While you are unlikely to receive an individual reply from Apple, we understand that all submissions are logged, analysed and forwarded to the appropriate team(s) within Apple.

I Agree how do we get old Split View back?

The Issue:

The new multitasking system feels significantly more complicated and intrusive compared to the simple, predictable, touch-first workflows that classic Split View and Slide Over provided in iPadOS 18.

I understand that windowed apps and Stage Manager are useful for some users—especially those with keyboards and mice—but Apple has replaced a system that was far more intuitive for many of us who rely primarily on touch input.

Current System:

In Settings → Multitasking & Gestures, the three options are:

• Full-Screen Apps

• Windowed Apps

• Stage Manager

The problem is that Split View and Slide Over now only exist inside Windowed Apps or Stage Manager, both of which rely on floating windows. This forces users into multitasking systems they may not want.

Specific Frustrations:

When using windowed mode and attempting to split apps side-by-side, I find it frustratingly difficult to achieve the layout I want. I feel insecure while navigating this mode, constantly worried that touching the wrong place by mistake will break my workflow and force me to rearrange windows again.

My biggest complaint—recently discovered—is that apps "remember" their previous windowed state. This behaviour is unwanted. When I open an app anew, I expect it to appear in full-screen, not in whatever windowed configuration it was last closed in. This was predictable and reliable in iPadOS 18.

What Worked Before:

Before iPadOS 26, Split View and Slide Over were part of the Full-Screen Apps experience. They were simple, predictable, and easy to activate using the three-dot menu at the top of the screen. This made multitasking fast, reliable, easily repeatable, and—most importantly—predictable, especially on smaller devices like the iPad mini.

My typical workflow involved having Zoom on one side and Notes on the other. This used to take seconds. Now, even though Split View technically still exists, it feels harder to access and less intuitive. I'm unable to predict where windows will go or what will happen within my view, which makes me feel frustrated and insecure. I miss the predictability that classic Split View provided.

Current Workaround and Its Limitation:

I've disabled Windowed Apps and Stage Manager because they feel cluttered and slow for my needs—but doing so removes Split View and Slide Over entirely. This leaves me with only full-screen apps, which is a major step backwards from iPadOS 18.

My Proposal:

I strongly believe that Full-Screen Apps should once again include classic Split View and Slide Over, just as they did before. This would restore the simplicity and speed that made iPad multitasking so effective.

A more flexible approach could offer:

1. Full-Screen Apps with classic Split View and Slide Over (iPadOS 18 style)

2. Windowed Apps

3. Stage Manager

This would give every user the workflow that suits them best. Right now, users who prefer the old system have no option at all, which is frustrating—especially since the previous design was perfect for many of us.

Closing Thoughts:

I regret upgrading to iPadOS 26 because the classic Split View and Slide Over experience was ideal for my needs. I appreciate that those of us who prefer the old system may be in the minority, but I believe it's important that Apple listens to its customers, especially regarding software design and user experience.

I hope Apple will consider restoring classic Split View and Slide Over as an option within Full-Screen Apps in a future update, especially as Apple has stated that upcoming releases will focus on refinements and improvements.

Providing a "legacy" option would give users more choice and freedom to use their devices how they prefer, without forcing them into workflows that don't suit their needs.

iPadOS 26 has introduced new multitasking capabilities and controls - with, optionally, Apps appearing within their own windows instead of being full-screen or appearing in side-by-side split screen. To better understand the changes, I recommend that you start with the video introduction here - and then read the remaining explanations:

Multitask on iPad with iPadOS 26 - Apple Support

iPadOS multitasking has received a significant makeover from that to which you may be accustomed in iPadOS 18.x and earlier - and may take a little time to learn and adjust your workflows. You would be well advised to review the official iPadOS User Guide and the many available online tutorials (such as YouTube) to become better acquainted with the new multitasking interface and associated gestures and controls.

Work with multiple windows at once on iPad - Apple Support

OS - iPadOS 26 - Apple

The three-dot multitasking button with which you are no doubt familiar from earlier versions of iPadOS has been replaced with the traffic-light button to access and control the revised window-based User Interface.

Tapping the traffic-light multitasking button expands the control - whereas touch-and-hold of the button offers the option of arranging open windows side-by-side, as a tripple, or arranged into a quad.

The iPadOS 26 side-by-side view also works with a slide-over window.

If you dislike the windowed environment, you can switch to using the basic Full-Screen App mode - but this disables all multitasking capabilities and hide the traffic-light controls; you will not be able to use split screen or slide-over modes with which you are likely familiar:

Settings > Multitasking & Gestures - select Full Screen Apps