How to Turn On the iPad’s Multitasking Features
To use features like the App Switcher, you’ll want to make sure you have the options switched on first. Here’s how to do that. Open the App Switcher in one of two ways:
Double-click the Home Button, which is the physical button just below the iPad’s display when holding it in portrait mode. On later models, this is also the sensor for Touch ID. Swipe your finger up from the very bottom edge of the iPad’s display where the screen meets the bevel
Task Manager Screen
When you have the task manager screen open, your most recently used apps will appear as windows across the screen. Here are a few things you can do on this screen:
Tap on an app’s window to switch to it. If you swipe from the left side of the screen towards the right side, you can scroll through your recently-opened apps. This feature helps to switch to an app even if it has been a few hours since you last had it open. You can also close an app by holding your finger on the app’s window and swiping toward the top of the screen. This gesture closes the app completely. You should not usually need to quit an app like this, but if you have an app that is behaving erratically, closing it and relaunching is a good troubleshooting step.
Quickly switching between apps is a great way to increase productivity, but while the task manager makes it very easy, it’s not always the fastest. There are two other methods for quickly moving between apps.
How to Switch Apps Using the iPad’s Dock
The iPad’s Dock will display the three most recently used apps on the right side of the dock. A vertical line separates the recent apps from the ones you’ve permanently fixed to the Dock. The iPad’s Dock is always visible on the Home Screen, but you also have quick access to it within apps. If you slide your finger up from the bottom edge of the screen, the Dock will appear. Once the Dock is visible, you can use it to launch one of your most recently used apps or any of the apps you’ve pinned to its left side.
How to Multitask Using the Dock
The Dock also makes multitasking a breeze by giving you a quick and easy way to display several apps on the screen at the same time using Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture. Here’s how to have up to three apps open on your iPad at once.
How to Switch Apps Using Multitasking Gestures
The multitasking gestures built into iOS are some cool secrets that can help you get the most out of your iPad. Use these gestures to switch between apps by holding four fingers down on the iPad’s screen and swiping left or right to navigate between recently used apps. You can also swipe up with four fingers to reveal the App Switcher.
