After installing iOS 11 on an iPad, you’re undoubtedly going to notice things are way different. For starters, there’s a bona fide app dock now. Also, multitasking has been completely redone. Here are a few tips and tricks for navigating your upgraded iPad.
View app dock
The app dock can hold 13 permanent apps, with three additional recently accessed apps. Add any app you want to the dock by dragging the icon to it. What good is a dock, though, if it’s not easily accessible? At any time, regardless of the app you are in, the dock is a swipe up from the bottom of the screen away. Place your finger just below the screen, and swipe up.
Keep swiping for multitasking
If you continue to swipe up after the dock shows up, the new multitasking interface and control center also make an appearance.
Add another app from dock
When in an app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to view the app dock. Long-press an app icon and drag it up. As you do, the app will convert to what Apple calls Slide Over mode.
In Slide Over all apps available on the screen are usable. In certain situations, you can use up to four different apps at the same time.
Add another app from home screen
If an app you want to add and view in Slide Over isn’t in your app dock, there’s still a way to add it. Press the home button and find the app’s icon on the home screen. Long-press on the app icon until it begins to float (not wiggle), then tap a different app’s icon to launch it.
The floating app will then switch to Slide Over mode for use.
Hide a Slide Over panel
When using an app in Slide Over you can move it to either side of the screen by dragging it using the handle icon at the top of the panel.
However, to hide a panel you’ll need to move it to the right side of the screen and then swipe it off the display. The app will remain available with a swipe to the left from the right edge of the screen.
Go split screen
If you’d rather use both apps at the same time, without the second app covering up any information, you can activate split screen mode by touching the handle icon and gesturing down. Alternatively, you can drag an app to either edge of the display, and it will activate split screen mode.
Force close apps
Swipe up from the bottom of the display until you are in the multitasking view. In the same fashion that you swipe up on an app preview to close it on iOS 10, or even on an iPhone, you can do the same on the app thumbnails on the iPad with iOS 11. Swipe as fast as you want to quickly close all open apps, or use up to four fingers to close multiple apps at the same time.
