Using iOS 11 iPad Multitasking

iOS 11 has a new method for doing multitasking on the iPad. You can now have a floating window as well as two apps sharing the screen. The floating window can be easily moved and temporarily hidden. In all multitasking modes both apps are active. You can also exit and return to screens that are showing multiple apps.

Comments: 9 Responses to “Using iOS 11 iPad Multitasking”

    Edward Walsh
    7 years ago

    Hello Gary:

    Thanks for the video. Does this iOS11 feature work on just certain iPad's?

    The reason I ask is I have tried to get it to work on my iPad Air and I can't seem to get it to work. Maybe it is just me. So I hope you don't mind taking a moment to reply to my question.

    Thanks...

    Edward Walsh :-)

    7 years ago

    Edward: It works fine on the current iPad Air (2nd gen) but if you have an iPad Air first gen, or an older iPad mini, then there isn't enough RAM to use some of the multitasking features.

    Kika Waialae
    7 years ago

    My iPad is running on 9.3.5 and says that the software is up to date. Can this not be updated?

    7 years ago

    Kika: Which iPad do you have? Apple lists the requirements for iOS 11 here: https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-11/ (at the very bottom).

    Edward Walsh
    7 years ago

    Hello Gary:

    Thanks for your reply. :-)

    Yes, I have the Apple iPad Air 1st Gen. In iOS10 I was able to do the Split Screen but I guess with iOS11 it is more demanding.

    Anyway, I appreciate your response and at least this explains why it wouldn't work for me.

    All the best...

    Edward Walsh :-)

    Ron Seddon
    7 years ago

    Hi Gary,

    Loving your work!
    You mentioned in one response... “It works fine on the current iPad Air (2nd gen) but if you have an iPad Air first gen, or an older iPad mini, then there isn’t enough RAM to use some of the multitasking features.”
    Is there a list of features vs iPad/Mac etc where it would show the various cut off points of new functions? As in, my iPad A1745 doesn’t allow the split screen function quite as you show it in your demo.

    7 years ago

    Ron: yes. Look on the iOS 11 page at Apple’s site and you will find footnotes for this. https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-11/

    Terry Haddow
    7 years ago

    I’m not sure what advantage this multi tasking has over the old. I liked the way you had a list of apps on the right ( in ios10) where you could scroll to another app. This new way seems to require you bringing the app down to the dock before you can open it in split screen - therefore a two step operation.

    7 years ago

    Terry: The new Dock includes recently-used apps too, so the app you need is more likely to be there. Plus, you can just switch to it, then back, and it will then be in that recently-used section. Te main advantage for me is the floating window instead of taking up screen real estate from the other app. Plus, apps are always active, not "frozen" as they sometimes were with the old multitasking.

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