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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUse side-by-side windows—often called split screen or Split View—when you want two apps visible in a simple, adjustable layout. Choose Stage Manager when you need movable, overlapping windows, task-based app groups, or a compatible external display. The right choice depends on your workflow, iPad model, and iPadOS version—not on a proven speed or productivity advantage.
What is the difference between Stage Manager and split screen?
“Split screen” is the familiar name for keeping two apps side by side. Apple’s current instructions describe this as using two windows side by side: open an app, bring another to the left or right edge, then adjust their relative sizes with the divider. See Apple’s iPadOS 26 multitasking guide.
Stage Manager is a different way to manage windows. It brings the active apps forward while other open apps appear in a recent-apps area along the left. You can move and resize windows, let them overlap, and group windows for a particular task. Apple documents these controls in its guides to organizing windows with Stage Manager and working with multiple windows.
Apple’s labels and controls have changed across iPadOS releases. In current guidance, the multitasking setting includes Windowed Apps and Stage Manager; the names and exact controls you see can depend on your software version. “Split View” remains a useful familiar term, but do not assume every iPad presents the older Split View controls.
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Which one should you use?
Choose side-by-side windows for a focused two-app task
Use this layout to read an article while taking notes, compare two documents, or copy information between apps. The divider gives you a direct way to change how much space each app gets, without arranging a larger desktop of windows.
Choose Stage Manager for flexible windows and task groups
Stage Manager is a better fit when one task needs multiple apps or windows, when you want windows to overlap or move around, or when you switch between distinct project contexts. Apple says you can group windows and switch groups from the recent-apps list or the Dock.
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Try both if your work varies
You can change the multitasking mode in Settings or Control Center on supported software. If some tasks involve a simple pair of apps and others call for several windows, there is no need to treat the choice as permanent. Apple documents the controls in its guides for multiple windows and turning Stage Manager on or off.
What each mode lets you do
| What matters | Side-by-side windows | Stage Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Typical layout | Two apps or windows share the screen side by side. | Active windows are brought forward; other open apps appear in the recent-apps area. |
| Adjusting windows | Drag the divider between the two windows to change their sizes. | Move and resize windows; windows can overlap. |
| Task organization | Useful for a direct two-app pairing. | Group windows for a task and switch between groups. |
| External display | Not the reason to choose this on-device layout. | Can extend work to an external display on specifically supported iPad models. |
Apple’s documentation describes what these layouts do, but does not establish that either mode is faster, improves productivity by a measured amount, or saves battery compared with the other. Pick according to the arrangement you want.
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How to set up the layout you want
Turn on Stage Manager or Windowed Apps
- On a supported iPad, open Settings → Multitasking & Gestures.
- Select Stage Manager or Windowed Apps. Apple also documents switching modes from Control Center; the controls available depend on the iPadOS release.
Apple’s Windowed Apps support page and Stage Manager support page describe their respective controls.
Put two apps side by side
- Open the first app.
- Drag a second app to the left or right edge of the screen until the side-by-side layout appears.
- Drag the center divider to give either app more room.
These steps follow Apple’s iPadOS 26 multitasking instructions; details may differ on earlier iPadOS versions.
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Check your iPad model before relying on a feature
Compatibility depends on the exact model and the feature you intend to use. Apple’s current support pages list Stage Manager and Windowed Apps compatibility across overlapping ranges that include iPad (8th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), and specified iPad Pro models. The lists are not a substitute for checking your individual model: Apple may specify additional models, and the compatible-model list for one feature does not automatically establish support for another.
External-display support for Stage Manager is narrower than support for using Stage Manager on the iPad itself. Apple’s list includes, among other models, iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later), and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), plus specified M2/M3 Air and M4 Pro models. Check Apple’s current Stage Manager model list before planning an external-display setup, and consult Apple’s instructions for moving an app to an external display. An external display is optional; it is not required to use Stage Manager on a compatible iPad.
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Quick decision checklist
- Want two apps visible together with minimal arranging? Use side-by-side windows.
- Need overlapping, movable windows or groups for different tasks? Use Stage Manager.
- Want Stage Manager on an external display? Verify support for your exact iPad model first.
- Unsure what your iPad calls the feature? Check Settings → Multitasking & Gestures and your iPadOS version; Apple’s labels and controls vary across releases.
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