iPads are strong and flexible gadgets, yet they can be not difficult to misjudge. Getting the most out of your iPad might not be as simple as you might think because Apple likes to hide complexity under a surface of simplicity. In light of this, we’ve compiled a list of 10 essential iPad tips and tricks that will help anyone trying an Apple tablet for the first time and maybe even show more seasoned users a hidden gem.
1. Return and refresh –
There are two gestures that every iPad user needs to be aware of right away: pull to refresh the current page, and tap to return to the top of the screen. They don’t apply to every app, like the iPhone does, but when they do, they’re so useful that it’s always worth trying them.
In the event that you’ve looked down a website page, a rundown of choices, or some other long-running screen, a solitary tap at the highest point of the screen is probably going to hop you immediately back to the start. ( We have long argued that this should be available on the Mac because it is so useful.) In the meantime, if you drag the screen down for about a second, the page will refresh, mostly on apps and web pages with content that changes frequently, like Twitter.
2. The Control Center –
To access the Control Center, swipe down from the top-right corner of the iPad’s screen. You will be familiar with it from the iPhone, and it is just as useful here—a convenient location for accessing a number of the most frequently utilized toggles and controls, including orientation lock, Airplane Mode, Do Not Disturb, and screen brightness.
While the toggles at the top are indestructible, you are free to select the ones that appear below them. A list of “Included controls” and “More controls” can be found under Settings > Control Center. To remove any of these, tap the red “minus” icon, and to add any, tap the green “plus” icon.
3. Everything at once –
The iPad’s large display is ideal for multitasking, and Apple provides a variety of options for doing so. When you tap the multitasking button with three dots in the top center of a supported app, you’ll see three options in the multitasking menu. The top choice is to keep your application particle full screen, the center choice is Parted View, which allows you to open another applications close by the one you have open, and the last one is Slide Over, which transforms the application you have open into a more modest drifting window and allows you to open a new application behind it.
Picture in Picture is a third multitasking mode that lets you watch a video while doing something else. Look for an icon with two overlapping rectangles and an arrow pointing down and to the right when using a video-based app like YouTube; The video will float above other apps as a result of this. If it doesn’t work, turn on the Start PiP Automatically toggle in Settings, then General, then Pictue in Picture.)
Stage Manager, Apple’s most recent and cutting-edge multitasking interface, is only available on select iPad Pro and iPad Air models that support the feature. Stage Manager behaves in a manner that is comparable to that of macOS Ventura in that it resizes the currently open app into a floating window, displays the dock at the bottom of the screen, and displays the most recent apps on the left. To switch to one of the app windows, tap it, or drag it out to display both simultaneously. Open the Control Center and tap the icon with three vertical dots next to a rectangle to activate Stage Manager.
4. Reduce distractions –
Your iPad should be working for you, not against you. Customize your notifications by going to Settings > Notifications and reducing them to the essentials to avoid constant distractions. When at all possible, use the most subtle alerts and steer clear of sounds, with the exception of apps to which you absolutely need to respond right away. Similar to your Mac, you’ll want to work or play as long as possible without interruptions on your iPad.
4. Limit screen time –
While you are in Settings, go to the Screen Time page to keep track of how much screen time you use each day and limit the amount of time you can use the iPad or particular apps without entering a special code. This can help you sleep better, reduce eye strain, and free up time for things to do away from a screen.
This is especially helpful if you gave a child an iPad out of kindness. Set Downtime to restrict usage to a predetermined time of day: Keep in mind that you should start this when they are supposed to turn off the iPad and stop it when they are allowed to use it again. You can also block inappropriate content, restrict who the user can contact, and specify which apps will always be allowed, such as educational apps or Messages.
5. Learn to concentrate –
There will be times when you want to use the iPad in a particular and limited manner—or at least have it turned on and accessible. The Settings > Focus menu contains numerous options of this kind.
Although Do Not Disturb blocks messages, video calls, and notifications (with the exception of certain apps and contacts), it’s important to note that you can schedule or automate when it activates. Similar to Sleep, Driving uses your iPhone’s vehicular trigger (such as when you connect to CarPlay) and is linked to your iPhone’s sleep schedule.
In any case, it doesn’t stop there. Fitness, Work, and Personal modes can also be scheduled or activated manually. In each case, you can choose which apps and contacts are allowed, how notifications are set up, and even create your own home page.
6. Clean up your iPad’s home screen –
Tapping and holding anywhere on it for a few seconds to enter Edit Mode. You will first need to select “Edit Home Screen” from the popup menu if you tapped and held an app icon.) App icons, including those in the dock at the bottom of the screen, can be moved around here, and you can delete or remove apps you no longer want.
Keep in mind that deleting an application is not the same as removing it from the Home screen. Today, you can quickly delete an app’s entire page and an app can remain on your iPad without its icon appearing on any Home screen. The iPad’s large screen makes the App Library even more useful than it is on the iPhone. Use Spotlight search (swipe down from the middle of the screen) or the App Library, which is located to the right of your previous Home screen page, to locate any apps you delete.
7. To customize your home screen –
While you are in Edit mode, open the widgets menu by tapping the “plus” symbol in the upper left corner. You can search for and select from a vast selection of mini-apps for your home screens from this location: a summary of Reminders or upcoming Calendar events, the weather for a specific area, the time in multiple zones, recently played albums or Apple TV shows, and so on.
There will likely be a variety of styles and sizes available once you select a widget; therefore, you should think about how much information you need and how much space you are willing to give it up. The grid makes them a little more constrained, but widgets are still a great way to get information in bits without constantly opening apps.
8. Protect your privacy –
Despite the fact that Apple’s reputation as a pro-privacy technology company suffered this year, the iPad is still an excellent option if you want to safeguard your data, routines, and personal information. To fine-tune your configuration, go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
This list of privacy settings is not arranged by app, as that would be too many, but rather by the data that the apps are requesting access to. For instance, if you select Camera, you’ll see a list of all the apps that are currently using it. You can tap the green toggle to stop these apps from using it in the future.
Pay close attention to the entry for Tracking near the top. This applies to apps that have asked to track your online and offline activities. This menu makes it simple to revoke permission retroactively, despite the fact that we frequently deny requests like this one and recommend deactivating the global setting for “Allow Apps to Request to Track.”
9. Level up your keyboard –
The iPad’s keyboard takes up a lot of screen space, especially in landscape mode. Pinch inward with two fingers to reduce it to a size that is easier to handle. This is similar to how you would zoom out of an image. Using the bar at the bottom, you can move the smaller floating keyboard anywhere on the screen. Do a “pinch out” action with two fingers to return to the full-size keyboard.
The split keyboard is a third option, but keep in mind that not all iPad models support this feature. To enable this, toggle Split Keyboard to On in Keyboard Settings by tapping and holding the emoji key or by going to Settings > General > Keyboard.
Last but not least, your iPad’s on-screen keyboard can double as a trackpad. All of the keys will turn gray if you tap and hold the keyboard with two fingers. and a cursor will appear in the text. Control the cursor by moving your fingers, and then locate the text you want to edit. The cursor will change shape to indicate that you are now in text selection mode if you remain still for about a second.