How to Use Safari's Split Screen

The Split View feature on certain iPad models can display two Safari browser windows side-by-side. Use this feature for multitasking or comparing web page content without switching between windows or tabs. There are multiple ways to initiate a Safari split-screen session on your iPad, depending on your needs.

How to Open a Link in Safari Split Screen

When you want to open a second web page so that it appears in the same window as an open web page, follow these steps:

1. Open the Safari browser on your iPad.

   The iPad must be positioned in landscape mode.

2. Locate the link you want to open in Split View. Tap and hold it until a pop-up menu appears.

3. Tap Open in Split View.

   

4. Two Safari windows appear side-by-side, one containing the original page and the other the destination page for the link.

   

How to Open a Blank Page in Safari Split Screen

When you want to open a blank page in the same window as an existing web page, follow these steps:

1. Open the Safari browser. 

2. Tap and hold the Tabs icon, represented by two cascading squares and located in the upper-right corner of the browser window, until a pop-up menu appears.

   

3. Tap Open Split View.

   

4. Two Safari windows appear side-by-side, one containing the original page and the other a blank page, which may contain shortcuts to your saved Favorites.

   

How to Exit Safari Split Screen Mode

To exit Split View, tap and hold the Tabs icon in the lower-right corner of the window you want to close. When the pop-up menu appears, tap one of the following:

• Merge All Tabs: Maintains all open tabs, combining the tabs into one Safari window.
• Close All Tabs: Closes any tabs that are present in the selected window.

How to Add a Third App Window to Safari Split Screen

If side-by-side Safari windows aren't enough, you can add a third app to the mix with the iPad Slide Over feature. This additional window can be from any open app, not only the Safari browser.

1. Open two Safari windows in Split View using the instructions above.

   

2. Slowly swipe up from the bottom of the screen so that the Dock appears, overlaying the bottom portion of your Safari windows.

   

3. Tap and drag the icon for the app you'd like to open. Release the icon when it's in the middle of the screen.

   

4. A third app window appears, partially overlaying one of the Safari windows. 

   

5. To reposition this window on the left or right side of the screen, tap and hold the horizontal gray bar at the top of it and slide the window to the desired location.