How to Use Slide Over on iPad to Keep a Second App Handy
Slide Over keeps a second app in a narrow floating window while your main app stays full screen. To use it, open the Dock, drag Messages, Notes, Safari, or another app to the left or right edge of the current app, and release when the floating panel appears. The controls differ by iPadOS version: older systems use classic Slide Over, while iPadOS 26 may use newer window controls instead.
Before you start, check whether your iPad still has Slide Over
Classic Slide Over is available on iPads that support iPadOS multitasking, including iPad models running iPadOS 9 or later. In practical terms, that includes iPad Pro models, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPad models from the fifth generation onward, provided the iPad can run the relevant iPadOS version.
Before you start, check these prerequisites:
- Your iPad is updated to a version of iPadOS that supports the multitasking method you want to use.
- The second app is installed and appears in the Dock or App Library.
- The current app allows multitasking. Some apps, particularly games and older apps, may not support floating windows.
On iPadOS versions before iPadOS 26, you normally open Slide Over by dragging an app from the Dock or App Library over the current app. The floating app has a small handle along its top edge.
iPadOS 26 uses a newer windowing system, so you may see window controls instead of the classic Slide Over handle and edge gestures. On a compatible iPad running iPadOS 26, open the second app as a window and use its controls to resize, move, minimize, or bring it forward. If your iPad is running iPadOS 26, older Slide Over instructions may not match what you see on screen.
How to open an app in Slide Over
Keep the app you want to continue using open in full screen. The second app does not need to be open first; its icon only needs to be available in the Dock or App Library.
- Open the app you want to keep as the main, full-screen app.
- Reveal the Dock by slowly swiping up from the bottom edge of the screen. Stop before leaving the app and opening the Home Screen.
- Touch and hold the icon for the second app in the Dock.
- Drag the icon to the left or right edge of the screen. Keep it near the edge until the current app shifts enough to show that a floating window will be created.
- Release the icon when the second app appears as a narrow floating panel. The original app remains visible behind it.
If the app is not in the Dock, swipe up from the bottom and pause to open the App Switcher. Return to the main app, then add the second app to the Dock if needed. On systems that allow it, you can also drag an app from the App Library toward the left or right edge while the current app is open.
Release at the edge only when the floating-panel preview appears. Dropping the app in the middle of the screen or beside the current app can open it differently, including in Split View.
A classic Slide Over window occupies only part of the screen and has a small horizontal handle at its top edge. The main app remains full screen underneath it.
How to move, hide, switch, and close the floating app
Once classic Slide Over is open, use the small handle at the top of the floating window. These gestures control the floating app without replacing the main app.
- Move the floating app to the other side by touching and holding its handle, then dragging it to the opposite edge. Release when it reaches that edge.
- Hide the floating app by swiping its handle toward the nearest screen edge. Continue until the panel moves off-screen. A small tab or edge indicator remains so you can retrieve it.
- Reveal the hidden app by swiping inward from the edge where it was hidden. The floating window slides back over the main app.
- Switch to another Slide Over app by swiping left or right on the handle at the bottom of the floating window. Each swipe moves through the other apps currently in the Slide Over stack.
- Open the Slide Over app switcher by swiping up from the handle and pausing briefly. You can then move among the floating apps or dismiss one.
- Close a Slide Over app by opening that floating-app switcher and swiping the app's preview upward. This removes the app from the Slide Over stack; it does not uninstall the app or close the main app.
Do not start a switch gesture at the very bottom edge of the screen. That gesture can take you to the Home Screen or App Switcher instead. Start on the floating window's handle so iPadOS knows you are controlling the Slide Over app.
How to keep Slide Over from taking over your whole screen
Slide Over and Split View use the screen differently. Slide Over places a narrow app window above one full-screen app. Split View places two app panes side by side, with both apps sharing the screen.
| Arrangement | What you see | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Slide Over | A floating panel over one full-screen app | Quick messages, notes, or searches |
| Split View | Two app panes beside each other | Working in both apps for a longer session |
To keep the second app in Slide Over, drag it toward the far left or right edge and release only after the floating-window preview appears. Do not drop it in the center of the screen. Dropping it beside the current app can create Split View instead.
Keep the main app open while you reveal the Dock. Do not switch to the second app first and then use the App Switcher; that replaces the current app instead of creating a floating window. Also avoid dragging the floating app's handle all the way to the top edge. That can trigger a full-screen or window-management action rather than simply moving the panel.
If the floating app expands and replaces the main app, return to the main app, reopen the Dock, and drag the second app to a side edge again. If a multitasking menu appears at the top of a window, choose the option that creates or keeps a floating window, not the side-by-side option.
On iPadOS 26, the second app may appear as a window rather than a classic Slide Over panel. Use the window's top controls to move or resize it. If that version has replaced the older hidden-edge behavior, do not look for the classic Slide Over tab or expect the older edge gestures to work.
You know Slide Over is working when both apps stay available
Classic Slide Over is working when the second app appears as a movable floating panel, the original app stays open behind it, and you can hide or reveal the panel without restarting either app. For example, Safari can remain full screen while Messages floats over it; you can read the page, swipe Messages off the edge, and bring it back when you need to reply.
If no floating window appears, check these points:
- Confirm that you dragged the second app from the Dock or App Library to a side edge, rather than dropping it in the middle.
- Make sure the Dock opened without taking you out of the current app.
- Try another app. The app you chose may not support Slide Over.
- Check the iPadOS version and model. Newer iPadOS versions may use windowing controls instead of classic Slide Over.
- Restart the iPad and try again if multitasking controls are missing from several apps.
If the second app opens full screen, return to the main app and repeat the Dock drag. Do not use the App Switcher alone: switching apps there replaces the current app instead of creating a floating one.
If you are using iPadOS 26, look for the newer window controls rather than a classic Slide Over handle. If those controls are present, use them to move, resize, minimize, or bring the second app forward.
Conclusion
For classic Slide Over, keep the main app open, reveal the Dock, drag the second app to a side edge, and release only when the floating panel appears. Use the panel's handle to move, hide, reveal, switch, or close floating apps without replacing the main app. On iPadOS 26, use the newer window controls when they appear instead of expecting every classic Slide Over gesture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Slide Over with any iPad app?
No. Most current productivity and communication apps support multitasking, but some apps do not. If an app will not create a floating window, try another app to determine whether the limitation belongs to that app.
Does Slide Over work with Split View?
Yes, on iPadOS versions that support the classic arrangement, Slide Over can float above a Split View pair. If you want one full-screen app plus a small second app, start with the full-screen app and drag the second app to a side edge. On iPadOS 26, the available windowing controls may look different.
How do I get an app out of Slide Over?
Open the Slide Over app switcher by swiping up from the floating window's handle and pausing, then swipe the app preview upward. This removes the app from the Slide Over stack without deleting it. On iPadOS 26, use the window controls shown for that version instead.