How to Add Windows to Stage Manager on iPad

Stage Manager on iPad lets you run multiple apps in resizable, overlapping windows, making the iPad feel much more like a desktop computer. This guide walks you through adding a second or third window to the current Stage Manager workspace, whether you are using an iPad with a mouse and keyboard or just your fingers.

What You’ll Need

An iPad that supports Stage Manager: iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air (5th generation and later), or iPad mini (6th generation).
iPadOS 16 or later installed on the device.
Stage Manager turned on (see Step 1 below if you haven’t enabled it yet).

Step-by-Step

Turn on Stage Manager. Open Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking > Stage Manager, and toggle it on. You can also enable it from Control Center by tapping the Stage Manager icon (two overlapping rectangles) if you have added it there.
Open the app you want to start with. Tap any app icon on the Home Screen or in the Dock. It will open in a centered window on the Stage.
Reveal the app shelf. Look at the left edge of the screen. You will see a vertical strip showing thumbnails of your currently open apps. This is the app shelf. If you don’t see it, move your pointer to the left edge of the screen (if using a mouse or trackpad) or swipe slowly from the left edge with your finger.
Drag an app onto the Stage. From the app shelf, press and hold the thumbnail of the app you want to add, then drag it to the center of the screen. Release it. The new app opens in its own window, and the previous app moves to the side of the Stage.
Add a third app (optional). Repeat step 4 with another app from the shelf. When you drag it onto the Stage, it will create a third window. The windows will automatically tile or overlap depending on how you position them.
Resize or rearrange the windows. Drag the round handle at the bottom-left corner of any window to resize it. Drag the top edge of a window to move it. You can overlap windows, snap them side by side, or make one larger than the others.
Switch between apps on the Stage. Tap any window on the Stage to bring it to the front. The app shelf on the left shows all your open apps; tapping a thumbnail there replaces the currently active window with that app.

Common Mistakes

Dragging an app from the Dock instead of the shelf. Dragging from the Dock replaces the current window rather than adding a new one. To add a window, you must drag from the app shelf on the left.
Not seeing the app shelf. If the shelf is hidden, move your cursor to the left edge of the screen and hold it there for a second, or swipe from the left edge with your finger. It only appears when Stage Manager is active.
Confusing Stage Manager with Split View. Split View is the older multitasking system that pins two apps side by side. Stage Manager is a separate mode; make sure it is enabled in Settings, not just Split View.
Expecting more than four windows. Stage Manager on iPad supports up to four apps visible on the Stage at once. If you try to add a fifth, the oldest window will be pushed off to the shelf.

Tips

Use keyboard shortcuts. If you have a keyboard attached, press Globe + → or Globe + ← to move between windows on the Stage. Press Globe + Down Arrow to open the app shelf.
Group apps for quick access. Drag one app on top of another on the Stage to create a group. The group appears as a single thumbnail in the shelf, and tapping it restores both windows together.
Connect an external display. Stage Manager works with an external monitor. When connected, you can have up to four apps on the iPad screen and four more on the external display, giving you eight windows total.
Hide the recent apps shelf. If the shelf feels cluttered, you can hide it in Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking > Stage Manager > Recent Apps. Toggle it off to show only the apps you have explicitly added to the Stage.

Troubleshooting

Stage Manager is greyed out in Settings. This usually means your iPad model does not support the feature or you are running an older version of iPadOS. Check that your iPad is on the supported list and update to the latest iPadOS version.
Dragging an app from the shelf does nothing. Make sure you are dragging from the shelf, not the Dock. Also verify that Stage Manager is still enabled—sometimes toggling it off and on again in Settings can reset the interface.
Windows keep snapping together instead of overlapping. Stage Manager automatically arranges windows to fit the screen. To force an overlap, drag one window partially over another and pause for a second before releasing. If it still snaps, resize one window smaller first.
The app shelf is missing entirely. Restart your iPad by holding the power button and either volume button, then sliding to power off. Turn it back on and check if Stage Manager is still active. If not, re-enable it in Settings.
Only one window shows at a time. You may have accidentally switched to full-screen mode. Tap the green circle at the top of the window (on iPadOS 16.1 and later) or press the Stage Manager icon in Control Center to cycle back to the multi-window view.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add windows from the Home Screen directly?

No. To add a window to the Stage, you must drag an app from the app shelf on the left. Tapping an app on the Home Screen replaces the current window instead of adding a new one.

How many windows can I have open at once?

On the iPad screen alone, you can have up to four apps visible on the Stage at the same time. If you connect an external display, you can have four on the iPad and four on the external monitor.

Does Stage Manager work with all apps?

Most apps work, but some developers have not updated their apps to support resizable windows. Those apps will open in a fixed size and may not allow resizing or overlapping.

Can I use Stage Manager without a mouse or trackpad?

Yes. You can use your finger to drag apps from the shelf, resize windows with the bottom-left handle, and tap to switch between them. A mouse or trackpad makes it easier but is not required.

How do I remove a window from the Stage?

Drag the window to the left edge of the screen and drop it onto the app shelf. The app stays open but is no longer visible on the Stage. You can also tap the app’s thumbnail in the shelf to bring it back.

Why does my iPad force apps into full screen?

If you are using an app that does not support Stage Manager, or if you have Stage Manager turned off, apps will open full screen. Check that Stage Manager is enabled in Settings and that the app is not in the “unsupported” list.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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