Stage Manager & Multitasking on iPad Air 13-inch

This guide walks you through using Stage Manager and the other multitasking tools on the 13-inch iPad Air (M2 and later). You’ll learn how to run multiple apps side by side, resize and arrange windows, and quickly switch between tasks, making the large display feel more like a desktop. No special setup is required beyond having iPadOS 16 or later installed.

What You’ll Need

13-inch iPad Air (M2 or later) running iPadOS 16 or newer
An Apple Pencil or a finger (both work for gestures)
Optional: a keyboard or trackpad for faster shortcuts

Step-by-Step

Enable Stage Manager: Open Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking > Stage Manager and toggle it on. You can also turn it on quickly from the Control Center by tapping the Stage Manager icon (a square with two small circles).
Open an app: Tap any app icon on the Home Screen or in the Dock. It will open in a centered window with your other open apps shown as thumbnails on the left side.
Add a second app: Tap the thumbnail of another app on the left sidebar, or drag an app from the Dock to the right side of the screen. The two apps will appear side by side.
Add a third (or more) app: Drag another app from the Dock or the sidebar to either side of the existing windows. You can have up to four apps visible at once on the 13-inch display.
Resize windows: Grab the small handle at the bottom-left or bottom-right corner of any window and drag it inward or outward. The other windows will adjust automatically to fit the new size.
Move windows: Drag a window by its top edge (the title bar area) to reposition it. You can stack windows partially overlapping or place them side by side.
Switch between groups: Each set of apps you arrange is saved as a “group.” Tap a thumbnail on the left sidebar to switch to that group instantly. To create a new group, tap the + button at the top of the sidebar and choose an app.
Close a window: Tap the three dots (•••) at the top of a window and select Close, or swipe the window thumbnail off the screen.
Exit Stage Manager: Toggle it off in Control Center or in Settings. Your apps will return to the normal full-screen layout, but your Stage Manager groups remain saved.
Use Split View and Slide Over (if you prefer): With Stage Manager off, open an app, then swipe up from the bottom to reveal the Dock. Drag a second app to the left or right edge of the screen to enter Split View. Drag it further to the center to create a floating Slide Over window instead.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to enable Stage Manager in Settings: Some users try to use it from Control Center, but it must be turned on in Settings first if it has never been enabled.
Dragging apps onto the wrong edge: In Stage Manager, dropping an app on the far left edge may just switch to that app instead of adding it as a second window. Aim for the middle of the screen.
Confusing Stage Manager with Split View: They are separate features. Stage Manager gives you free-form windows; Split View is a fixed half-and-half layout. They don’t mix well—turn one off before using the other.
Not using the sidebar: The left sidebar is your main navigation tool. Tapping a thumbnail switches groups; dragging a thumbnail adds that app to the current group.
Expecting every app to support resizing: Some apps have a minimum window size or don’t work well in small windows. If a window won’t shrink further, that’s an app limitation, not a bug.

Tips

Use keyboard shortcuts: With a connected keyboard, press Globe + → to move to the next app, Globe + ← to go back, and Globe + Shift + → to add an app to the right side.
Drag with Apple Pencil: You can drag windows and app icons with the Pencil, which is handy when you’re using the iPad as a drawing tablet.
Create a dedicated group for work: Arrange your email, calendar, and notes in one group, and your browser and music in another. Tap the group thumbnail to switch contexts instantly.
Use the Dock for quick access: The Dock stays visible in Stage Manager. Drag any app from the Dock to the center to add it to the current group.
Adjust the sidebar size: Go to Settings > Home Screen & Multitasking > Stage Manager and choose Smaller or Larger for the sidebar thumbnails.

Troubleshooting

Stage Manager doesn’t appear in Control Center: Make sure your iPad Air is a 13-inch model (M2 or later) and that you are running iPadOS 16 or later. If it’s still missing, restart your iPad.
Apps keep opening full-screen instead of in windows: Check that Stage Manager is actually toggled on in Settings. Also, try turning it off and on again, then open an app from the Home Screen.
Windows won’t resize or overlap: Some apps have fixed sizes. Try a different app like Safari or Notes to test. If no app resizes, restart your iPad.
The sidebar disappears: Swipe from the left edge of the screen to bring it back, or tap the Stage Manager icon in Control Center to toggle it off and on.
Dragging an app from the Dock doesn’t work: Make sure you’re in Stage Manager (not Split View). If you’re in Split View, exit it by tapping the three dots and choosing “Close” or “Full Screen.”
Performance feels laggy: Close unused apps by swiping their thumbnails off the sidebar. If the problem persists, restart your iPad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Stage Manager with an external monitor?

Yes, the 13-inch iPad Air supports Stage Manager with an external display (up to 6K) when connected via USB-C or Thunderbolt. You can have up to four apps on the iPad screen and four more on the external display.

How many apps can I have open at once?

You can have up to four apps visible simultaneously in Stage Manager on the iPad Air’s built-in display. However, you can have many more apps open in the background—they appear as thumbnails in the sidebar.

Does Stage Manager work with all apps?

Most apps work, but some older or poorly optimized apps may not support resizing or may open full-screen only. Apple’s own apps and most modern third-party apps work well.

Can I use Stage Manager and Split View at the same time?

No, they are mutually exclusive. When Stage Manager is on, Split View and Slide Over are disabled. You can switch between them by toggling Stage Manager off.

Will Stage Manager drain my battery faster?

Running multiple apps simultaneously can use more power, but the M2 chip is efficient. If you notice heavy battery drain, close unused apps or turn off Stage Manager when you don’t need it.

How do I delete a Stage Manager group?

Tap the group thumbnail in the sidebar, then tap the three dots (•••) at the top of any window and choose “Close All.” The group disappears from the sidebar.

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

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →