iPadOS 15 Tips and Tricks to Master Your iPad

iPadOS 15 is packed with features that can genuinely change how you use your iPad, from multitasking gestures to Quick Notes and the new Safari tab bar. This guide walks you through the most useful tips and tricks, showing you exactly where to tap, swipe, and drag to get more done faster. Whether you just upgraded or have been using iPadOS 15 for a while, these practical steps will help you unlock the full potential of your device.

Background: What iPadOS 15 Changed

iPadOS 15 was released in September 2021 as a free update for compatible iPad models. It was a major release that focused on making multitasking more intuitive, adding system-wide notes, and improving how widgets and the App Library work on the iPad. Unlike earlier versions that simply scaled up iPhone apps, iPadOS 15 introduced features designed specifically for the larger screen, such as the new multitasking menu at the top of every app and the ability to place widgets anywhere on the Home Screen.

One of the biggest shifts was the move away from the old Slide Over and Split View gestures that many users found confusing. In iPadOS 15, Apple added a visible three-dot menu at the top of most apps, making it much easier to enter Split View or Slide Over without having to remember complex drag-and-drop gestures. This update also brought the App Library to the iPad, which automatically organizes your apps and can be used to hide rarely used apps from your Home Screen.

How Multitasking Works in iPadOS 15

The centerpiece of iPadOS 15 is the new multitasking system. To use it, open any app and tap the three dots at the top center of the window. You’ll see three options: Split View, Slide Over, and Full Screen. Choosing Split View will shrink the current app and show you your Home Screen or App Library so you can pick a second app to open side by side. Slide Over does the same but keeps the second app in a floating window that you can drag to the left or right edge of the screen.

You can also enter Split View by dragging an app from the Dock onto the left or right edge of the screen. If you have two apps in Split View, you can adjust the divider by dragging it, and you can swap an app by dragging a new one from the Dock. To exit Split View, drag the divider all the way to one side, or tap the three dots and select Full Screen.

App Switcher: Swipe up from the bottom and pause to see all your open windows, including Split View pairs as a single group.
Keyboard shortcuts: If you have a keyboard attached, press the Globe key + Control + Left/Right Arrow to move between Split View apps.
Drag and drop: You can drag text, images, and files from one app to another when they are in Split View.

Quick Notes and the New Notes Features

Quick Notes is one of the most useful additions in iPadOS 15. To create a Quick Note, swipe up from the bottom-right corner of the screen with your finger or Apple Pencil. A small note window will appear, ready for you to type or write. You can also start a Quick Note from Control Center if you add the Notes shortcut there. These notes are saved in the Notes app under the Quick Notes folder, and they can be accessed from any device signed into the same iCloud account.

Quick Notes are contextually aware. If you create one while viewing a website in Safari, it will automatically include a link to that page. You can also link a Quick Note to a specific app or webpage so that it reappears when you visit that page again. To do this, open the note, tap the three dots, and choose “Pin to App” or “Pin to Website.” This is great for research or keeping notes tied to a particular project.

The Notes app itself also got a big upgrade with tags and mentions. You can add tags like #work or #ideas to any note, and then tap the tag in the sidebar to see all notes with that tag. To mention someone, type the @ symbol followed by their name, and they’ll get a notification if they share the note with you.

Widgets, App Library, and Home Screen Organization

In iPadOS 15, widgets are no longer confined to the Today View on the left side of the screen. You can now place widgets anywhere on your Home Screen, just like on the iPhone. To add a widget, press and hold on any empty area of the Home Screen until the icons jiggle, then tap the plus button in the top-left corner. You can choose from the available widgets and drag them into place. Widgets come in three sizes on the iPad: small, medium, and large. You can also stack widgets of the same size to save space; just drag one widget on top of another, and they’ll form a stack that you can swipe through.

The App Library is another new feature. It’s the last page of your Home Screen, and it automatically categorizes all your apps. You can search for an app by name or scroll through the categories. To hide an app from your Home Screen without deleting it, press and hold the app icon, choose “Remove App,” and then select “Remove from Home Screen.” The app will still be in your App Library, accessible with a swipe left until you reach the App Library page.

You can also create folders on your Home Screen by dragging one app onto another. To rename a folder, tap its name and type a new one. For a cleaner look, you can delete all apps from the Home Screen and rely entirely on the App Library, but that’s a personal preference.

Safari: Tab Bar, Extensions, and Tab Groups

Safari in iPadOS 15 got a major redesign. The tab bar is now at the bottom of the screen, which makes it easier to reach with your thumb. You can scroll through your open tabs by swiping left or right on the tab bar. To open a new tab, tap the plus button. To close a tab, press and hold the tab and choose “Close,” or swipe the tab away. If you prefer the old top tab bar, you can change it in Settings > Safari > Tabs.

Tab Groups are a powerful way to organize your browsing. To create a Tab Group, tap the sidebar button (the icon that looks like a rectangle with a line on the left) and then tap “New Tab Group.” You can give it a name and then add tabs to it. Tab Groups sync across all your devices via iCloud, so you can start a research session on your iPad and continue on your Mac or iPhone. To switch between Tab Groups, open the sidebar and tap the group name.

Safari also supports web extensions in iPadOS 15. You can install extensions from the App Store, such as ad blockers or password managers. To manage extensions, go to Settings > Safari > Extensions. Some extensions require you to enable them per website, so check the extension’s settings after installing.

Text Selection, QuickPath, and Other Typing Tricks

iPadOS 15 makes text editing easier with improved gestures. To select text, double-tap a word to select it, then drag the blue handles to expand the selection. You can also use the trackpad mode: place two fingers on the keyboard and move them to move the cursor. To select a sentence, triple-tap; to select a paragraph, quadruple-tap.

QuickPath is Apple’s swipe-to-type feature. Instead of tapping each key, you can slide your finger from one letter to the next without lifting it. The keyboard will predict the word as you go. QuickPath works on the on-screen keyboard, but you need to enable it in Settings > General > Keyboard > Slide to Type. It’s especially handy when typing with one hand.

Another useful trick is the floating keyboard. To turn the full-size iPad keyboard into a small floating one, pinch inward on the keyboard with two fingers. You can then drag it anywhere on the screen. To return to the full-size keyboard, pinch outward. This is great for thumb typing when you’re holding the iPad in portrait mode.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Even with all these features, you might run into issues. Here are a few common problems and their fixes:

Multitasking gestures not working: If the three-dot menu doesn’t appear, make sure the app supports Split View. Some apps, like the Camera, don’t. Also check that Multitasking is enabled in Settings > Home Screen & Dock > Multitasking.
Quick Notes not appearing: If swiping from the corner doesn’t work, go to Settings > Notes > Quick Notes and make sure “Swipe from Corner” is enabled. You can also change the corner it responds to.
Widgets not updating: Widgets can sometimes get stuck. Try removing the widget and adding it again, or restart your iPad. Also check that Background App Refresh is enabled for the widget’s app in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Safari tabs disappearing: If your tabs vanish, they might be in a Tab Group. Open the sidebar and check if you’re in the right group. You can also restore closed tabs by pressing and holding the plus button in the tab bar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I take a screenshot on iPadOS 15?

Press the top button and either volume button at the same time. A thumbnail will appear in the bottom-left corner; tap it to edit or swipe it away to save it to Photos. You can also use Apple Pencil to swipe from the bottom corner to take a screenshot.

Can I use my iPad as a second monitor with iPadOS 15?

Yes, Sidecar allows you to use your iPad as a second display for a Mac. It works wirelessly or with a USB cable. On your iPad, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff > Sidecar to enable it. Your Mac must be compatible and signed into the same Apple ID.

How do I transfer files between iPad and a USB drive?

Connect the USB drive to your iPad using a Lightning or USB-C adapter. The Files app will show the drive under “Locations.” You can copy files by dragging them from one folder to another. To eject the drive, tap the eject icon next to its name in the Files sidebar.

Why doesn’t my iPad support iPadOS 15?

iPadOS 15 supports iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 4 and later. If your model is older, you’re stuck on an earlier version. You can check your model in Settings > General > About.

How do I turn off app tracking in iPadOS 15?

Go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and toggle off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” This prevents apps from asking for permission to track your activity across other apps and websites. You can also manage permissions for individual apps on the same screen.

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

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