iPads offer an experience that’s a mix of working on a Macbook and an iPhone. These thin, light and ultrapowerful devices combine the best features for productivity, gaming, and everyday household use. But not everyone knows how much iPads can do, especially since Apple released the iPad OS. Each new generation of iPad comes with new developments that’ll make your tablet experience simple and easy.
Whether for work or play, here are 14 amazing hacks for your iPad that you haven’t discovered yet. This list includes a comprehensive guide on gestures, multitasking, customization, and even troubleshooting tips like how to connect to iTunes when iPad is disabled.
Apps and Multitasking
iPadOS 15 has released new gestures that make your iPad experience a breeze.
- App Switcher
To see the apps running on your iPad, swipe upwards from the bottom of the screen until you reach the middle. Scroll left or right to view the apps, and swipe upwards to exit select apps quickly.
- Quick Switch
Swipe left or right from the bottom part of the screen to quickly switch between running apps without going to App Switcher.
- Reveal Dock
Opening the Dock while using an app comes in handy for easy switching. To reveal the Dock in-app, swipe up about an inch from the bottom of your screen.
- Multitasking
iPad’s new multitasking menu opens up a new world of productivity features at the tip of your fingers. You have three options:
- Split View
The split view divides your screen into two apps you can use simultaneously.
- Slide Over
The Slide Over feature allows you to open a floating app on top of another app that supports multitasking. To activate Split View or Slide Over, open an app and click the Multitasking option. Choose from Split View or Slide Over, then open the second app.
- Center Window
Accessible for select apps like Notes, this multitasking type allows you to open a center window on a focused part of the screen. To enable the Center Window, tap and hold a specific note. When a menu appears, tap Open in New Window.
Easy Access
Whatever your needs are, your iPad has got your back. iPadOS has made your device more user-intuitive, providing features you can easily tailor to fit your needs.
- Hey, Siri!
To activate Siri, simply say “Hey, Siri,” or press and hold the power button until you see Siri’s logo.
- Accessibility
Set up your accessibility preferences for Zoom, Voice Over, and other physical and motor features in the Settings. You can quickly access these features by pressing the power button three times.
- Access Controls
The iPad’s Control Center contains Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular Data, Volume, Brightness, Do Not Disturb Settings, and many more. To access controls, swipe from the top right corner near the battery icon. In addition, you can customize your settings depending on which features you usually use. To edit these controls, go to Settings, then tap Control Center.
Productivity
Recent developments in iPadOS have made iPads a powerful device for maximum productivity and efficiency.
- iPad Trackpad
iPad’s secret trackpad bridges the gap between laptops and tablets. Accessible in select apps, the trackpad can be activated by swiping two fingers on the onscreen keyboard. Your fingers will act as a cursor that’ll move when you do.
- Floating Keyboard
The onscreen keyboard can be challenging to manage because of its size, especially in landscape mode. But the iPad’s floating keyboard can solve this problem. To shrink your keyboard, press and hold the keyboard icon and select Float. The floating keyboard can be moved around by pressing and holding the bottom edge. Use two fingers to pinch out and return it to its default size.
Troubleshooting
iPads have quick and handy measures you can use to resolve annoying bugs, glitches, and even more severe problems.
- Force restart
Usually caused by bad apps, having your iPad freeze can be a major inconvenience. Luckily, a hard reset or force restart will do the trick and get your iPad up and running in no time.
To force restart:
- Press the volume up button quickly, and then release.
- Repeat this process with the volume down button.
- Press the top button, hold until you see the Apple logo, and then release.
- Connecting to iTunes when the iPad is disabled
A disabled iPad can be a real head-scratcher but think of it as your tablet’s defense mechanism. The usual culprit for this problem is entering too many incorrect passwords. Fortunately, this problem can easily be solved by learning how to connect to iTunes when the iPad is disabled.
The “iPad is disabled, connect to iTunes” error message doesn’t show up most of the time, but when it does, it’s best to do as it says. Doing so will allow you to enter Recovery Mode to get your device back into its normal functions. Follow these steps:
- Access your iPad through your Macbook by using Finder or iTunes.
- Press and hold the top and the volume down button, and swipe the slider.
- Once the iPad is turned off, press and hold the top button until you see a logo of a laptop and a lightning cable.
- From Finder or iTunes, select your iPad and click restore.
- After the restoration, choose the option to recover your iPad backup. If you don’t have a backup of your device, you’ll have to set up your iPad as a new device.
MacOS, iPadOS, and iOS, synchronized
An iPad is a beauty, even more so when you use it alongside a Macbook and an iPhone. The Continuity feature makes working on these different devices a seamless experience, so you can put down one device and pick up where you left off on another gadget. To use Continuity, ensure you are signed in to all devices using the same Apple ID. Here are a couple of features you can use:
- AirDrop
Turn on AirDrop on both sending and receiving devices. Tap the Share button, and select AirDrop. Choose either Mac or iPad. On the receiving device, click accept.
- Screen Mirroring to Mac
Screen Mirroring allows you to see your iPad’s screen from your Macbook. To enable it:
- Connect both iPad and Mac to the same Wi-Fi network.
- From your iPad, access the Control Center, select Screen Mirroring, and tap your Mac.
- Enter the passcode as needed.
- Handoff
Handoff lets you resume work from one device to another without taking a beat. To use Handoff:
- Start by turning on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the devices you want to use.
- Go to Settings, tap General, and press “Allow Handoff between this device and your iCloud devices”.
- Open up an app that supports the Handoff feature.
To switch from iPad to Mac, look for the Handoff icon in the Dock. To go from Mac to iPad, open the App Switcher, and tap the banner on the bottom edge.
Conclusion
Once you learn these 14 amazing iPad hacks, your tablet experience will never be the same again. With these tricks, you’ll save time and effort, explore and enjoy iPad-only features, and make the most out of your device. For more news and updates on gadgets, gaming, and more, visit Cellular News.
