How to re-enable Split Screen on iPad Air after iOS 26 update?

The first step is to check your settings to ensure you haven't reverted to the "Full Screen Apps only" mode, which disables all multitasking features like Split View.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Multitasking & Gestures.
3. You will see three main options:

Full Screen Apps (Disables Split View and other multitasking).

Windowed Apps (Enables the new Mac-like windowing, which supports side-by-side apps).

Stage Manager (An alternative multitasking mode).

1. Select Windowed Apps to re-enable the features you need for Split View functionality.

Once "Windowed Apps" is selected, the method for initiating a side-by-side view has changed:

Open the first app you want to use. It may open in a full-screen or a windowed view.

Look for the traffic-light icon (three dots/circles) at the top-left of the app window.

• • If the app is full-screen, swipe down slightly from the top edge to reveal the new menu bar and the traffic-light icon.

Tap and hold (or just tap) the traffic-light icon to expose the Fill & Arrange options.

Choose the option that corresponds to the layout you want (e.g., left half, right half).

1. The current app will move aside, and you'll be prompted to select the second app for the split view.
2. Select the second app, and it will open alongside the first. You can then resize the windows by dragging the divider between them.

This change means you now manage the side-by-side view through the window controls rather than a top-center menu or specific gestures.

iPadOS multitasking has received a significant makeover from that to which you may be accustomed in iPadOS 18.x and earlier - and may take a little time to learn and adjust your workflows. You would be well advised to review the official iPadOS User Guide and the many available online tutorials (such as YouTube) to become better acquainted with the new multitasking interface and associated gestures and controls.

Work with multiple windows at once on iPad - Apple Support

OS - iPadOS 26 - Apple

While the previous Slide Over view has been retired, Split View remains - although it is accessed differently. You can have two or three App windows side-by-side - or a spit the screen into four quadrants.

To access, assuming that the current App window is not maximised; touch-and-hold the traffic-light icon at top-left of the App window to expose the Fill & Arrange options:

The current App window will move aside, allowing you to open another App; the selected view will open the selected Apps in their own windows - which can be resized laterally, as before, by dragging the divider to left or right.

If the App window is already maximised, swipe downwards from the top-edge of the screen to expose the new menu bar - then use the traffic-light icon as described above.

Remember, for iPadOS 26, you have a configuration choice to use Full Screen Apps only, use Windowed Apps, or Stage Manager mode as you prefer:

Settings > Multitasking & Gestures - select your preferred multitasking mode