How to Open Multiple Windows of the Same iPad App

We’ve had Split View and Slide Over for a while now, allowing us to work in more than one app at a time. Now, users can also work in more instances of the same app in different windows. This is great if you’re organizing the folders in your Files app working on a large project in Pages, but how does it work, exactly? This tip explains what it means to run multiple windows of the same app. Read on to learn how to open the same app in a new window on the iPad.

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Related: Turn Your iPad into a Second Monitor with iPadOS Sidecar 

Running Multiple Windows of an App on the iPad

You probably already know that you can use Split View and Slide Over to multitask in an active app. Now, with a new feature called App Exposé, you can also open multiple windows of an app at the same time. Here’s how: 

1. Open a compatible app. For this example, I’m using Messages.
2. Gently swipe up from the bottom of the screen until the Dock appears.
   
   
    
3. Tap the icon of the app you’re already working in.
   
   
    
4. This opens up a grid view that’s similar to App Switcher called the App Exposé.
5. To add a new window, tap the plus icon on the top right.
   
   
    
6. To view your multiple windows, pull up the Dock, and tap the app icon.
7. Now, you’ll see a grid view of the multiple windows open in App Exposé.
   
   
    
8. To remove a window, swipe up.
   
   
    
9. To open an existing window, tap it.
   
   
    
10. To add another window, tap the plus icon.
    
    
     
11. To open previously closed windows, tap Reopen Closed Windows.
    
    

While third-party apps could use this feature, I haven’t come across any that do. If you have a favorite app that you’d like to implement this feature, you can contact the developer and make a request. In the meantime, you can use the windows in App Exposé to improve your productivity in apps such as Notes, Messages, Safari, Files, and even Maps!