How to Use Multiple Safari Windows in iPadOS

Safari has received many improvements in iPadOS which make it arguably the best browser to use on the iPad. Always on desktop mode, customizable site settings, integrated download manager – you name it. But one feature that really revolutionizes the way you use Safari is its ability to launch into multiple separate windows.

Just like on the Mac, you can now open separate instances of Safari, allowing your workflow to be separated into multiple workspaces. If you’re still comfortable with the new iPadOS, working with more than one Safari window can be confusing. In this article, you will find everything you need to know about opening and using multiple windows in Safari.

Open a new tab as a window

If you want to open a new tab in a separate Safari window, first press and hold the switch tab icon. In the contextual menu that appears, press Open a new window.

And voila! A new tab should open, but in split view. Use the handle icon in the center of the screen to resize the space used by each window or to make one of them full screen.

In addition, you can drag on one of the windows – slide the handle at the top of the window down and release it to float on the other.

Any new window that you open later from a Split View window would replace the one opposite. New windows that you launch via a Slide Over window will also open in Split view – if there were already two windows in Split view, the new window will replace the one on the left side.

Safari allows you to open as many windows as you want, which you can then use via App Exposé (explained below).

Point: You can also have up to three active Safari windows on the screen at a time – two windows in split mode and one in Slide mode.

Open busy tab as window

Do you want to open a tab already open in Safari, but another window? Start by dragging the tab out of the tab bar. You can then choose to launch it in Split View or Slide Over mode.

Point: Split view requires dragging the tab to the right or left edge of the screen – once you see a black stripe, just release your finger. Slide Over involves dragging the tab to one of the corners of the screen – release it before reaching the edge.

If you want to display a tab in a Slide Over window in its separate window, first switch to the tab selector. Press and hold the tab until it hovers under your finger, then slide it to the opposite side of the screen.

Once again, you can choose to launch the window in Split View or Slide Over mode – if you choose the latter, the new window will replace the current Slide Over window.

Open the link in a new window

You can also open links directly in new Safari windows. Start by long pressing on a link. In the contextual menu that appears, press Open in a new window.

And Safari should oblige immediately by opening it in Split View. You can then resize it or make it work in Slide Over.

Alternatively, you can open links in new windows by simply dragging them to one of the edges of the screen (as shown in the screenshot above). You can then open them in split view or in slide view.

Opening new tabs in Windows

You can open new tabs as usual in full screen, in Split View or Slide Over Safari mode. They will be part of the window from which you initiate them.

Remember that you can drag any tab to open it in a new window, as detailed above.

Display all windows in the Exposé application

Opening many Safari windows creates the obvious problem of switching between them. Although you can use the application selector to display old windows that have been replaced by newer windows in full size, in Split View or Slide Over mode, you often have to browse other applications to locate the one you are want to switch.

Therefore, the best way to switch between Safari windows is to use App Exposé. Start by long pressing on the Safari icon – on the dock or on the home screen – then press Show all windows.

Point: If there is a Safari window open on your screen, just tapping the Safari icon on the dock – if available – is enough to trigger App Exposé.

You will then see all the Safari windows – in full size, in Split View or Slide Over mode – carefully arranged. Tap the window you want to switch to.

You can also open new Safari windows in App Exposé. Tap the plus icon in the upper right corner of the screen to do this. Unlike the previous methods listed above, this will result in a full-size Safari window from the start.

Merge all open windows

If you want to group all of your open Safari windows into one window, long press the switch tab icon on any window, then tap Merge Windows.

Warning: As of this writing, Safari in iPadOS has often crashed when merging windows (possibly due to a bug). If this happens on your iPad, relaunch Safari and it will open from scratch with all the windows merged. However, you risk losing any unsaved work.

Stay productive

Several Safari windows help you stay productive on the iPad. It will take some time to get used to all the different ways to open Safari windows while dealing with Split View and Slide Over gestures. But it is well worth the time spent.