Hidden iPad Features: Reveal the True Potential of Your Favorite Tablet

Apple’s iPad is a powerful device with many useful, hidden features that are not immediately apparent to the average user. In this article, we will discuss 11 hidden iPad features that you may not have known existed. 

These features will help you finish tasks faster, while others will just make the entire experience more enjoyable. So if you’re looking to get the most out of your iPad, be sure to read this article.

Swipe for Symbols and Punctuation

If you take a closer look, you’ll see that each key on your iPad’s on-screen keyboard has a symbol on it as well. There’s a way to use those numbers, punctuation, or symbols faster than you’d typically do when you press the shift bar on either side of the keyboard. 

To gain instant access to punctuation symbols, you can swipe down on the specific key without pressing shift at all. For instance, if you tap U, you’ll get that letter, but simply swiping down on that key will get you the number 7. 

Multitask Like a Pro

If you appreciate devices that let you multitask, you’ll love the iPad OS. It offers a lot more value than iOS, although iOS 14 lets you use picture-in-picture mode as well. You can open more than one app or web page at a time by following a few simple steps, and it’s one of the tips for iPad that you’ll want to share with others. 

You can achieve this with a Slide Over, in which one app is on top of another, or with a Split View, in which these two Apple apps stand side by side. This way, transferring information between the two apps is a breeze. 

Your first step should be ensuring that you have Multitasking turned on. Do this by going to Settings, then Home Screen and Dock, and finally, tap Multitasking. Opening a Slide Over app is done by opening the dock from the bottom of the screen. You should hold the app you want to open and drag it up to the side.

If you want to know how to switch between the windows in Slide Over, you should swipe from the bottom up of the Slide Over window. If you want a side-by-side Split View, do the same, but instead, hold the window of Slide Over and drag it down a bit to the side. 

If that’s not enough, and you want an additional app active, drag a Slide Over app on your two Split View apps. 

Mouse Up 

Many people who use iPads often say that they enjoy their experience with the device, but what they do miss is a mouse. Finally, that’s no longer a dream, and many consider it one of the best iPad features that Apple added. You can use your iPad as if it’s a laptop if you simply find a Bluetooth-capable mouse and pair it with your iPad.

To make your iPad mouse-friendly, go to Settings and then to Bluetooth. You won’t really see a proper cursor on the screen; it will instead be a circular dot that will serve as a pointer on your screen.

Get Centered On Video Calls

You can keep yourself centered while you’re on a FaceTime call if you have an iPad Pro 11-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch or another iPad device that supports this function. To activate this feature, go to Settings, then FaceTime, and click Center Stage. You can also simply swipe from the bottom while you’re on a call, and you’ll see an option for activating this feature. 

As people are coming and leaving during the call, your image will be zoomed in and zoomed out, keeping you in the center. 

Share Your Safari Tabs On Multiple Devices

If you were searching for something on your iPad while at home but want to catch up on that web page when you leave the house, you could open these same Safari pages on your Mac or iPhone, for example. This hidden iPad feature is enabled via iCloud Tabs. 

When you open your iPad’s Settings, go to your name, then iCloud, and check if Safari is switched on. If not, switch it on. Do the same on your Mac when you go to Preferences. 

After this is done, you’ll be able to see the tabs you have open on the iPad and your other Apple devices at the bottom. This is located in the Tabs button on your iPad. 

Switch To Enhanced Scrolling

Trackpad mode is a great tool to try out if you’re looking for a more efficient way to edit text on your tablet. This feature, first introduced on iOS 12, allows you to quickly scroll through large blocks of text with surgical precision, giving you greater control over the content you’re working with.

Many people are clumsy while using their fingers to edit the text on their iPad, so using this tool is definitely useful. If you’re looking for a faster, more efficient way to work on your tablet, give trackpad mode a try and see how it enhances your workflow.

Split the Keyboard 

If you’re one of the 124.7 million iPhone users, and you’re accustomed to using your thumb for typing, one of the iPad’s tips and tricks will help you split your keyboard in half and give you the keyboard feel. 

Open the keyboard and hold the key for a few seconds on the bottom right. A menu with three options will pop up. You can choose between Undock (if you want the keyboard to “float”), or Floating (if you want a small-sized iPhone keyboard that you can place elsewhere on the screen). Finally, there’s the Split option. Whenever you want to undo these actions, just long-press and tap Merge. 

Of course, each of these keyboards can turn the keyboard into a trackpad when you hold a finger on the space bar. 

Get the Most Out of Your Battery 

The iPad Pro’s declared battery life is 10 hours, which is less than some of the competitors’ tablets, such as the Surface Pro X, which makes this next hidden iPad feature greatly useful. 

If your iPad experiences an abrupt battery drain, there’s a possibility that some apps are running in the background, using up power and data. To stop this from happening, you need to disable the Background App Refresh feature.

To perform this iPad pro hack, go to the Settings app on your iPad and select General. Under General, look for the Background App Refresh option and turn this feature off. 

This may cause certain apps to take a few additional seconds to load when you next open them, but the tradeoff will be worth the extended battery life that you’ll get by applying this easy fix. 

Get to the Top of the Page Instantly

Those more impatient among iPad users will likely appreciate the immediate scroll back to the top of the page you’re on. This simple feature makes it easy to quickly return to the top, no matter how far down you’ve scrolled. 

To use this feature, simply tap the title bar at the top of your screen while you’re browsing. This will take you right back to the beginning, so you can easily move through the content without having to scroll and scroll and scroll. 

So whether you’re looking for an easier way to browse content on your phone or simply want a faster way to do so, be sure to take advantage of this simple and convenient navigation tool.

Dock Your Apps For Better Efficiency 

If you’re an iOS user, you’re probably already familiar with the cool iPad feature called the dock. It’s a toolbar of apps at the bottom of the screen that provides easy access to your favorite and recently-used apps no matter what you’re doing on your device. Unlike on the iPhone, the iPad’s dock is accessible at all times by swiping up slowly from the bottom of the screen.

You can also use the dock to place and organize your most frequently used apps. To do this, simply long-press on an app icon to launch the Edit Home Screen, which will allow you to rearrange icons as well as add new ones to your dock. You can use this tool to create folders containing multiple apps, which can help keep your home screen organized and make finding the app you need, when you need it, easier.

Whether you’re new to iOS or are a seasoned iPad user, learning how to take advantage of the iPad’s powerful dock can help streamline your workflow and make using your device more efficient and enjoyable. So don’t hesitate to start exploring all this handy feature has to offer.

Need Cool Things To Do on Your iPad? Use a Pen

Although the 2nd generation Apple Pencil is a bit pricey, it’s worth every penny, especially if you use it with one of the great drawing apps compatible with your Apple tablet. The pencil is compatible with iPads from the third, fourth, and fifth generations (iPad Pro-12.9-inch), as well as the first, second, and third generations (11-inch) and iPad Air. 

Just turn on your Bluetooth, connect the Apple Pencil, and get ready to create magic. Apple’s iPad Pro tops the list of the greatest drawing tablets available today, and with this model, you’ll get the improved performance of an iPad’s pencil. 

Bottom Line 

Finding out about cool iPad features can turn a simple tablet into a super-machine and give users a wide range of additional options. From improving efficiency to maximizing battery life, use some of the best iPad tips from this list and have fun while achieving more. Put them into practice today!