iPadOS Stage Manager is a feature designed to enhance multitasking on the iPad, allowing users to easily switch between apps, resize windows, and have multiple overlapping apps on the screen at the same time. It’s available on supported iPads running iPadOS 16 or later and offers a desktop-like experience that makes navigating multiple tasks more fluid and organized.

Why Use Stage Manager?

Stage Manager on iPad provides a more flexible way to multitask on your iPad, especially if you’re used to working on a laptop or desktop computer. It helps you stay organized by allowing multiple apps to be visible at once, resizing windows to prioritize what’s most important, and easily switching between different tasks without losing your place.

Compatibility

Stage Manager is available on select iPad models, including iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), and iPad Air (5th generation). Make sure your iPad is updated to iPadOS 16 or later to access this feature.

Compatible Hardware to Get the Most out of Stage Manager

Plugable offers a range of innovative iPad docking stations and hubs designed to enhance productivity on macOS, including full compatibility with iPadOS Stage Manager for seamless multitasking. The UDS-7IN1 and USBC-7IN1E provide versatile connectivity options, combining USB ports and HDMI, and SD card readers in compact designs ideal for streamlined setups. The USBC-4IN1, UD-CUBE and UD-CUBE-15W focuses on portability, featuring essential connections for quick access on the go. 

For ergonomic workspace optimization, the AMS-STAND11 and AMS-STAND13 deliver sturdy and adjustable stands, elevating your MacBook for improved comfort and airflow. Together, these devices ensure a smooth experience with iPadOS Stage Manager, enabling efficient multitasking and enhanced workflow.

How to Use Stage Manager

Turning On Stage Manager

To activate Stage Manager, swipe down from the upper-right corner to open the Control Center. 

Tap the Stage Manager icon (a rectangle with three smaller dots on the left side) to enable Stage Manager.

If asked, tap on Turn on Stage Manager to get started.

Opening and Managing Apps

Open an app as usual, and it will appear in a centered window that you can resize.

To add another app, swipe up from the bottom to open the Dock and drag a second app onto the screen. You can also add another app from the app library. Apps can overlap, allowing you to work across multiple apps seamlessly.

Resizing Windows

Drag the corner of any app window to resize it. Stage Manager makes it easy to arrange multiple app windows in a way that works best for you.

Switching Between Apps

Look for apps on the left side of the screen. You should see a list of recent apps and app groupings. Tap on any of these to quickly switch between different apps or collections of apps.

Note: If you're not seeing your app groupings on the left side in Stage Manager, it likely means the "Show recent apps in Stage Manager" setting is turned off; to fix this, go to your system settings, navigate to "Desktop & Dock," then under Stage Manager, make sure the "Show recent apps" option is enabled

Creating Workspaces

You can group apps together into workspaces by dragging apps into your current setup. You can touch and hold an app in the recent apps list, the dock, or the app library. This allows you to create custom workflows that suit different tasks—for example, having a browser, a note-taking app, and an email client open simultaneously for research.

To see a recent apps list you can swipe right from the left edge of the screen. Tap a group of apps to switch to those windows to bring them back in the same arrangement.

Full-Screen View

To switch to a full-screen view, tap the multitasking button at the top of the window.

Next, Tap Enter Full screen.

Adding an App to a Different Group

You can also add the app to a different group by clicking the multi-tasking button again and selecting Add Another Window.

The opened app will move to the right, and you can now see your other open apps and groups, including the app library and dock. To add the app, tap the group, and the app will be added to that group.

Questions? We're here to help! Feel free to contact support@plugable.com for questions or concerns when setting up your iPad with Stage Manager.