Hello. I know I poste% a similar entry but now I have iOs 11 and didn't know of how to use split view or slideover in iOs 11 so I have no idea at all of how to do. What is the difference between split view anyway? I have never learned that.
The way you access Slide Over and Split View in iOS 11 is very different from iOS 10, at least with VoiceOver.
Slide Over allows you to open one app in a floating window, which partially covers another app on the screen. Older iPads can only do Slide Over, not Split View, so if you have an older iPad, that’s all you get. I find that Slide Over isn’t useful with VoiceOver in iOS 11, so I would recommend against using it.
Split View allows you to have two apps on the screen, side by side. Neither app covers the other, so the full interface for both apps can be accessed at the same time. This is more useful, since you can quickly switch between the two apps simply by tapping somewhere on the left or right side of the screen. I use it, for example, to take notes in the Notes app while researching something in Safari. I would have Safari on one side of the screen and Notes on the other side, then switch between the two as needed.
Here is the best way I know of to set up Split View in iOS 11:
1. Open up the first app you wish to use.
2. Go back to the Home screen and open the second app you want to use.
3. Swipe up with two fingers from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Dock.
4. The first app you chose should be in the dock somewhere. Focus on it, then make sure the rotor is set to Actions.
5. Swipe up or down until you find the option for pinning the app to the left or right side of the screen. If the options don’t appear, then one of the two apps you’re using does not support Split View.
6. Double-tap, and VoiceOver should announce the two apps and their positions on screen, such as, “Safari on left, Notes on right.”
Touching the screen on the left side will now take you to the app on that side of the screen, while touching the right side takes you to the app over there. In between, you should find a divider that runs up and down the screen. While focused on the divider, use the Actions rotor to adjust the divider’s position, as follows:
1. Selecting an option to shrink one of the apps will cause that app to use less space, but still be visible.
2. Selecting an option to expand an app will cause it to take up the entire screen, removing the other app.
3. Selecting the half and half option will make the two apps use the same amount of space on the screen.
If you go to the App Switcher, you will find that both apps in Split View will use one entry in the app switcher. Swiping up with three fingers will close both apps at the same time.
If there are any apps you wish to use with Split View regularly, you should place them in the Dock on your home screen. This lets you skip the initial step of opening the app first, since it will already be in the dock.
For Slide Over, the process for setting it up is similar:
1. Open the app you wish to use for Slide Over, or make sure it is in the dock.
2. Open any other app.
3. Swipe up with two fingers to bring up the dock, then focus on the app you want to open with Slide Over.
4. In the Actions rotor, select the option called Open Side App.
The app is now in a floating window on the right side of the screen, covering up the app you were using before.
Manipulating the side app is tricky. You must navigate by touch near the top left corner of the app, until you find the grabber for the app. VoiceOver announces it as, “Safari grabber,” or, “Notes grabber,” or whatever. It’s a very small item, and you must look for it by touch, because you cannot swipe to it. Once you find it, you can use the actions rotor to dismiss the app, move it to the other side of the screen, or pin it to the screen. If you move it to the left side of the screen, then the grabber will be in the upper right corner instead of the upper left, so bear that in mind. If you pin the app, then you will be in Split View mode, where the two apps on screen are placed side by side with no overlap.
If this sounds complicated, it’s because it is. It took me quite a lot of experimentation to figure out the features, and as I said above, I find the Slide Over feature to be rather pointless as a VoiceOver user. Split View is more useful, if you can get the hang of it.
I've updated my iPad 10.5 to iOS 11 and been looking for some instruction about working on multitasking with VoiceOver. Thank you very much for such a detailed guide.
Comments
Very different in iOS 11
The way you access Slide Over and Split View in iOS 11 is very different from iOS 10, at least with VoiceOver.
Slide Over allows you to open one app in a floating window, which partially covers another app on the screen. Older iPads can only do Slide Over, not Split View, so if you have an older iPad, that’s all you get. I find that Slide Over isn’t useful with VoiceOver in iOS 11, so I would recommend against using it.
Split View allows you to have two apps on the screen, side by side. Neither app covers the other, so the full interface for both apps can be accessed at the same time. This is more useful, since you can quickly switch between the two apps simply by tapping somewhere on the left or right side of the screen. I use it, for example, to take notes in the Notes app while researching something in Safari. I would have Safari on one side of the screen and Notes on the other side, then switch between the two as needed.
Here is the best way I know of to set up Split View in iOS 11:
1. Open up the first app you wish to use.
2. Go back to the Home screen and open the second app you want to use.
3. Swipe up with two fingers from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Dock.
4. The first app you chose should be in the dock somewhere. Focus on it, then make sure the rotor is set to Actions.
5. Swipe up or down until you find the option for pinning the app to the left or right side of the screen. If the options don’t appear, then one of the two apps you’re using does not support Split View.
6. Double-tap, and VoiceOver should announce the two apps and their positions on screen, such as, “Safari on left, Notes on right.”
Touching the screen on the left side will now take you to the app on that side of the screen, while touching the right side takes you to the app over there. In between, you should find a divider that runs up and down the screen. While focused on the divider, use the Actions rotor to adjust the divider’s position, as follows:
1. Selecting an option to shrink one of the apps will cause that app to use less space, but still be visible.
2. Selecting an option to expand an app will cause it to take up the entire screen, removing the other app.
3. Selecting the half and half option will make the two apps use the same amount of space on the screen.
If you go to the App Switcher, you will find that both apps in Split View will use one entry in the app switcher. Swiping up with three fingers will close both apps at the same time.
If there are any apps you wish to use with Split View regularly, you should place them in the Dock on your home screen. This lets you skip the initial step of opening the app first, since it will already be in the dock.
For Slide Over, the process for setting it up is similar:
1. Open the app you wish to use for Slide Over, or make sure it is in the dock.
2. Open any other app.
3. Swipe up with two fingers to bring up the dock, then focus on the app you want to open with Slide Over.
4. In the Actions rotor, select the option called Open Side App.
The app is now in a floating window on the right side of the screen, covering up the app you were using before.
Manipulating the side app is tricky. You must navigate by touch near the top left corner of the app, until you find the grabber for the app. VoiceOver announces it as, “Safari grabber,” or, “Notes grabber,” or whatever. It’s a very small item, and you must look for it by touch, because you cannot swipe to it. Once you find it, you can use the actions rotor to dismiss the app, move it to the other side of the screen, or pin it to the screen. If you move it to the left side of the screen, then the grabber will be in the upper right corner instead of the upper left, so bear that in mind. If you pin the app, then you will be in Split View mode, where the two apps on screen are placed side by side with no overlap.
If this sounds complicated, it’s because it is. It took me quite a lot of experimentation to figure out the features, and as I said above, I find the Slide Over feature to be rather pointless as a VoiceOver user. Split View is more useful, if you can get the hang of it.
Great instruction
I've updated my iPad 10.5 to iOS 11 and been looking for some instruction about working on multitasking with VoiceOver. Thank you very much for such a detailed guide.