How to see open apps on iPad

To view open apps on iPad, you need to open App Switcher. If you have a modern iPad model, you probably don’t have the apps listed on the home screen. You must swipe up to open the Dock and see the applications you want to open. These swipe gestures are all you need to open App Switcher and see the currently running apps. They can help you save time and work more productively when you can see the apps that are currently open on your iPad.

This article reveals these gestures and explains how to use them to view open apps on iPad.

View open apps on iPad

Being able to see the apps currently open on your iPad allows you to quickly and easily switch between them, improving productivity. To do this efficiently, you need to access the App Switcher tool. Here’s how to locate it:

1. Go to the bottom of the iPad screen, swipe up, and stop your finger in the middle of the screen. If you have an older iPad model, press the home button twice to see open apps.
   
2. The most recently used applications will appear on the screen first. To see the apps you opened previously, swipe the screen to the right. Thumbnails of previously opened applications will appear.
   
3. When you find the app you want to access, tap it once.
   

Open running apps on newer iPads

To open running apps on your device, you need to see the Dock. If you have the latest iPad model, including iPad Air or iPad Pro, you won’t have to press a button on the home screen to do this. Therefore, you can open the Dock like this:

1. Activate your device by touching anywhere on the screen.
   
2. Alternatively, press the power button to wake the device from sleep mode.
   
3. Unlock your iPad with Face ID.
   

Modern iPad models keep the most used apps on the left side of the Dock. The most recently opened applications are on the right side. On the far right there will be a button that opens the App Library, which shows the location and category of all the apps on the iPad. Open the apps you need to see from the Dock.

How to use Shelf to locate open windows for an application

When working on iPad, you’ll most likely open more than one app at a time. Opening new windows is easy. However, finding windows for an open app you are working with on your device can be difficult. Fortunately, an iPadOS 15 or later comes with a new feature called Shelf. It works like the Dock but only for one application at a time. For example, if you’re working in Notes, the Bookshelf can show you other Notes pages that you might want to access. You can just tap one and go straight to it. Please note that Shelf only works with certain browsers such as Notes, Reminders or News, such as Safari or Chrome. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open an app. If you see three dots at the top, the app supports the Shelf feature.
   
2. Touch the three points. A series of small windows will appear at the bottom of the screen.
   
3. Tap the window you want to switch to. Additionally, you can select “New Window” to open other pages within the same application.
   
4. To close a window, slide it up.
   

Another option is to touch and hold the app icon and select “Show all windows.”

If you don’t get what you want with Shelf, try the App Switcher tool again: swipe up from the bottom and pause the idle screen. Shows open applications and their windows. And if you’ve opened many windows for an app, App Switcher will place a small Windows icon near it. If you tap on it, all the windows of that particular app will become visible. This includes full screen windows, slides, and split view.

How to disable recently used apps in the Dock

If you’re using a modern or older version of iPad, disable recently used apps like this:

1. Open the “Settings” menu on your iPad.
   
2. Navigate to “Home screen and multitasking” and select it.
   
3. Locate “Show suggested and recent apps in the Dock” and toggle the switch to “Off.”
   

You can also turn off the App Library by turning “Show App Library in Dock” to “Off.”

What to do if the dock refuses to open

Throughout these instructions, you will have realized how vital the Dock is. If it refuses to open or freezes when you touch it once, you won’t be able to see open apps or other things. So, here’s what you should do when the Dock freezes:

• Press the power button and stop when you see the slider to turn off the screen.
• If the screen freezes, press the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons. Stop when you see the Apple logo on your screen.
• You can reset your iPad if the Dock gets stuck or freezes. Go to “Settings”, “General”, “Reset” and “Reset all settings”. However, back up your data first as this may delete some apps and settings from your device.
• Update your iPads by tapping “Settings,” “General,” and “Software Update.”

Other swipe gestures you should know

Close an open application

If your iPad doesn’t have a home button, swipe up and stop halfway across the screen to close the current app and view the home screen.

View Control Center

Control Center contains Airplane Mode, Bluetooth, Mobile Data, Wi-Fi, Flashlight, etc. Therefore, Control Center is the most used menu on an iOS device. To view it, swipe down from the top right corner.

Review notifications

Swipe down from the top of the screen when you receive a notification and want to see it. A list with various notifications will appear. Choose the one you want to read.

Find a hidden app

If you can’t find an app but need to open it, swipe down from the center of the iPad screen. A search box will open which you can use to locate the missing application. Swipe left to return to the home screen.

Frequently asked questions

How can I find open apps on Android?

If you own one of the latest Android phones, swipe up from the bottom corner of the screen. Activate the App Switcher tool by tapping the three vertical lines icon or the physical navigation buttons on your phone. Then, swipe right or left to view open apps. Swipe up on a recently used app window to close it.

How can you enable the Apple Pay app if your iPad is new?

Tap the power button twice to enable Apple Pay. An Apple Pay screen will appear so you can buy things online from your iPad.

Can I see recent activity on iPad?

You can view recent activity on your iPad by tapping the “Settings” app. Then, choose “Screen Time.” After that, tap “Day” to see the daily usage summary or “Week” to check how you use your iPad each week.

View open apps on iPad

Modern iPads are easy to navigate using swipe and tap gestures. If you want to see all the apps you’ve opened on your iPad, swipe to the center of the screen and hold lightly to open App Switcher. Then swipe left or right to view open apps, split views, and sliding windows. You can also see all the windows you have opened for a given app using App Switcher or Shelf.