Gmail has finally updated its Gmail app for iPad, adding the long-awaited Split View support for iOS.
Now you don’t need to open a full Gmail screen to check or send new emails, you can use Gmail and Google Calendar at the same so you can check a date before replying to an email to confirm a meeting. You could also browse Google Photos and drag and drop your choice into an email, all without leaving Gmail.
Apple announced the Split View feature in 2015 as part of iOS 9 but it has taken the tech developers forever to catch up, Google says the feature is now available to all G Suite and personal Google Account users and will be switched on by default.
This is how Google announced the introduction of Split View support:
“When using an iPad, you’re now able to multitask with Gmail and other iOS applications. You can use Gmail and Google Calendar at the same time with Split View to check your schedule before replying to an email to confirm a meeting time. Or, you can easily drag and drop pictures from Google Photos into an email without leaving Gmail.”
The Split View feature will work with any iOS app that supports Split View multitasking and Google recommends that users enable keyboard shortcuts for Gmail on their iPads for even greater efficiency whilst multitasking.
How to multitask with Split View on iPad:
Firstly you need to ensure that multitasking is enabled, follow the steps below to do this:
- Go to Settings
- Home Screen & Dock
- Multitasking
- Allow Multiple Apps
To use Gmail with Split View:
- Open Gmail
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the dock
- Touch and hold another app icon, drag it up to the left or right of your screen and release it