How to use Stage Manager in iPadOS 16 - Is it actually useful?

Our detailed guide on how to use Stage Manager for iPad Pro. We explain how stage manager works, show a step-by-step guide on its functionality, and give our recommendations for getting the most out of stage manager.

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[KOKOBC]

Wow it works really well I’m my 12.9” iPad Pro 2018, I’m impressed how well this 4 year old device is holding up

[chrisbogart]

This is the absolute best tutorial on iPad stage manager I have seen. So clear and concise. Answers all my questions. Thanks

[DonKangolJones]

I was hesitant at first to try Stage Manager, since I mainly wanted to use it for the now postponed external monitor functionality. But I’ve started testing it out over the past couple of days and I’m sol on it. At first it felt messy and confusing, but with a little practice it really feels like the promise of multitasking is coming true on iPads. I use a 12.9” Pro, and do a lot of intensive photo editing, and it has worked great so far.

[SaudAlWahbi]

Gosh 😅 you are the only one who managed to explain it so simply and make me understand

[KawaiiLuckyGirl]

thanks for breaking this down so clearly. I’m a content creator and video editor, so i’m always using split view. Stage Manager seems like a great tool for multitaskers in this space.

[MyDateCoach]

As a writer I can use Nebo on the landscape mode with a wider window than the vertical mode. I can then have two research windows open I can easily toggle to of the same size. This means I won’t need to carry two tablets when I go out to write. To have different groups of screens separately able to be recalled instantly is brilliant as well. This is seriously useful but I’ve doubts about how my M1 12.9 will handle the load. It will probably do it with ease. My hope for this type of functionality is one of the reasons I purchased the iPad with the M1 chip. The iPad is my main device. Attached Keyboards for me I don’t need, they just get in the way. The iPad Pro is now my professional tool of trade. (I do have a Magic Keyboard I use occasionally.) thanks for the review, it was well laid out and helped me to quickly and easily understand the possibilities of stage manager.

[robhowen]

Good overview. I just got an iPad 12.9 for use on my boat for navigation, anchor alarm, wind, tides, etc. I'm not a big iPad user so I didn't know this functionality existed. I can see Stage Manager as helpful in having a couple of apps open and visible at once such as wind and anchor alarm while anchored or navigation charts and wind while underway. I will be giving it a try.

[shannone]

Thank you for this video! I almost bought a budget Laptop just because I needed something that can open several windows on my screen at the same time (vacation planning, research, etc) I wasn‘t looking forward to swiping up just to switch from one app to the other all the time. This is such a useful feature!

[gabe]

I have an A12z iPad. I’ve found it useful to jump between multiple applications while doing homework. But tbh, thats all its really good for. even if I had an external display to connect to, I don’t see it being any better.

[umar_m]

One thing Stage Manager has unlocked for me on iPad is the ability to have YouTube music playing in the background, even though it’s not available as a default feature on iPads without premium 😂😂

[Micahswf]

I’ve been using it on my 2018 pro 12.9 and i haven’t had any issues everything is smooth

[TTrq]

Hi! Excellent overview and tutorial on how to use Stage Manager. 😊

Not sure if you mentioned this but if you populate the “stage” with multiple windows/apps and end up seeing the side strip minimize (go away) by itself, you can usually bring it back by doing single right to left swipe with your finger starting on the left-hand side outside of the display.

[MarcosFMolina]

You could actually have Twitter in full screen, and have your music in a side card, still accessible by one swipe.
I think the usefulness of this mode comes in when you have a workflow that requires precise and quick switching between multiple app groups.

[thestumblingchef]

The side bar isn’t recent apps, it’s stages. You can switch between created stages that have multiple apps open in each

[curtisemery]

That is a very well presented demonstration of how Stage Manager works on an iPad. It’s no wonder people get turned off from using SM because it is confusing and annoying if you haven’t seen it simply explained, as it is on this video. It seems to me that SM is basically Split View’s bigger and flashier ‘older brother’, with four-window capacity rather than two, and a few other ‘tricks’. It’s annoying that Apple users have to rely on independent ‘people’ like iDB to do what they should have done in the first place — explain in simple terms how a new ‘product’ works. Thank heavens for people like iDB and Proper Honest Tech. They deserve a pat on the back.

[brentwalton]

You can also use Stage Manager and Dual Monitor support on the iPad Air 5th gen (the 2022 model with the M1 chip).

[solarflare]

I guess that Stage Manager is only for new models my 4 gen iPad Pro 9.7 does not have it. Great video.

[gmom]

Helpful. Thanks. I’ve got the pro 6th gen — stage manager was annoying at first but now i see how it can be very helpful

[oqrvhli]

Great tutorial. Very clear and didn’t wander all over the place. Direct. You can do . . .

[aslprobro]

I use the 3 window feature for work. I’m still pretty clumsy when it comes to navigating the windows and opening and closing things. But in general, I like stage manager. I still switch between it and the default setting just about every day.