How to Customize Stage Manager on iPad

Learn to manage multitasking on your iPad. Configure Stage Manager settings to optimize your window layout, app visibility, and external display workspace.

1. Enable Stage Manager from Control Center. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPad screen to open Control Center. Tap the Stage Manager icon, which resembles a rectangle with three smaller dots on the left side, to toggle the feature on.
2. Access Stage Manager settings. Open the Settings app on your iPad. Navigate to the Multitasking & Gestures menu in the left sidebar to view configuration options specifically for Stage Manager.
3. Toggle Recent Apps and Dock visibility. Within the Multitasking & Gestures menu, toggle the switches for Recent Apps and Dock. Enabling these keeps your recent application groups and bottom dock visible on the left side of the screen; disabling them hides these elements for a full-screen workspace.
4. Modify external display settings. If an external monitor is connected, locate the External Display section in the same menu. Toggle the 'Enable Stage Manager on External Display' switch to extend your workspace across both screens rather than mirroring your iPad display.
5. Manage app windows. Drag the bottom-right corner of any open application window to resize it. To move a window, tap and drag the three-dot icon at the top center of the window to reposition it anywhere on your stage.