Which iPads Are Compatible?

Stage Manager is compatible with the following iPad models or newer:

• iPad Pro 12.9” (3rd generation or later)
• iPad Pro 11” (1st generation or later)
• iPad Air (5th generation or later)

For more details, see: https://support.apple.com

Activating and Using Stage Manager

When you utilize Stage Manager, you can easily resize windows to achieve your desired layout and view multiple overlapping windows simultaneously.

At first glance, Stage Manager appears to focus solely on window management, but it also serves as an app manager. Consider a stage as a collection of apps that you frequently use together. For instance, while writing in Ulysses, Safari can remain open in the background, forming a cohesive stage for your workflow.

The app windows can overlap, allowing you to switch between them by simply tapping on the desired window. Although only one app receives keyboard input at a time, all active apps remain responsive. For example, if you hover your cursor over another window with a trackpad or mouse, you can scroll through it without changing the focus.

The dock maintains its usual position at the bottom of the screen (if space allows), but a new feature emerges: stages of apps displayed in a column on the left side, contingent on specific conditions:

• The user desires to view stages.
• There is adequate screen space.

What Can You Use a Stage For?

Creating a writing stage is one of the many uses for this feature.

To enable Stage Manager, simply access the Control Panel or Settings on a compatible iPad.

Long-pressing the Control Panel icon for Stage Manager reveals additional options.

You can toggle the visibility of the Dock and Stage Manager through simple checks.

What Occurs After Activation?

The experience post-activation can be unpredictable but becomes manageable with understanding.

When Stage Manager is enabled, the display varies based on your previous actions:

• If no app was in use, the screen remains blank.
• If an app was active, it will shrink and center itself on the display.

This behavior also varies by device:

• On a 10.9” or 11” iPad, the active app will shrink and center.
• On a 12.9” iPad, the active app shrinks, but Stage Manager will appear on the left if in landscape mode.

To reveal Stage Manager when it’s hidden, swipe from the left edge of the screen.

Creating Additional Stages

If you have apps running in the background upon activating Stage Manager, each app will transform into a stage, with the active app’s window serving as the focal stage.

To create more stages, simply launch another app from the dock, which will create a new stage.

Alternatively, you can employ Siri search by pressing Command + Space and typing the app’s name. When the icon appears, tap it to create a new stage.

You can also swipe up with four fingers to hide the current stage, then launch another app to create a new stage.

Switching Between Stages

The simplest way to switch stages is to select an app already in a stage. For example, if you have a stage with Mail and Safari, choosing either from the Dock will transition you to that stage.

To view Stage Manager, it must be displayed. On smaller iPads, swipe from the left side. On a 12.9” iPad, Stage Manager may already be visible; simply tap on the desired stage.

Adding Apps to a Stage

You can only add apps to the current stage. Ensure Stage Manager is visible and select the stage you wish to update.

To add another app:

• Use the dot menu from the window's title bar and select "Add Another Window."
• Tap and drag an app from the Dock onto the screen.
• Utilize Siri search to find and drag an app onto the screen.

Note that an app can only exist in one stage at a time; if it’s moved, it will be removed from its previous stage.

Removing Apps from a Stage

In each window’s title bar, an icon with three dots offers removal options. You can either minimize the app, which will create another stage, or close it entirely.

Moving Apps Between Stages

Simply add the app to the desired stage, and it will automatically be removed from its previous location.

Window Management Insights

Stage Manager’s window management system differs from macOS's, as it intentionally limits user actions. Apple likely anticipates that most users operate without a mouse, making overlapping windows more challenging on smaller screens.

How to Resize Windows

If a window is not in full-screen mode, a resizing handle will appear at either the bottom-left or bottom-right corner, depending on available screen space.

Constraints on Window Sizes and Positions

A Stage Manager window cannot be freely positioned on the screen:

• No part of a window can extend off-screen.
• Full-screen windows cannot be moved.

In Portrait Mode

• A single app window in a stage is always centered.
• If windows are narrow enough to fit side-by-side, they cannot overlap without resizing.

You can maximize any app window to full width or full screen by dragging the resizing handle.

In Landscape Mode

• You have precise control over window width beyond a minimum threshold, enabling partial overlap.
• On a 12.9” iPad, Stage Manager will appear automatically.
• On smaller iPads, it requires a swipe from the left.

Vertical Sizing and Positioning

Windows cannot be smaller than a certain height, and they can only occupy designated vertical positions. If you attempt to place a window outside these limits, iPadOS will reposition it to the nearest acceptable location.

Activating Full-Screen Mode

You can make an app full screen by:

• Using the dot menu.
• Dragging the resizing handle to a screen corner.

When an app enters full-screen mode, the Dock, Stage Manager, and other apps disappear, but a resize handle remains visible for reverting the window size.

Who Benefits from Stage Manager?

Stage Manager is not designed for casual users who primarily check email or browse social media. It is tailored for those seeking a more productive experience, using their iPads akin to laptops.

While having a 12.9” iPad Pro enhances the experience, Stage Manager remains effective on any model, particularly in landscape orientation. However, I recommend pairing it with a keyboard and pointing device for optimal use, as the virtual keyboard can clutter the screen.

Stage Manager excels when utilized with an external monitor, making it less necessary to invest in a larger iPad for many users. The additional screen real estate provided by external monitors can be substantial.

Final Thoughts

Apple has perhaps over-engineered Stage Manager, intertwining app management, window management, and external monitor support, complicating tasks that computers have executed seamlessly for years.

This complexity may stem from an intention to cater to users preferring a keyboard-free experience. However, this could alienate a larger user base that has awaited efficient functionality for years.

Personally, I use my 12.9” iPad Pro with an external monitor for my workflow. The convenience of detaching the iPad when on the go, combined with the Magic Keyboard, ensures I always have a reliable input method.

While a laptop is a viable option, I appreciate the straightforward and focused experience the iPad offers. The exceptional display and the Apple Pencil enhance my note-taking and drawing tasks.

Though I find my current setup sufficient, I recognize that others may desire more robust applications. There's no reason developers can't meet this demand, so let's hope for future advancements.