Gmail for iOS Finally Supports Split-View Multitasking – Already Available to G Suite Customers & Personal Google Accounts
Last updated September 23, 2021
- Google's Gmail app can finally be used alongside other iOS/iPadOS apps via Apple’s Split-View feature.
- This allows you to upgrade your productivity, as Gmail also supports various types of data transfers between different apps.
- To make use of this feature, make sure to update your Gmail app – as it’s already available worldwide and for all Google/G Suite accounts.
Back in 2015, Apple introduced iOS 9, which reached the company’s smartphone and tablet lineups. This event marked the beginning of an era of iPads being marketed as productivity tools with the potential to replace your laptop. One of the key features of iOS 9 was the ability to work in two apps side-by-side. You’d imagine that third-parties would rush to implement this option into their apps – but that wasn’t the case with Google (luckily, the company was quick to introduce its ‘Material Theme’ on time). And now, after four years of waiting, Gmail can finally be used alongside other iOS/iPadOS apps.
The long-running complaint of Gmail for iOS/iPadOS not supporting split-view has finally been addressed. This means that you can now select the Gmail app and open it alongside any other app (that supports split-view, of course). It's easy to see that an option like this one is crucial for email clients, as it allows you to check your calendar, work/productivity apps, and search through your files – all while replying to email messages.
It's also worth mentioning that this update includes full support for split-view on the part of the Gmail app. It means that you can do more than just open two apps side-by-side. In other words, you can transfer any file between the apps you have open on your screen. Want to add a photo from the Photos app? Or maybe you'd like to upload a file from your iCloud Drive (by the way, Gmail now detects 99.9% of malicious document extensions)? Well, all of these actions (and plenty more) are now supported as well.
Keep in mind that multitasking can be disabled/enabled via your iPad's Settings app. So, if you're not able to use apps side-by-side, go to Settings > Home Screen & Dock > Multitasking. Then, make sure this option is enabled. Once you’re all set, swipe up from the bottom of your iPad’s screen while Gmail is active (actively open) and drag another app from the Dock to the screen. You’ll immediately see these two apps open side-by-side, and you can fine-tune your experience by dragging the black line across the screen to adjust each apps’ layout.
As per Google's statement, this feature is already available worldwide, and it includes both G Suite customers and personal Google accounts. To access this new feature, you need to make sure that your Gmail app is updated. So, keep your finger on the App Store icon and choose 'Updates' if you'd like to check for new app updates manually.
Related
Most Popular
Most Popular