Here are some tips to help you turn your iPad into a productivity machine.
1. Open the Notes App With Your Apple Pencil
The Apple Pencil is a great tool and accessory for your iPad. There are many apps for the Apple Pencil that can help you make the most out of your iPad, but you can start by using first-party apps like the Notes app.
With the Apple Pencil, you can take notes as if you were writing on a notepad. Moreover, you can use your Apple Pencil to instantly open the Notes app, even if your iPad is locked, which is a perfect way to start jotting down notes for school or work.
All you need to do is grab your Apple Pencil and tap your iPad’s screen when it’s turned off. Your iPad will automatically open a new note where you can start writing or drawing whatever you want.
The best part is that your iPad will still be locked. So if someone else uses your iPad to write a note, they won’t be able to access your other notes or private data.
2. Start Using Quick Notes
Your iPad and Mac have a feature called Quick Notes. As you can guess by the name, it’ll let you instantly open a note no matter what app you’re using.
You need iPadOS 15 or a later software update to use Quick Notes on your iPad. Then, you have to enable Quick Note by doing the following:
Open the Settings app. On the left side menu, scroll down and select Apple Pencil. Under Pencil Gestures. Tap Left Corner Swipe or Right Corner Swipe. Select Quick Note.
And that’s it. Now all you need to do is swipe with your finger or Apple Pencil from the corner you chose to the middle of the screen, and a new Note will pop up. You can keep the same note or make your iPad always open a new Quick Note.
3. Master Split View and Slide Over
Both Split View and Slide Over are perfect features to help you boost your productivity with just a few taps. Both features let you have up to two apps on your screen at once.
With Split View, both apps will share half of your screen estate. And if you use Slide Over, one app will be available on full screen while the other one will be “floating” on the right or left side of your screen at a smaller size.
To use Split View or Slide Over, you need to do the following:
Open any app your want. Tap the three-dot button at the top of the app. Select the Split View button in the middle of the menu. Or tap the Slide Over button on the right side of the menu. You’ll be redirected to your Home Screen, where you can choose the other app you want to use.
And that’s it. You’ll immediately use both apps in Split View or Slide Over. Keep in mind that not every app supports these features. If you don’t see the three-dot button at the top of the app, that means it won’t support Split View or Slide Over.
To exit Split View or Slide Over, tap the three-dot button at the top of the app, and then select the Full-Screen button on the left side of the menu.
4. Find and Use the Right Safari Extensions
Apple has made Safari extensions available on the iPhone and iPad. That means you can use the same extensions you normally use on your Mac and boost your productivity on the go.
There are many great Safari extensions for iPhone and iPad you can download for free. All you need to do is search for them like this:
Open the Settings app. Scroll down and select Safari. On the right side, scroll down again and select Extensions. Tap More Extensions.
You’ll be redirected to the App Store, where you can find and download any apps with a Safari extension. You can try any app you want, and if you don’t like it, you can quickly disable and delete and Safari extension from the Settings app.
5. Take Advantage of Live Text
Apple’s Live Text is a powerful iPhone, iPad, and Mac feature. To put it simply, this feature will let you copy any text from a photo or image you have on your iPad, making it easier than ever to copy and share notes with other people. .
Before using Live Text, you need to ensure this feature is available. Just do the following:
Open the Settings app. Scroll down and go to General. On the right side, tap Language & Region. Toggle Live Text on if you need to.
Now, you can go to the photos app, open any app with text and select the text you want to copy by pressing and holding it. Next, just select Copy.
Live Text is a great feature, but it can be annoying sometimes. The good news is that you can turn off Live Text when you don’t need it.
6. Use Focus Mode to Avoid Distractions
With Apple’s Focus mode, you can easily block annoying notifications so you can focus on your work, your family, or yourself.
Focus Mode works similarly to Do Not Disturb, but you can create a Focus mode for each important area of your life like this:
Open the Settings app. Select Focus. Tap the + icon to create your own Focus mode. Follow the onscreen instructions to create your Focus mode.
There are many Focus modes you can try to make the most out of this feature, so use anyone that works best for you.
To use Focus Mode, you need to access your iPad’s Control Center by swiping from the top right corner of the screen. From there, tap Focus and select the Focus mode you want to use.
Take Your Productivity to the Next Level
Apple is trying to make the iPad a worth MacBook replacement. And while most of us like using a computer to work, these iPad features will surely help you become more productive in no time. You can try them and find which features work best for you.
