Apple revamped its iPad Pro models in October 2018, and if you've put down some money for one of the 11-inch or 12.9-inch tablets since, you're going to be wanting to get the most of it – and that's where we can help with a curated collection of iPad Pro tips and tricks.
However long you've been using iOS and iPads for, you should find something that's useful in this list. From taking screenshots to getting your iPad Pro charging up a little faster, there's a tip or two to suit everyone. Start making the most of your new Apple tablet today.
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1. Get used to the iPad Pro gestures
There's no Home button on the new iPad Pros – to get home, swipe up on the home bar on the screen. Swipe up and hold to see all the apps currently open in the iPad Pro's memory.
2. Take screenshots on the iPad Pro
The lack of a Home button also means a change to the way you take screenshots on the iPad Pro: press the top Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Up button simultaneously.
3. Turn off and restart the iPad Pro
Press and hold Sleep/Wake and either Volume button together to turn the iPad Pro off. To restart, the combination is tap Volume Up, tap Volume Down, press and hold Sleep/Wake.
4. Use the iPad Pro trackpad
Did you know your iPad Pro had a trackpad? Just tap and hold on the spacebar when the software keyboard is on screen, and you can drag your finger around to move the cursor.
5. Hook up an external monitor
Your iPad Pro has a USB-C port and can power an external USB-C monitor (up to 4K) – just connect the USB-C cable and the iPad Pro takes care of the screen mirroring process.
6. Charge your other gadgets
Another benefit of that USB-C port is being able to charge your other gadgets (with the right cable). You can hook up your smartphone, for example, or your Apple Watch.
7. Charge your iPad Pro faster
Your iPad Pro comes with an 18W charger but you can juice up faster using a charger you've got for a Mac or buying such a charger from Apple. It's perfectly safe to do.
8. Tap to wake the screen
You don't have to press the Sleep/Wake button at the top to wake the screen on the new iPad Pros: just tap the display. Swipe up from the bottom for an instant Face ID unlock.
9. Switch between apps quickly
See that home bar button on the bottom of the iPad Pro interface? If you give it a brief swipe to the right or the left you can quickly jump between your recently opened apps.
10. Take selfies with depth effects
Maybe you don't take many photos on your iPad Pro, but now it has Face ID, you can create selfies with depth effects. When you're in the Camera app, change the mode to Portrait.
11. Instant Do Not Disturb
Swipe down from the top right to find Control Centre, then tap and hold Do Not Disturb (the moon): it can be enabled for an hour or more, or until you leave your current location.
12. Get on top of your Screen Time
Like other devices running iOS 12, your iPad Pro can put limits on your usage and time wasting. Choose Screen Time from the Settings menu to get the feature configured.
13. Let someone else on your iPad Pro
If you want to give another family member access to your iPad Pro, add another face to Face ID. From Settings, pick Face ID & Passcode then Set Up an Alternative Appearance.
14. Create your own Animoji
The arrival of FaceTime on the IPad Pros means you can create your own Animoji. Go to Messages, tap the Animoji (monkey) icon, then tap the plus button to get started.
15. Make use of the iPad Pro dock
The iPad Pro has a dock now – a quick swipe up from the home bar is enough to bring it up. It's an easier way of launching apps and makes it easier to multitask on your tablet.
16. Use Slide Over on the iPad Pro
With an app open in landscape mode, drag another app icon on top of it to use Slide Over. The second app runs in a window – swipe the bar at the top to hide and show it as needed.
17. Use Split Screen on the iPad Pro
If you drag that second app icon right to the edge of the screen then you get a mode called Split Screen. Use the black bar in the middle to change the split between the two apps.
18. Drag and drop text and images on the iPad Pro
Slide Over and Split Screen makes it easier to use the drag-and-drop feature on the iPad Pros: just tap and hold on a picture or block of text, then drag it into another app to copy it.
19. Boost your productivity with accessories
Get more from your iPad Pro by picking out some accessories: as far as official Apple kit goes, try the Apple Pencil (£119/$129) and the Smart Keyboard Folio (£179/$179 and up).
20. Add keyboard shortcuts to the iPad Pro
So how exactly do these accessories boost productivity? Well, an external keyboard gives you access to keyboard shortcuts like Cmd+Tab to switch apps and Cmd+Space to search.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in iPad Pro, I can provide you with tips and tricks to help you make the most of your device. Here are some concepts mentioned in the article and their explanations:
1. iPad Pro Gestures
The new iPad Pros do not have a Home button. To go back to the home screen, you can swipe up on the home bar on the screen. To see all the apps currently open in the iPad Pro's memory, swipe up and hold.
2. Taking Screenshots
Since there is no Home button on the iPad Pro, the method for taking screenshots has changed. To take a screenshot, press the top Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Up button simultaneously.
3. Turning off and Restarting the iPad Pro
To turn off the iPad Pro, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and either Volume button together. To restart the device, tap Volume Up, tap Volume Down, and then press and hold Sleep/Wake.
4. Using the iPad Pro Trackpad
The iPad Pro has a trackpad feature that allows you to move the cursor. When the software keyboard is on the screen, tap and hold on the spacebar, and you can drag your finger around to move the cursor.
5. Connecting an External Monitor
The iPad Pro has a USB-C port that can power an external USB-C monitor (up to 4K). Simply connect the USB-C cable, and the iPad Pro will take care of the screen mirroring process.
6. Charging Other Gadgets
With the USB-C port on the iPad Pro, you can charge other gadgets, such as your smartphone or Apple Watch, using the appropriate cable.
7. Charging the iPad Pro Faster
While the iPad Pro comes with an 18W charger, you can charge it faster by using a charger from a Mac or purchasing a compatible charger from Apple.
8. Tap to Wake the Screen
You can wake the screen on the new iPad Pros by simply tapping the display, eliminating the need to press the Sleep/Wake button at the top. For an instant Face ID unlock, swipe up from the bottom.
9. Switching Between Apps Quickly
By giving a brief swipe to the right or left on the home bar button at the bottom of the iPad Pro interface, you can quickly jump between your recently opened apps.
10. Taking Selfies with Depth Effects
With Face ID on the iPad Pro, you can take selfies with depth effects. In the Camera app, change the mode to Portrait to create selfies with a blurred background.
11. Instant Do Not Disturb
To quickly enable Do Not Disturb mode, swipe down from the top right to access Control Centre, then tap and hold the Do Not Disturb (moon) icon. You can set it to be enabled for a specific duration or until you leave your current location.
12. Managing Screen Time
Like other devices running iOS 12, the iPad Pro has a feature called Screen Time that allows you to set limits on your usage and manage your time effectively. You can find Screen Time in the Settings menu.
13. Adding Another Face to Face ID
If you want to give another family member access to your iPad Pro, you can add their face to Face ID. Go to Settings, select Face ID & Passcode, and then set up an alternative appearance.
14. Creating Animoji
With the arrival of FaceTime on the iPad Pro, you can create your own Animoji. Open Messages, tap the Animoji (monkey) icon, and then tap the plus button to get started.
15. Using the iPad Pro Dock
The iPad Pro now has a dock that can be accessed by swiping up from the home bar. It provides an easier way to launch apps and makes multitasking on your tablet more convenient.
16. Using Slide Over
With an app open in landscape mode, you can drag another app icon on top of it to use Slide Over. The second app runs in a window, and you can swipe the bar at the top to hide or show it as needed.
17. Using Split Screen
If you drag the second app icon right to the edge of the screen, you can activate Split Screen mode. The black bar in the middle allows you to adjust the split between the two apps.
18. Dragging and Dropping Text and Images
Slide Over and Split Screen make it easier to use the drag-and-drop feature on the iPad Pro. Simply tap and hold on a picture or block of text, then drag it into another app to copy it.
19. Boosting Productivity with Accessories
To enhance your iPad Pro experience, you can consider using accessories such as the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard Folio. These official Apple accessories can help you get more out of your device.
20. Adding Keyboard Shortcuts
By connecting an external keyboard to your iPad Pro, you can access keyboard shortcuts that can boost your productivity. For example, you can use Cmd+Tab to switch between apps and Cmd+Space to search. I hope these tips and tricks help you make the most of your iPad Pro! Let me know if you have any further questions.
