Revert Mail app split-screen display

I hate the new layout of my mail on my iPad after the latest ios update, how can I revert to the old style where I click on an email and it fills the screen as opposed to staying in a split screen display ?


iPad Pro, iPadOS 18

Posted on Dec 1, 2025 6:41 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 1, 2025 7:06 AM

Presumably you have updated your iPad from iPadOS 18.x to iPadOS 26. Ensure that you have updated to the most recent version - at the time of writing, this being iPadOS 16.1.


The three dot button to control multitasking is still present - but is visually now a traffic-light button. The button location has changed. Instead of being top-centre of the App window (a location which frequently conflicted with controls for many third-party Apps - of which regular complaint was seen here), the button is now at top-left of App windows that are not being viewed in full screen mode.


For Apps that are being viewed in full screen mode, a simple downward swipe from the top-edge of the screen reveals the new menu bar - where the button is located at the left.


In more detail, iPadOS multitasking has received a significant makeover from that to which you may be accustomed in iPadOS 18.x and earlier - and may take a little time to learn and adjust your workflows. You would be well advised to review the official iPadOS User Guide and the many available online tutorials (such as YouTube) to become better acquainted with the new multitasking interface and associated gestures and controls.

Work with multiple windows at once on iPad - Apple Support

OS - iPadOS 26 - Apple


Split View and Slide Over views remain - although are accessed and control differently. You can have two or three App windows side-by-side - or a spit the screen into four quadrants.


To access, assuming that the current App window is not maximised; touch-and-hold the traffic-light icon at top-left of the App window to expose the Fill & Arrange options:






The current App window will move aside, allowing you to open another App; the selected view will open the selected Apps in their own windows - which can be resized laterally, as before, by dragging the divider to left or right.


If the App window is already maximised, swipe downwards from the top-edge of the screen to expose the new menu bar - then use the traffic-light icon as described above.




Remember, for iPadOS 26, you have a configuration choice to use Full Screen Apps only, use Windowed Apps, or Stage Manager mode as you prefer:

Settings > Multitasking & Gestures - select your preferred multitasking mode



1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 1, 2025 7:06 AM in response to Glam-puss

Presumably you have updated your iPad from iPadOS 18.x to iPadOS 26. Ensure that you have updated to the most recent version - at the time of writing, this being iPadOS 16.1.


The three dot button to control multitasking is still present - but is visually now a traffic-light button. The button location has changed. Instead of being top-centre of the App window (a location which frequently conflicted with controls for many third-party Apps - of which regular complaint was seen here), the button is now at top-left of App windows that are not being viewed in full screen mode.


For Apps that are being viewed in full screen mode, a simple downward swipe from the top-edge of the screen reveals the new menu bar - where the button is located at the left.


In more detail, iPadOS multitasking has received a significant makeover from that to which you may be accustomed in iPadOS 18.x and earlier - and may take a little time to learn and adjust your workflows. You would be well advised to review the official iPadOS User Guide and the many available online tutorials (such as YouTube) to become better acquainted with the new multitasking interface and associated gestures and controls.

Work with multiple windows at once on iPad - Apple Support

OS - iPadOS 26 - Apple


Split View and Slide Over views remain - although are accessed and control differently. You can have two or three App windows side-by-side - or a spit the screen into four quadrants.


To access, assuming that the current App window is not maximised; touch-and-hold the traffic-light icon at top-left of the App window to expose the Fill & Arrange options:






The current App window will move aside, allowing you to open another App; the selected view will open the selected Apps in their own windows - which can be resized laterally, as before, by dragging the divider to left or right.


If the App window is already maximised, swipe downwards from the top-edge of the screen to expose the new menu bar - then use the traffic-light icon as described above.




Remember, for iPadOS 26, you have a configuration choice to use Full Screen Apps only, use Windowed Apps, or Stage Manager mode as you prefer:

Settings > Multitasking & Gestures - select your preferred multitasking mode



Revert Mail app split-screen display

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