YouTube App Update Brings New Multitasking Features To iPad Users

The latest update to the YouTube iOS app has brought some highly-anticipated new multitasking features to iPad viewers.

On compatible iPads, YouTube users can now use the ‘slide over’ and ‘split screen’ multitasking features. ‘Slide over’, accessed by swiping right from the edge of an iPad, brings up a new column of apps that can be accessed at the same time as another app, taking up one-third of the screen. Though accessed similarly, ‘split screen’ essentially divides the iPad in half, meaning that now you can watch YouTube videos and, say, scroll through social media at the same time.

Of note however is that the third new multitasking feature for iPads, ‘picture in picture’ — which allows users to shrink videos into a tiny square while accessing other apps — is not supported by the latest app update, Mac Rumors reports.

Of course, YouTube Red also offers a ‘background play’ feature, which allows mobile users to listen to YouTube videos while using other apps or even while the screen is shuttered.

‘Split view’ is compatible with the iPad Air 2, both iPad Pros, and the iPad mini 4, while ‘slide over’ is compatible with the iPad Air and up, the iPad mini 2 and up, and both iPad Pros, according to Mac Rumors.