Microsoft Testing iPadOS Multi-Window Support in Word and PowerPoint

Since iPadOS 13 was released last year, Apple has included native suppport for opening two or more windows in the same application to view them side by side.

Since then, more and more third-party apps have been building in multi-window support, and now Microsoft is beta testing its own versions for Word and PowerPoint on iPad.

microsoft multi window support word powerpoint
The ability to display two documents next to each other is particularly useful for comparing two versions of the same document or keeping an eye on your reference notes while working. Similarly, PowerPoint support would let users cross-reference presentation slides on the same screen.

In a blog post, Microsoft details three ways to access multi-window support in Word and PowerPoint for ‌iPad‌:

  • Touch, hold, and drag a file from the Recent, Shared, and Open file list in the app to the ‌iPad‌ screen edge to open it side-by-side.
  • In Word or PowerPoint, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and open the dock. Then touch and hold the same app’s icon and drag it off the dock to the left or right edge of the screen. Then tap the document to open it.
  • In Word or PowerPoint, access the Recent, Shared, and Open views in the app start screen, tap the "…" menu for a file in the list, then tap Open in New Window.

Microsoft hasn't said when the multi-window support will be available to all users, but it surely can't be long now, given that the same feature was demoed at WWDC 2019 for Microsoft Word.

Anyone interested in trying out the new feature will need to join the Office Insider program and download beta versions of Word and PowerPoint through Testflight.

Top Rated Comments

MakeAppleAwesomeAgain Avatar
51 months ago
As I'm writing this I have windows opened of Safari, Slack, Telegram, VSCode, Firefox, Terminal and Finder. I can't see how I'm ever gonna migrate my workflow to iPadOS. This week I tried watching a tutorial and making notes at the same time on an iPad Air. It took me 3 minutes to understand multitasking and it was totally unworkable. It has absolutely nothing to do with screen size, they can make a 17" iPad and it would still suck because iOS was never built for multitasking.

It's unbelievable how some features in their software are pure genius (both in macOS and iOS) but how they can't get multitasking right outside of macOS. I truly hope macOS stays around for a long time and gets the love it deserves, it by far the finest OS ever created.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unami Avatar
51 months ago
unfortunately, multitasking on the ipad sucks pretty hard.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDento Avatar
51 months ago

As I'm writing this I have windows opened of Safari, Slack, Telegram, VSCode, Firefox, Terminal and Finder. I can't see how I'm ever gonna migrate my workflow to iPadOS. This week I tried watching a tutorial and making notes at the same time on an iPad Air. It took me 3 minutes to understand multitasking and it was totally unworkable. It has absolutely nothing to do with screen size, they can make a 17" iPad and it would still suck because iOS was never built for multitasking.

It's unbelievable how some features in their software are pure genius (both in macOS and iOS) but how they can't get multitasking right outside of macOS. I truly hope macOS stays around for a long time and gets the love it deserves, it by far the finest OS ever created.
You had Terminal window opened, iPadOS isn’t for you.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ubuntu Avatar
51 months ago

This. "I have a very specific workflow that works well on macOS but doesn't on iPadOS; therefore, iPadOS multitasking is bad" is a weird leap. iPadOS multitasking has problems, but it not being exactly the same thing as macOS ain't one of them.
I don’t think the two are connected. iPadOS multitasking is not intuitive imo, even if you don’t approach it as a macOS user. I don’t think iPadOS should just ape macOS but I do think it’s a mess when it comes to multitasking, mainly as it’s heavily gesture based with very little feedback as to what’s possible and what isn’t.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JackieTreehorn Avatar
51 months ago
Took them long enough...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dockedFile Avatar
51 months ago
FFS, please make a full-fledged excel. The iPad is a very capable device to have a full excel experience and with the new mouse support, it's a no-brainer at this point.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
iPhone Home Screen Gradient Blank Spaces 1

Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
iPad Pro 2024 Landscape Camera Feature

New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera

Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
sonoma desktop wwdc

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌ 14.4‌.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...