Have you got a new iPad these holidays and are wondering how to make the most out of it? In that case, you need to look at the 11 most effective iPad tips that we’re about to discuss.
Holiday season 2021 kicked off with a bang. With Apple celebrating the holidays at its physical and virtual stores all around the world, launching the Holiday Gift Guide alongside personalised holiday cards, a significant number of users opted to initiate their journey with the Apple ecosystem. For that matter of fact, X-Mas 2021 alone saw a considerable hike in the number of new iPad owners.
While long-time users usually know how to toggle around the different iPad features, scenes get complicated for first-time owners. To help them get off to a great start, I’ve compiled the list of the 11 best tips with which they can enhance the overall productivity of their iPad.
Before we begin: sort out all the protective needs
Before you start operating on the new iPad, you must be done checking all the protective needs. Start by safeguarding your device against accidental damages. Get yourself a hard protective cover alongside screen protectors that can ensure all-around safety, at least from the external end.
Here are some top-class leather cases and paper like screen protectors designed to serve the purpose of keeping iPads safe without harming the premium nature.
Getting the external security sorted isn’t enough, as it is equally vital to safeguard your iPad and its content from the inside as well. What I’m trying to say is that you should consider using the passcode, face unlocks, or whatever features Apple provides to shield all the personal information that your iPad holds.
Now that you’ve all the basic security needs checked, it is time I walk you through the tips that can help you bring the most out of your new iPad. But before doing that, Are you new to the Apple ecosystem? If yes, you need to check out our beginner’s guide to set up an iPad, iPad Air, or iPad Pro in the most promising manner.
11 tips to make the most out of your new iPad
Keeping Your iPad’s Screen Clean
No one really likes having a cluttered iPad Home Screen with apps sitting in an ill-mannered way. Although you’ve got the option to rearrange everything manually, little we intend to invest time doing that. Luckily, there exists an easy and effective way out.
I’m talking about the App Library, which was made available on the iPad alongside the iPadOS 15. With the help of the App Library, Apple ensured that users could have instant access to the list of well-organized apps on their iPad without creating a mess.
Getting started with the App library is pretty straightforward; all you need to do is swipe all the way to the end of your Home Screen pages. App Library is an automatic utility that organizes all the available apps into varied categories like Entertainment, Health, Social Media, Games and prepares them for instant access.
Pro Tip: Deleting your Home Screen pages in bulk or getting them rearranged can be painful if the appropriate approach is unknown. However, once you know how it is done, it’s hard to find yourself in trouble again; here is what you’ll need to do:
- Find and long-press on an empty area of the Home Screen.
- After that, tap on the row of dots located at the bottom of the display.
- From there, you can tap on the checkmark followed by clicking the “-” icon to delete them or simply drag the Home Screen pages to rearrange them.
Get the Control Center Organized
Are you done organizing your iPad home screen already? Well then, it is time you set up the Control Center. Swipe down from the top right corner of your home screen to get yourself inside the Control Center.
It loads up with shortcuts that come in handy every day. From adjusting the brightness and Volume to turning the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on and off, there is a lot you can do. You can also effortlessly customize the Control Center and choose the shortcuts that you want to have at your fingertips.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Navigate to Control Center on the side menu.
- Add or Remove controls as your desire to make the window more organized.
Dragging Texts Between Apps
In case you don’t know, iPad users can move text from one app to another simply employing the drag and drop gesture. So instead of just copying and pasting text to and from apps, you can simply select a desired block of text and drag the same to another app seamlessly. Sounds interesting, right? Let’s now see how you can do it.
- Start off by long pressing and selecting the text that you wish to move from one app to another.
- Once done, drag and adjust the two little bars for getting the exact section of the text selected.
- While you’re on the highlighted text, long press to pull it up from the current page.
- Make sure to keep one of you your finger on the text while using the other to launch up the desired app to which you want to transfer the text.
- As soon as you navigate to that app, release your finger, and the selected text will get pasted over.
Taking Notes at Will Using the Quick Notes Feature
As the name suggests, Quick Notes is an amazing feature designed to help users take down notes without even launching the Notes app. No matter whether you own an Apple Pencil or not, you can access it at any instance by simply employing a quick gesture.
Whether you are on your Home Screen on inside an app, swipe up diagonally from the very right-hand corner of the screen and launch Quick Notes. There are other ways of accessing Quick Notes:
- Tapping on the Notes icon
- Using the Globe key + Q keyboard shortcut
- Tapping the Apple Pencil on the iPad’s locked screen
- As soon as you make your way inside Quick Notes, you can take down your notes or simply write them down with Apple Pencil.
- In case you wish to hide the Quick Note utility, all you need to do is swipe to collapse it back to the side.
- Once you’re finished writing your pieces of stuff down, click on the option that says “Done.”
Are you having trouble using Quick Notes? Here is how you can fix it.
Translating Texts On the Go
Just how Apple made dragging texts between apps seamless, the iPad owners are also blessed by a system-wide translation feature with which they can select a text located anywhere on the iPad screen and get it translated right away.
With this feature, you can effortlessly translate content that sits on your iPad. Bringing the Live Text functionality makes the on-the-go translations even more efficient as it automatically recognizes all of the text in photos and translates that. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that the feature works as long as there is an active internet connection.
- At first, you’ll need to select the desired text by long-pressing it. Make sure to adjust the blue bars and select the exact section of the text.
- Once you’re done, gently tap on the selected text.
- From the bar that pops up, look for the option that says “Translate” and tap on it.
- Now, wait for a few seconds for the translated text to appear on a small window that usually sits to the side.
Using Text Shortcuts
Are you someone who tends to use the same texts quite often? If that is so, it is quite evident for you to fall in love with the Text Replacement feature. With this feature, you can type in just a few characters and let your device automatically replace them with the desired full text.
- Navigate to Settings, and tap Auto-Correction.
- From there, turn on the Text Replacement.
- After that, click on the Replacements List, then tap on the + icon.
- You’ll then come across a Phrase field where the desired word or phrase should be typed in.
- Now inside the Shortcut field, type the letters or the characters you want to trade the replacement with.
- Click on the option that says Save.
- In case you fail to find the Save button, try employing a different combination of characters.
- Finally, tap on the outside section of the controls to close them.
Employing Widgets for Seamless Operations
Widgets are of great utility as it displays the current information from all your favorite apps at a glance. From top-notch headlines to weather reports, from calendar events to even battery levels, you can use widgets on your iPad and keep all the desired information at your fingertips. There are indeed a number of apps, both from Apple and third-party sources, that come with widgets to place on the iPad Home Screen or get them viewed from the Today screen.
- Firstly, hold down and long press on any empty space on the Home Screen until you see the icons are wiggling.
- Now find and tap the “+” button that appears on the upper left-hand corner of your iPad’s display.
- Scroll your way through the widget suggestions to find a specific widget, or you can simply search for it.
- As soon as you find the widget you want, tap on it.
- After that, you’ll need to swipe through the various customizable options.
- Once you’re done customizing the widget, tap on the option that says “Add Widget.”
- It will then get placed on your Home Screen, from where you can desirably drag it to finalize the position.
- Finally, hit “Done.”
Related: A Guide to iPadOS 15 Widgets and Home Screen Layout Customization
Taking and Editing Screenshots
There is no denying that screenshots nowadays are everywhere. From bragging about the maximum finishes that you’ve achieved in your last PUBG encounter to reminding someone about the promises they made through text messages, screenshots are there for the rescue. But do you know how you can use your iPad for capturing a screen session? Well, here is how:
Taking screenshots on iPad Pro the Old Way:
- Start off by navigating to the very screen that you want to capture.
- Once done, press the Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Up button at the same time.
- Wait for the screen to flash white and confirm that the screenshot has been taken.
Using Apple Pencil to Take Screenshots:
- Navigate to the web page or app that you wish to capture.
- Take the Apple Pencil and place it on one of the bottom corners of the screen (either on the left or on the right)
- Now drag it towards the center without clicking any button, and it will simply save a screenshot.
Once you’re done capturing the section of your iPad’s screen, it will wait at the bottom left corner for a few seconds and disappear. However, clicking on it before it fades away will let you inside the Instant Markup Mode, where you can flexibly edit the captured image.
Apart from the usual marker, highlighter, pencil, eraser, or the Magic Rope that helps annotate your screenshot, there are four additional tools that the Instant Markup Mode brings to the table. These tools will let you add a text field, create a signature, and use call-outs on your screenshots.
Improving Productivity with a Keyboard and Pencil
As CNBC put it, the latest Apple iPad, especially the M1 iPad Pro makes for a fitting replacement the traditional laptop. However, to bring it up to speed, you would need the Apple Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil (or apt replacements to it).
Setting up Apple iPad Magic Keyboard
Starting off with the Apple Magic Keyboard, here’s how you set it up on your brand-new iPad:
- Firstly, put your Magic Keyboard on a flat surface. Ensure the placement is so oriented that the “hinge” remains away from you, and the “Apple” logo is facing upwards.
- After that, open the lid.
- Continue opening the lid until it sets at your desired angle or the point to which the lid resists to extend further.
- Now it is time to place your iPad Pro on the Magic Keyboard. The rear lenses should be placed at the top left corner to fit through the case’s cut-outs.
Here’s a detailed guide on the iPad Magic Keyboard, and if you aren’t a fan and would rather go for a third-party keyboard, we’ve handpicked some excellent Magic Keyboard alternatives for iPad for you to look at.
Setting up the Apple Pencil
A versatile tool for notetaking, sketching, and everything in between, the Apple Pencil has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. Setting up the first-generation or the second-generation Apple Pencil with the iPad is identical, and here’s how you do it:
For Second Gen Apple Pencil – All you need to do is place the Apple Pencil to the side of the magnetic connector. The stylus will not only automatically attach to the side, but also pair up with the iPad almost instantaneously.
For First Gen Apple Pencil – For the older iPad models that don’t support the newer Apple Pencil, the first-generation will do just fine. All you need to do is remove the rear cap of the stylus, plug in the Lightning port into the iPad and it should automatically be detected and paired.
However, if you feel the hefty price tag of the Apple Pencil is more than what a stylus is worth, we have gathered a bunch of cheap Apple Pencil alternatives for iPad that are just as good.
Turn Off Features that Can Eat Up your Device’s Battery Real Quick
Most of the iPads usually last around 10-12 hours straight after getting fully charged. However, the numbers can see serious alterations if you choose to continue using the features that are known to eat up the device’s battery. Here are a few things that will help maintain the long usage sessions of your iPad:
- Adjust the brightness of your device as per the requirements.
- Make sure the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned off when not in use.
- Avoid setting long durations for your iPad to go to sleep.
Using Split View
Split View or Split Screen functionality is a brilliant way to work with two apps side by side. It works similar to the text dragging feature we’ve mentioned before, with a slight difference.
Here you’ll need to drag the desired app from the dock to the right-hand edge of your home screen while operating the other app. Once you let it go, both apps should start running side by side.
Keep in Mind: Split Screen is currently available on the iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4, and later.
FAQs
What should I do first with a new iPad?
The very first thing that you need to do after owning a new iPad is to make sure it is shielded against all sorts of external damages. Get yourself the best-in-business protective cases alongside the promising screen protectors. Next up, restore your device to an old backup if you have one. After that, arrange the home screen widgets and set up your workstation as per your need.
How to backup my iPad?
Making sure to back up the essential data on your iPad is one of the most crucial parts is, in some cases, more important than the iPad itself. Apple allows users to choose from either automatic or manual backup, either to a computer, or directly to the iCloud servers. Whether you want to backup the iPad without iTunes wirelessly, or looking for a way to sync and backup your iPhone to iPad, we have detailed guides to walk you through the process.
Keep reading
Bringing the best out of any device depends highly on how you intend to use it, and the scenes are no different with iPads. In this article, I’ve walked you through the 11 most effective tips that can help you bring the most out of your new iPad. Apart from the ones discussed, you can engage in some other promising activities like clearing off browser caches in regular intervals, ensuring you don’t wait for your iPad’s battery to die out until you charge, managing your device’s storage, and more.
Make sure you invest your time reading Beginner’s Guide to set up an iPad, iPad Air, or iPad Pro in the most promising manner if you haven’t already. Trust me; it will boost the overall usability of your iPad to the next level.
Add comment