Especially when you are working with multiple apps at once, manually managing all the open app windows and keeping them organized feels tedious. As a result, your speed and workflow get hampered which hurts productivity. Not to mention, the chaotic tabs make the entire screen look cluttered. Fortunately, that’s a thing of the past! With the arrival of Stage Manager, it has become pretty easy to keep apps and windows organized without breaking any sweat. Sadly, for some users, Stage Manager is not working in iPadOS 17 on iPad. If the issue has come your way as well, here are the effective ways to fix it.
Best Tips to Fix Stage Manager Not Working on iPad Pro and iPad Air
Not sure why the Stage Manager is misbehaving on your iPad? Well, let’s first get to the root of the problem!
So, What Prevents the Stage Manager from Working Smoothly on iPad?
While some users have reported that Stage Manager does not trigger even after tapping on its icon, others have complained that they are unable to switch between apps. Not to mention, a handful of users don’t see the Stage Manager icon at all in the control center. Without overlooking a usual suspect like the software bug, things like device incompatibility and lack of a clear understanding could be the prime reason behind the problem.
1. Is Your iPad Compatible with Stage Manager?
If you were hoping that your iPadOS 16-compatible iPad would get the Stage Manager, you would be disappointed to know that Apple has locked this feature to only the latest and more capable iPad models. Check out the list of iPad models that support Stage Manager:
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
- iPad Air (5th generation and later)
2. Restart Your iPad
If the Stage Manager does not work even when your iPad is compatible, restart the device.
- Press and hold the volume up/down button and the top/power button. After that, drag the power off slider to turn off the device.
- Then, press the top button to restart the iPad.
3. Disable/Enable Stage Manager
At times, all you need to do to resolve a common problem is to just turn off/on the feature. So, make sure to give it a chance.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen and hit the Stage Manager icon to turn it off. Now, make sure to wait for a few seconds and then tap on the Stage Manager icon to turn it on.
- Check if the Stage Manager has started to work normally. When this windows organizer is active, the window you are currently working on automatically appears in the center of the screen. As for the other apps, they are all tucked on the left side of the screen. At a time, up to 4 apps are shown in the Stage Manager.
4. Update Apps
If the windows of some apps do not appear in the Stage Manager, they might be outdated or perhaps haven’t been updated to work with iPadOS 16. Therefore, make sure to update all the problematic apps.
- Head over to the App Store -> your profile -> scroll down to find the list of apps and then update them all at once or do it one by one as per your needs.
5. Force Restart Your iPad
If the simple restart has not worked in fixing the Stage Manager not working on iPad issue, go for the hard reset aka force restart.
- Simply, press and quickly release the volume up button. After that, you need to press and quickly release the volume down button.
- Next, make sure to press and hold the power button/top button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
6. Update Software on Your iPad
If iOS 17 is super buggy, iPadOS 17 is no less unstable and buggy. Hence, try to update the software on your iPad to resolve the problem.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPad -> General -> Software Update. Then, download and install it as usual.
7. Reset All Settings
Factory reset is also highly effective when it comes to getting rid of weird issues. Moreover, some users who had run into the same problem have reported that it has worked for them.
- Open the Settings app on your iPad -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPad -> Reset -> Reset All Settings and confirm the action.
Resolved Stage Manager Issues on iPad Pro and iPad Air
So, that wraps up this detailed troubleshooting guide. I guess you have successfully gotten rid of the issue. Great! By the way, which one of the above tips has come to your rescue? Do not forget to shoot your views in the comments below.
You may also like to read: 2 Ways to Show Stage Manager in Mac’s Menu Bar in macOS 13 Ventura
None of this worked. Stage manager button still not showing after update to 16.2 and a hard reset.
Ensure that your iPad is compatible.