If you just got a new iPad, have been using one for years, or are helping someone set up theirs, you’ll eventually need to explore the Settings app. This powerful menu is packed with features that can optimize performance, enhance security, and improve usability. However, many useful settings are hidden or not enabled by default.
To get the most out of your iPad, here are 10 settings you should adjust immediately to improve your experience, productivity, and battery life.
1. Customize Your Lock Screen
With iPadOS 17, Apple introduced the ability to customize the Lock Screen. Now, you can change the font, wallpaper, and add widgets to make your iPad truly yours. Widgets can display weather updates, calendar events, battery levels, and to-do lists—all at a glance, without unlocking the device.
How to Customize Your Lock Screen:
📲 Wake up your iPad and unlock it.
📥 Press and hold on the Lock Screen until the customization menu appears.
⚙ Tap “Customize” and start adjusting fonts, wallpapers, and widgets.
For users who frequently check their schedules or weather updates, adding the right widgets will save time and increase efficiency.
2. Configure Focus Modes for Fewer Distractions
Focus Mode is like an upgraded Do Not Disturb, allowing you to filter notifications based on your current activity—whether it’s working, sleeping, studying, or exercising. You can even set different Focus Modes for different times of the day or locations.
For example, if you’re at work, you might only allow emails and work-related apps to send notifications, while personal messages and social media alerts are muted.
How to Set Up Focus Mode:
⚙ Go to Settings → Focus.
🔧 Choose a Focus Mode (Work, Sleep, Personal, etc.) or create a custom one.
📲 Select which notifications, apps, and contacts are allowed.
📡 Sync Focus Mode across iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac for a seamless experience.
This is one of the best ways to eliminate distractions and improve productivity while working.
3. Enable Stage Manager for Multitasking
Stage Manager transforms your iPad into a desktop-like experience, allowing you to open multiple apps in floating windows. It’s perfect for users who work on multiple tasks at once or need to switch between apps quickly and efficiently.
You can resize windows, open multiple apps at once, and even use an external monitor for an expanded workspace. If you’re working on documents while researching online or editing videos while monitoring emails, Stage Manager will boost your efficiency.
How to Enable Stage Manager:
📥 Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
⚙ Tap the Stage Manager icon (it looks like a rectangle with three smaller rectangles next to it).
🖥️ Resize and arrange windows for a more desktop-like experience.
4. Turn on Night Shift for Less Eye Strain
Night Shift adjusts the color temperature of your display, reducing blue light exposure. Blue light has been linked to eye strain and disrupted sleep cycles, especially when using devices late at night. Enabling Night Shift makes reading or watching videos in low-light environments much easier on your eyes.
How to Enable Night Shift:
⚙ Go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Night Shift.
⏰ Schedule it to turn on automatically at sunset or at specific times.
🎨 Adjust the warmth of your display for a comfortable viewing experience.
If you use your iPad for long periods, enabling Night Shift can reduce fatigue and help you sleep better.
5. Use Low Power Mode to Extend Battery Life
If you’re using your iPad for heavy tasks like editing videos, playing games, or streaming for hours, battery life can drain quickly. Low Power Mode helps extend battery life by reducing background activities like auto-refresh, animations, and screen brightness.
How to Turn On Low Power Mode:
🔋 Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
⚙ Tap the Battery icon to enable Low Power Mode.
💡 Your battery icon will turn yellow, indicating that Low Power Mode is active.
This is an easy way to get extra battery life, especially when traveling or using your iPad on the go.
6. Hide Notifications from Prying Eyes
If you value privacy, you might not want your notifications to pop up on your Lock Screen, where anyone can read them. This is especially useful for work emails, personal messages, or banking notifications.
How to Hide Notification Previews:
⚙ Go to Settings → Notifications → Show Previews.
🔒 Change setting from “Always” to “When Unlocked”.
Now, notifications will only appear when your iPad is unlocked, keeping your information private and secure.
7. Split or Float Your Keyboard for Easier Typing
Typing on the iPad’s large keyboard can feel awkward, especially if you’re holding the device in both hands. Splitting or floating the keyboard makes typing more comfortable and efficient.
How to Split the Keyboard:
⚙ Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Enable “Split Keyboard”.
⌨️ Press and hold the keyboard icon (bottom-right corner).
➡ Slide your finger to “Split” to divide the keyboard into two parts.
How to Float the Keyboard:
📥 Pinch the keyboard with two fingers to make it smaller.
📍 Drag it around the screen for easier one-handed typing.
These adjustments enhance typing comfort, especially for note-taking and messaging.
8. Ensure Your iPad Uses the Fastest Refresh Rate
If you have an iPad Pro, it supports ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate), making scrolling, animations, and interactions smoother. However, some settings may limit it to 60 Hz.
How to Enable Full Refresh Rate:
⚙ Go to Settings → Accessibility → Motion.
🚀 Ensure “Limit Refresh Rate” is turned OFF.
This small change makes a big difference, making everything feel faster and more fluid.
9. Customize Control Center for Quick Access
The Control Center is the fastest way to access Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, and more. You can customize it to include shortcuts for screen recording, dark mode, and notes.
How to Customize Control Center:
⚙ Go to Settings → Control Center.
➕ Tap the green plus icon to add controls.
📍 Rearrange them for quick access by dragging them up or down.
This simple customization makes accessing frequently used settings much easier.
10. Enable Attention Awareness to Keep Your Screen Awake
If you have an iPad Pro with Face ID, Attention Awareness ensures the screen stays awake when you’re looking at it and dims when you look away.
How to Turn On Attention Awareness:
⚙ Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode.
🔍 Scroll to “Attention” and enable “Attention Awareness Features”.
This feature is especially useful for reading long articles or documents without the screen timing out.
Final Thoughts – Optimize Your iPad for Maximum Productivity!
These 10 iPad settings will help you customize your experience, improve efficiency, and boost performance. Whether you’re working, multitasking, or just browsing, adjusting these settings will make your iPad smarter and easier to use.
🔹 Start making these changes today and enjoy a faster, more personalized iPad experience! 🚀
Also Read: 15 Best iPad Hacks for 2025
