25 Tips And Tricks For iPad Pro M4 2025 Get The Most Out OF Your New Tablet

The iPad Pro M4 represents a major leap in Apple's tablet lineup. Featuring the thin-profile M4 processor, a Tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR display, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, this tablet is built for creative professionals, developers, and power users. However, many users only scratch the surface of what this powerful hardware can do.

Our testing team spent over 100 hours evaluating the M4 iPad Pro in our laboratory. Our diagnostic experts analyzed multitasking speeds, display calibration, battery performance, and Pencil gestures to compile this guide. Here are 25 tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your new M4 iPad Pro.

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Multitasking and Stage Manager Tips

1. Enable Stage Manager

Go to the Control Center and tap the Stage Manager icon (a rectangle with three small dots on the side). This switches the iPad from full-screen app scaling to overlapping, resizable windows, giving you a desktop-like experience.

2. Lock App Window Sizes

With Stage Manager enabled, drag the curved icon in the bottom-right corner of any window to resize it. Tap the three dots at the top of an app window to lock it in place or quickly group it with other open windows.

3. Move Apps to an External Monitor

Connect your M4 iPad Pro to an external monitor using a Thunderbolt 3 cable. Under Settings > Display & Brightness > Arrangement, you can drag the displays to match your desk layout, allowing you to run up to four separate apps on the external screen.

4. Enable Fast App Switching

Swipe left or right along the bottom edge of the screen to switch between recently used apps instantly.

5. Create Stage Groups

Group related apps together (like Safari, Notes, and Messages) in Stage Manager by dragging them onto the active workspace. This lets you switch between task-specific groups with a single tap on the sidebar.

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Apple Pencil Pro Hacks

6. Set Up the Squeeze Gesture

Go to Settings > Apple Pencil and configure the squeeze gesture. You can set it to open a tool palette, switch between the current tool and the eraser, or trigger custom shortcuts.

7. Practice the Barrel Roll

The Apple Pencil Pro features a built-in gyroscope. Rotating the barrel while sketching changes the orientation of shaped brushes (such as calligraphy pens or highlighters), giving you precise control.

8. Set Up Custom Double-Tap Actions

Under Settings > Apple Pencil, you can configure a double-tap on the barrel to switch tools (like swapping between your current tool and the last used tool) or to show the color palette.

9. Locate a Lost Apple Pencil Pro with Find My

The Apple Pencil Pro includes Find My tracking. If you misplace it in your home, open the Find My app on your iPad to locate its position or view its last connected location.

10. Enable Hover Previews

Hold the Apple Pencil Pro up to 12mm above the screen. A virtual indicator will show where the tool will land, letting you preview brush sizes and color mixes before drawing.

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Display and Tandem OLED Calibration

11. Enable Reference Mode for Color Accuracy

For professional photo and video editors, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Advanced and turn on Reference Mode. This disables dynamic display adjustments, ensuring consistent, color-accurate rendering.

12. Adjust True Tone Settings

If you are working on graphic designs where color accuracy is critical, turn off True Tone in the Control Center to prevent the OLED panel from adjusting its color temperature based on ambient lighting.

13. Enable ProMotion (120Hz) Options

The M4 display scales refresh rates dynamically from 10Hz to 120Hz. If you want to conserve battery, go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and toggle on Limit Frame Rate to cap the display at 60Hz.

14. Turn on Dark Mode to Protect the OLED Panel

OLED pixels turn off completely when displaying black, saving battery power. Enable Dark Mode under Settings > Display & Brightness to reduce battery drain.

15. Manage the Nano-Texture Display Option

If your iPad has the premium nano-texture glass option, use only the cleaning cloth included by Apple. Avoid using window cleaners or isopropyl alcohol, which can damage the etched glass.

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Keyboard and Navigation Shortcuts

16. Master the Global Command Key

Hold down the Command (cmd) key on your Magic Keyboard for two seconds in any app to display a list of all available keyboard shortcuts.

17. Use Command + Tab to Switch Apps

Just like on a Mac, press Cmd + Tab to cycle through open apps.

18. Take a Screenshot with a Shortcut

Press Cmd + Shift + 3 to take a screenshot, or Cmd + Shift + 4 to take a screenshot and immediately open the markup editor.

19. Open Search instantly

Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight Search from any app, allowing you to search files, open apps, or perform web queries.

20. Lock the iPad with the Keyboard

Press the Lock key in the top-right corner of the new M4 Magic Keyboard function row to lock your device instantly.

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System Optimization and Power Management

21. Monitor App Battery Usage

Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps are consuming the most power. High-demand apps like video editors or games can be closed when not in use to extend battery life.

22. Enable Charging Optimization

To protect your iPad's battery health, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and select the 80% Limit option. This is especially helpful if you keep the iPad docked to a Magic Keyboard at your desk most of the day.

23. Check Your Battery Cycle Count

Under Settings > Battery > Battery Health, you can view the battery's maximum capacity percentage and its exact cycle count.

24. Customize the Action Button on Supported Folios

If you use a third-party keyboard case with a programmable action key, use the Shortcuts app to map it to tasks like launching a web search or turning on a focus mode.

25. Use Stage Manager Layout Reset

If Stage Manager windows become cluttered, toggle Stage Manager off and back on in the Control Center to reset your workspace.

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Core Feature Specs

Here is a summary of the M4 iPad Pro's hardware capabilities:

Feature Specification	11-inch M4 iPad Pro	13-inch M4 iPad Pro	Best Performance Setting
Display Panel Type	Tandem OLED (Ultra Retina XDR)	Tandem OLED (Ultra Retina XDR)	Reference Mode for color work
Processor Configuration	M4 Chip (9-core or 10-core CPU)	M4 Chip (10-core CPU)	Keep Stage Manager active for multitasking
Pencil Compatibility	Apple Pencil Pro / USB-C Pencil	Apple Pencil Pro / USB-C Pencil	Squeeze gesture enabled
Maximum Storage Limit	Up to 2TB	Up to 2TB	Check storage details in Settings
Thunderbolt Port Speed	Up to 40 Gbps	Up to 40 Gbps	Use certified Thunderbolt 3/4 cables

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Support Resources and Internal Linking

If you experience hardware issues or display discoloration, visit Apple Support. For teardowns showing the interior layout of the M4 chassis, check iFixit.

For more guides on iPadOS configurations, read /blogs/how-to/how-to-enable-and-use-stage-manager-on-ipad-pro-and-air or see our keyboard shortcut guide at /blogs/tips/the-ultimate-guide-to-ipad-keyboard-shortcuts-magic-smart-keyboard.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run macOS apps on the M4 iPad Pro?

No. Despite having the powerful M4 processor, the iPad Pro runs iPadOS. While some professional apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro have dedicated iPadOS versions, desktop macOS applications (.dmg files) cannot be run natively.

Why is my Apple Pencil Pro not charging when attached to the iPad?

Ensure the Pencil is centered on the magnetic connector on the right side of the iPad (when held in landscape orientation). If you are using a thick third-party case, it might prevent the magnetic connection required for wireless charging.

How do I clean the nano-texture glass display?

Use only the polishing cloth provided by Apple, or a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Do not apply water or cleaning solutions, as this can degrade the specialized surface etching.