An iPad can change its multitasking mode on its own when a keyboard connects or disconnects, using an automation in the Shortcuts app. It suits an iPad that moves between a desk setup with a keyboard and handheld use for reading or note-taking.
Windowed Apps suits a desk setup with a keyboard attached, and Full Screen Apps suits holding the iPad without one. On an iPad running iPadOS 27, two automations make that switch for you every time.
Shortcuts Has a Keyboard Trigger for Connecting and Disconnecting
The Keyboard trigger in Shortcuts has three options, Connected, Disconnected, and Connected or Disconnected, and it runs an automation whenever an external keyboard connects or disconnects. Paired with an action that changes the multitasking mode, it lets the iPad switch layouts without any input from you.
The iPad offers three multitasking modes under Settings > Multitasking & Gestures, which are Full Screen Apps, Windowed Apps and Stage Manager. This setup uses the first two, with Windowed Apps while the keyboard is attached and Full Screen Apps when it is not.
Two Automations Switch the Mode in Both Directions
The setup takes one automation for each direction, and both are built in the Automation tab of the Shortcuts app.
Switch to Windowed Apps When the Keyboard Connects
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPad and go to the Automation tab.
- Create a new automation, then search for Keyboard.
- Select Connected.
- Add the multitasking mode action and set it to Windowed Apps.
Once the automation is enabled, the iPad switches to Windowed Apps whenever the keyboard connects.
Switch to Full Screen Apps When the Keyboard Disconnects
- Add a second automation and choose Keyboard.
- Select Disconnected.
- Add the multitasking mode action and set it to Full Screen Apps.
With both automations in place, the final setup looks like this.
Either automation can also include an orientation lock action, which suits an iPad that stays in portrait for reading and note-taking whenever the keyboard is off.
Control Center and Settings Still Switch Modes by Hand
Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and tap the Windowed Apps button. Touch and hold the button to switch between Windowed Apps and Stage Manager. The same choice sits in Settings > Multitasking & Gestures, where you can select Windowed Apps, Full Screen Apps or Stage Manager.
Windowed Apps is available on iPad (8th generation) and later, iPad mini (5th generation) and later, iPad Air (3rd generation) and later, iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) and later, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and later.
Our Take
I use an iPad as the main device for this website with a keyboard attached, and switch to note-taking and reading in portrait without it, so the automation removes a manual step I used to repeat every day. It worked as expected on an M4 iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard. This should be a built-in iPadOS option, but Shortcuts is what fills that gap.
