Open multiple documents (simultaneously)
I'd like the ability to open multiple documents at the same time, so I can switch easily between them. When switching from one document to another it closes the current one and it takes loading time to open the other doc (which isn't workable in a meeting).
With something like tabs you can easily switch...

We’re pleased to share with you that we’ve addressed this long-standing feature request: the ability to open Multiple Word Documents on your iPadOS. This capability is available to M365 subscribers starting from build 2.37.504.0.
127 comments
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Curt commented
I just updated to version 2.39 and still cannot find how this feature (open more than 1 doc simultaneously) works. How is it done?
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Fjordstrøm commented
@Steve Krug, @Kara Solidum:
Open the Word app, then swipe up from the bottom to make the dock appear. From the dock, hold the Word icon and drag it to the side of your screen. Now you should have 2x Word side by side. -
Steve Krug commented
I'm a little baffled. I've been waiting for this forever, so I tried checking out immediately. But following all the instructions I could find for opening a second document, none of them worked. The app store doesn't show a new updated version waiting to download. It says latest version is 2.37. Oddly, I can't find any way in the app to check which version I have installed; nothing under Help and Feedback > Help and Support. Help, anyone?
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Paul Desmond commented
It works - finally! Thank you!
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Anonymous commented
Yep, been using this for a couple of weeks. Just need Excel,a nd hopefully OneNote, to allow this also!
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Kara Solidum commented
Thank you. How do we avail of the multiple word documents? Do we have to update it? And how did you address it
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Ralph commented
Great work. Also please make sure documents are kept in memory, so if I open many Word documents from an email and do not save them locally, they are not kicked out of memory. Also, please enable opening the same document twice.
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Darren A. commented
This should definitely have had a fanfare announcement. Just opened two Word docs side by side and then two PowerPoint docs side by side. Productivity game changer, along with Magic Keyboard.
Excel not enabled yet... fingers crossed it is soon!
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Adrian V. commented
I just tested running Microsoft Word side-by-side on my iPad and it works! I don’t understand how this wasn’t a huge announcement! I’ve been waiting for this feature for so long. Try it out, looks like it’s finally released! What’s strange is when I looked under the “What’s new” section it only mentioned the “Read aloud” feature. Try it out folks!
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Adrian V. commented
I just tested running Microsoft Word side-by-side on my iPad and it works! I don’t understand how this wasn’t a huge announcement! I’ve been waiting for this feature for so long. Try it out, looks like it’s finally released! What’s strange is when I looked under the “What’s new” section it only mentioned the “Read aloud” feature. Try it out folks!
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Adrian V. commented
I just tested running Microsoft Word side-by-side on my iPad and it works! I don’t understand how this wasn’t a huge announcement! I’ve been waiting for this feature for so long. Try it out, looks like it’s finally released! What’s strange is when I looked under the “What’s new” section it only mentioned the “Read aloud” feature. Try it out folks!
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Dominic Grimm commented
It‘s now in a public beta version in testflight 😊
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Dustin Richardson commented
I would really like to be able to make the new iPad Pro my sole remote productivity device but need this long ago announced but not yet implemented dual Word window functionality. Estimated date of rollout?
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Anonymous commented
You say you are working on it, but can you give us some idea of when it is coming? It is crucial for Ipad work productivity
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Agent K commented
Really want to see this feature! Finally Apple took it serious forming the iPad to a laptop so I bought it as a replacement. Hope, all providers/ apps will take this way.
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Anonymous commented
It stings to see a screenshot of Word for iOS running side-by-side windows in the iPadOS 13 presentation almost a year ago! Let's hope we get this before iPadOS 14.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/ipados-is-the-most-exciting-thing-apple-announced-at-wwdc-2019/
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Anonymous commented
Is there any news on when this will happen?
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Simon Griffiths commented
Would be good to see this finally. iPad Pro could be so much more useful if Word (and Excel) had more of the desktop options. So many things are missing.
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Eric commented
This is sorely needed for productivity. ipad is already a very powerful machine and MSword is not rising to the challenge.
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Joey W commented
Any update on this feature - targeted release date, etc.? Really needing this, especially since we have additional mouse support in iOS 13.4 - now I can truly work from my iPad and not always need to use my laptop to view and edit two docs at the same time.