How to use the Search feature in iPadOS

With iOS 14, Search on iPad was rebuilt from the ground up and is now THE  for finding info on just about anything, from locating and launching apps to accessing contacts, and files to getting answers to common questions about people or places. 

Thanks to its compact design, you can now start a search from anywhere, without having to leave the app you’re in. To select which apps to include in Search:

Go to Settings > Siri & Search.

Scroll down, tap an app, then turn Show in Search on or off.

Now you’re ready to search, so:

Swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen.

Tap the search field, then enter what you’re looking for.

Do any of the following:

1. Hide the keyboard and see more results on the screen: Tap Go.
2. Open a suggested app: Tap it.
3. Get more information about a search suggestion: Tap it, then tap one of the results to open it.
4. Start a new search: Tap “X” in the search field.

You can turn off suggestions in Search, by going to Settings > Siri & Search and turning off Suggestions. You can turn off Location Services in Search, by going to Settings > Siri & Search and turning off Location-Based Suggestions.

Many apps include a search field or a search button so you can find something within the app. For example, in the Maps app, you can search for a specific location.In an app, tap the search field or button that looks like a magnifying glass (if there is one).
If you don’t see a search field or button, swipe down from the top.

Type your search, then tap Search.

On an iPad, you can add dictionaries, which can be used in searches.

Go to Settings  > General > Dictionary.

Select a dictionary.

(This how-to is based on my experiences and info on Apple’s support pages — where the images sometimes come from.)