Things 3 + Safari Split View on iPad: The Complete Guide

To use Things 3 and Safari in Split View on iPad, swipe up to open the Dock, long-press Safari (or Things 3), and drag it to the left or right edge of the screen until the display splits — both apps will then run side by side.

That gets you into Split View, but there's a better way to make it a repeatable part of your day. Before diving into workflows and setup, it's worth understanding why this particular pair earns a permanent spot on your Home Screen.

Why Things 3 and Safari work well together

Things 3 is where your tasks live. Safari is where a huge portion of your research, reading, and reference material lives. The friction point is constant: you find something in Safari that needs to become a task, or you open a task in Things 3 and need to look something up to actually do it. Switching back and forth collapses your context every single time.

Side by side, that friction disappears. Here are three workflows where this combination genuinely pays off:

• Research-to-task capture: You're reading a long article or documentation page in Safari. With Things 3 open beside it, you can create a task, write a note referencing what you just read, and even paste the URL into the task notes — without ever leaving either app.
• Project planning with live references: You're building out a project in Things 3 — setting deadlines, writing checklists — and you need to cross-reference a website, a booking page, or a product spec. Keep Safari open on one side as a live reference panel while you build the project on the other.
• Inbox processing: Your Things 3 inbox is full of vague tasks that need fleshing out. Use Safari alongside to quickly look up details, confirm dates, or find relevant links, then update each task before moving it to the right project.

How to set it up with Splicon

If you haven't downloaded Splicon yet, grab it here: Download Splicon free from the App Store

Splicon lets you create a custom icon that represents both apps side by side, then tie it to a shortcut that opens the Split View combination with one tap from your Home Screen. Here's how:

1. Open Splicon and build your pair. Search for Things 3 and Safari, then select them as your combination. Splicon pulls in both app icons automatically.
2. Choose a split style and save the icon. Pick how you want the two icons displayed — there are a few layout options — then generate the combined icon and save it to your Photos library.
3. Set up the shortcut. Open the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut, and add an "Open App" action configured for Split View with Things 3 and Safari as the two apps. When prompted to choose an icon for the shortcut, select the image you just saved from Photos.
4. Add it to your Home Screen. Tap the shortcut's settings and choose "Add to Home Screen." It will appear as a single icon that launches both apps in Split View instantly.

Once it's on your Home Screen, the difference is noticeable immediately. Instead of setting up Split View from scratch each time — dragging apps, waiting for the layout to settle — you tap once and you're already working.

If Things 3 and Safari are part of your daily routine separately, putting them together in a dedicated shortcut is one of the more practical iPad adjustments you can make. The setup takes about three minutes and saves that small but real friction every single day.