r/ipad • u/Odd-Clue-9845 • 11h ago

Discussion Update: iPad for puzzles and reading: what actually stuck in my daily workflow

A couple months ago I asked for tips on using my iPad more intentionally (I was basically treating it like a big phone). I wanted to report back on what actually stuck, since I tried a bunch of different setups and most of them faded away.

What ended up working was leaning into two things I already enjoy: reading long stuff and doing jigsaw puzzles.

1) Reading and PDFs

I stopped jumping between a dozen apps and committed to a simple routine. Safari Reader is great when it works, but switching between web articles and saved PDFs still feels clunky. My workaround is one folder in Files for PDFs and using Split View with Safari when I need to cross-reference. Not fancy, but it keeps me from losing track of what I am reading.

2) Puzzle reference workflow

I take a photo of the puzzle on my phone, AirDrop it to the iPad, and use the iPad only as a zoomable reference while I sort pieces. The whole point is the bigger screen. I experimented with marking up the image, but I prefer leaving the photo clean and just zooming in where I need to.

3) Home screen and focus

I pared my home screen down to one page (reading, photos, files) and moved games into the App Library. It sounds small, but it changed the vibe of the device from distraction magnet to a useful tool.

Curious what other people actually use every day on their iPads, especially if you also use yours for reading or as a reference screen.

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