iPadOS 26 multitasking is more Mac-like with menubar, better pointer and more

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Apple has refined the multitasking of iPadOS 26 to be more like the Mac experience, with new window management and a pointer that actually works well.

Overlapping app windows display email inbox, calendar for April 2025, and notes with text about a concept. Header shows time and date, blue sky background.
iPadOS 26's new window management - Image Credit: Apple



Users of the iPad have often proposed that putting macOS on the tablet would make it a multitasking powerhouse. While Apple didn't quite do that at WWDC 2025, its window management system has taken steps in that direction.

Just as in iPadOS 18, users can open apps fullscreen and use a corner handle tool to quickly resize them. Apps that were opened in full-screen or in a window will reopen to that sizing.

The ability to quickly resize windows is useful, but some of the ways that users can manage the windows are pretty much taken from macOS itself.

A person interacts with a tablet on a keyboard, displaying various app windows on-screen, seated at a wooden table.
Expose in iPadOS 26 - Image Credit: Apple



Just like the windows on macOS, users can see a small floating panel in the top left, showing three dots. Colored red, amber, and green like in macOS, the dots work in the same way, for quickly closing, minimizing, and full-screening apps.

The apps also appear next to a new Menu Bar, a per-window feature that offers the same sort of functionality as the Mac-based version.

Window Tiling is available, much like the Mac, with simple flicks used to reposition each window. Expose is also available, showing all open windows spread out on the screen for quick switching.

Trackpad and Bluetooth mouse users will also get to enjoy the new pointer. The indistinct circle pointer is now replaced by an arrow, which should help make selecting elements much easier.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 16
    cbrocks36cbrocks36 Posts: 3member
    Honestly, I wish they would have brought the updated Spotlight features to the iPad.  Obviously, they want you to buy a Mac, but that would have been cool to use on an iPad.  Oh, well.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 16
    IanSians Posts: 56member
    This is going to rock for iPad Pro.
    dewmewilliamlondondavgreg
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 16
    IanSians Posts: 56member
    When oh when are we going to see XCode for the iPad?
    davgreg
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 16
    BB92647bb92647 Posts: 12member
    The background task thing is worth its weight in gold. Finally!
    Personally I liked the circular pointer. I thought it was clever and differentiated itself from the arrow.  

    dewme
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 16
    TRAGtrag Posts: 60member
    This is a game changer for iPad. I am 100% a Mac first person and use my iPad for consumption and very limited productivity only. That might change with the multi-taking, file management and audio changes they made this year.

    They were never going to bring macOS to iPad as it is a walled garden (in most jurisdictions) for which they control the apps & revenue and has a more sandboxed, modern and responsive OS. They were never going to willingly open that up; it was always going to be an iterative move towards more flexibility and productivity for the user. It took longer than most people (myself very much included) hoped and thought it would but this year is a big step forward.
    StrangeDaysAlex1N
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  • Reply 6 of 16
    TRAGtrag Posts: 60member

    BB92647 said:
    The background task thing is worth its weight in gold. Finally!
    Personally I liked the circular pointer. I thought it was clever and differentiated itself from the arrow.  

    Yes, I was surprised they changed It from the circular pointer.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 16
    MplsPmplsp Posts: 4,138member
    I may finally have a reason to update my 2017 iPad Pro!
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 16
    jpellinojpellino Posts: 712member
    This is great. Now do true macos-style user accounts.
    dewmebonobobappleinsideruser
     2Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 9 of 16
    sflagelsflagel Posts: 878member
    They just gave up on producing a distinct tablet experience. It’s just a MacBook with a detachable screen. What a shame.
    StrangeDaysBB92647williamlondondavgregdewmebonobob
     1Like 5Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 10 of 16
    williamlondonwilliamlondon Posts: 1,509member
    Looks like some very nice new features especially for the power user.
    cbrocks36 said:
    Honestly, I wish they would have brought the updated Spotlight features to the iPad.  Obviously, they want you to buy a Mac, but that would have been cool to use on an iPad.  Oh, well.
    Hopefully, assuming it's not just an oversight in their announcement (that iPadOS did *not* get updated Spotlight goodness), in time they'll bring all those new features over. Perhaps iterate it a time or two on macOS then port to iPadOS? Not a big Spotlight user myself, but these features warrant some investigation and play definitely.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 11 of 16
    s.metcalfs.metcalf Posts: 1,019member
    There is zero reason why they can’t do multiple user accounts.  The don’t do it because they don’t want you to share iPads.  They want you to buy one for each member of the family.  It’s shameful.
    sflagelMplsPwilliamlondon
     2Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 12 of 16
    paisleydiscopaisleydisco Posts: 174member
    sflagel said:
    They just gave up on producing a distinct tablet experience. It’s just a MacBook with a detachable screen. What a shame.
    Meh, the 'distinct tablet experience' is over a decade old and was stuck. Felt like they painted themselves into a corner. The main complaint of the iPad 'distinct tablet experience' was the lack of Mac OS features like multitasking, windowing, etc. How many times did we have to read over the last few years how the iPad Pro was a massive powerhouse gimped by the 'distinct tablet experience'??

    Anyone can still continue to use the iPad as is. Don't want the menu bar? Don't swipe down from the top of the screen. Don't want the window experience? Don't use it.

    I have been an 13" iPad Pro user since the first one. But many times felt the frustration of wishing it was closer to a Mac. This seems like a big deal for people like me. 





    williamlondon
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 13 of 16
    bonobobbonobob Posts: 408member
    s.metcalf said:
    There is zero reason why they can’t do multiple user accounts.  The don’t do it because they don’t want you to share iPads.  They want you to buy one for each member of the family.  It’s shameful.
    It’s worse than that. They have implemented multiple user accounts for school managed iPads. All they have to do is enable it on all the others.
    williamlondon
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 14 of 16
    sflagelsflagel Posts: 878member
    paisleydisco said:
    sflagel said:
    They just gave up on producing a distinct tablet experience. It’s just a MacBook with a detachable screen. What a shame.
    Meh, the 'distinct tablet experience' is over a decade old and was stuck. Felt like they painted themselves into a corner. The main complaint of the iPad 'distinct tablet experience' was the lack of Mac OS features like multitasking, windowing, etc. How many times did we have to read over the last few years how the iPad Pro was a massive powerhouse gimped by the 'distinct tablet experience'??

    Anyone can still continue to use the iPad as is. Don't want the menu bar? Don't swipe down from the top of the screen. Don't want the window experience? Don't use it.

    I have been an 13" iPad Pro user since the first one. But many times felt the frustration of wishing it was closer to a Mac. This seems like a big deal for people like me. 





    Sure, but in the end, the iPad is now navigated and interacted with in the same way that a computer has been interacted with since 1992. We could have hoped for a more ambitious, “natural” UX by combining fingers, eyes, voice, and pen with AI. But they gave up, for now. 
    williamlondon
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 15 of 16
    jellybellyjellybelly Posts: 155member
    Sure, but in the end, the iPad is now navigated and interacted with in the same way that a computer has been interacted with since 1992. We could have hoped for a more ambitious, “natural” UX by combining fingers, eyes, voice, and pen with AI. But they gave up, for now. 

    They didn’t give up.   They just called it wrap for having something for this year.  They have teams working on next years version and beyond.  

    "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."  — Lao Tzu 
    sflagelthtwilliamlondon
     2Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 16 of 16
    Stabitha_Christiestabitha_christie Posts: 771member
    sflagel said:
    They just gave up on producing a distinct tablet experience. It’s just a MacBook with a detachable screen. What a shame.
    Nope. Windowing is 100% optional. You can still use it in its pre-Stage Manager form. In fact, when you install it, it asks you if you want to use windowing or go with the classic iPad style. You can also change it in settings. There are options. Crazy, right?
    sflagelwilliamlondon
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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