Apple has finally delivered what iPad power users have been asking for: true Mac-style multitasking. With iPadOS 26, the iPad gets its biggest software update in years. You can now dynamically resize app windows, use a proper menu bar, and take advantage of a full windowing system that feels like it was lifted right out of macOS. The new “Liquid Glass” design brings a translucent look to buttons, menus, icons, and system elements across the interface, adding a modern and unified feel to the OS.
The long-rumored multitasking overhaul is real. You can freely move and resize windows using a grab handle in the lower right corner. No more rigid sizing rules like in Stage Manager. Windows snap to the edges with simple flick gestures, and long-pressing brings up more tiling options. Apps remember their size and position even after you close them or reboot the device. And yes, the window controls now mimic macOS — the familiar red, yellow, and green traffic light buttons sit in the top-left corner of each app.
Expose also comes to the iPad, letting you see all your open windows in a tiled view for quick switching. Apps with ongoing processes, like exports, can keep running in the background and show up as live activities. With this update, Apple has also removed Split View and Slide Over. Those older multitasking systems have been replaced by a more flexible setup that works across all iPads that support iPadOS 26. Depending on the model, you can open up to four or more windows simultaneously.
The menu bar, long a Mac exclusive, is now part of the iPad experience. When using touch, swipe down from the top of the screen to access it. With a mouse or trackpad, just click to open drop-down menus for each app. Apple says developers can create custom menu bars for their apps, just like on the Mac.
Other notable upgrades include a revamped Preview app for sketching and PDF editing, and a much-improved Files app. You can now view documents in resizable columns, assign default apps for file types, and even drag folders to the dock for easier access. There’s also a new Apple Games app, an option to assign separate microphones to individual apps, and new tools like system-wide Accessibility Reader mode and 3D graphing in Math Notes inside the Calculator.
iPadOS 26 is compatible with iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen and up), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen and up), iPad Air (3rd gen and up), iPad mini (5th gen and up), and the latest standard iPad models. Apple Intelligence features will only work on M-series iPads and the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip.
It took over a decade, but Apple has finally given the iPad software that lives up to its hardware. If you’ve been holding out for the iPad to become a real laptop replacement, iPadOS 26 might be the update that gets you there.
