Over the years, Apple has gradually enhanced the iPad to make it feel more like a Mac. One way it’s pulled off this trick is by giving it more multitasking skills. That’s especially true in iPadOS 26.
With the new OS version on a supported iPad, you can open an app in a resizable and moveable window, just like on a Mac. You’re then able to launch multiple windows and drag them around the screen. By swiping up from the bottom, you can temporarily peek at all your windowed apps.
Next, you’re able to close, minimize, or maximize a window through one of the icons in the upper left. You can automatically arrange your open windows so that they’re all viewable on the screen. Plus, a menu bar displays a toolbar of commands for your current app.
The new windowed capability is an upgrade over the Split View and Slide Over options from older versions of iPadOS. You can still use Split View and Slide Over as well as Stage Manager in iPadOS 26. But if you’re truly into multitasking, you may prefer the windowed approach.
To use the latest multitasking skills on an iPad, you have to meet a couple of conditions.
First, you need an iPad compatible with iPadOS 26. Check out Apple’s iPad support page to see which models qualify. Second, you’ll have to be running version 26 or higher. To check, head to Settings, select General, and tap Software Update. You’ll be told that iPadOS is up to date or prompted to download and install the latest update.
Now, here’s how to use the new multitasking skills and why your iPad may feel more like a Mac than ever.
To enable the new windowed layout on your iPad, go to Settings and select Multitasking & Gestures. Three options appear at the top of the screen — Full Screen Apps, Windowed Apps, and Stage Manager. Tap the one for Windowed Apps.
Two settings then pop up — Close All Windows After Swiping Home and Automatically Show and Hide Dock. With the first setting enabled, swiping up from the bottom of the screen closes all windowed apps. With the second setting, the iPad Dock remains visible even with the windowed apps on the screen. For now, leave both settings disabled. You can always enable them if you decide otherwise.
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In the Gestures section, read the description of all the settings to see what they do and determine which ones you want to enable. If you’re unsure, turn them all on for now (except Swipe Finger from Corner). You can always disable any that you don’t want or that don’t work as expected.
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Now, try resizing and moving a window. You can use the Settings app window since that should still be open. Drag the window by the handle in the lower right corner to resize it. Drag it by the title bar to move it around the screen.
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Next, you can open another app or window. Swipe up slightly from the bottom of the screen to display the Dock if it’s hidden. To open an app from the Dock, tap it or drag it onto the Home screen. It then appears in a window that you can resize and move.
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To add a previously-opened app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to display the app switcher. Swipe to the right to see the large thumbnails of other apps. Tap the one you want to add to the screen and then resize and move it to fit.
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Here’s another option. Swipe up slightly from the bottom to display the Dock if it’s not visible. Tap the App Library icon at the end of the Dock. You can now launch any app from the library and then resize and move its window.
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Beyond moving and resizing a window, you can close it, minimize it, or maximize it. Tap the ellipsis icon at the upper left of a window, and you’ll see three icons — a red one with an X, a yellow one with a — sign, and a green one with double arrows. Tap the red one to close the window. Tap the yellow one to minimize it back to the Dock. Tap the green one to maximize it.
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You can use the window controls for a range of other actions. Press down on the close, minimize, and maximize controls on any open window. Eight different icons appear — four for Move & Resize and four for Fill & Arrange.
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Under Move & Resize, tapping the first icon moves the window to the left. Tapping the second icon moves it to the right. Tapping the third icon moves it to the top of the screen. Tapping the fourth icon moves it to the bottom of the screen.
Under Fill & Arrange, tapping the first icon maximizes the window. Tapping the second icon moves it to the left and places another open window on the right. Tapping the third icon places the window to the left with two other open windows side by side. Tapping the fourth icon places the window in the upper left with three other open windows arranged on the screen. You can also maximize a windowed app by double-tapping its title bar.
Here’s one more cool feature. You’re able to display a menu bar for a windowed app just like on a Mac. To try this, swipe down from the top of the screen, and you’ll see the menu for that app. Tap a specific menu item to view the full menu and all its commands.
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Source: Networking - zdnet.com
