iPadOS 26 is arguably the biggest iPad update in recent years, and it is bringing the iPad closer and closer to the capabilities and convenience of the Mac. One of the biggest changes, apart from the gorgeous redesign, is the change to how multitasking works.
Part of the change to multitasking on the iPad actually will remove the Split View and Slide Over, two multitasking interface options that have existed on the iPad since the dawn of time.
Basically, with iPadOS 26, you can have multiple app windows, each resizable freely on your display. This useful feature will work on all iPad models that support the new OS update; however, there are still some limitations on how many apps you can open at once.
For example, on older iPads, the limit is four apps at a time. Of course, newer iPads can have more open app windows, understandably.
These app windows can be resized and even moved on top of each other. You can also rearrange them as you'd like, just like you can do on a Mac. On top of all that, there are tiling options so you can see two to four apps side-by-side, and this feature is reminiscent of Split View.
iPadOS 26 may revolutionize how you use your iPad. The iPad Pro (M4) on the image. | Image Credit – PhoneArena
Also, each window will retain its last position and size when you shut off the iPad or close the app. Meanwhile, you can see all your open apps with a swipe-up gesture, which will show you an Exposé-style view.
These windows sport the Mac traffic-light controls (red, yellow, green) and from there you can also resize apps and close them. Also, with iPadOS 26, iPad apps feature Mac-style menu bars which allow you to tweak settings. If that's not a lot, there's also a feature for running system-intensive tasks in the background.
Obviously, this new interface replaces Slide Over and Split View, but for the better, in my opinion. The new multitasking is much more powerful and seamless.
Slide Over is the feature that allows you to keep an app in a smaller, floating window on the side of the screen, while Split View is the option to have two apps simultaneously opened next to each other on your display. Personally, I never used Slide Over on my iPad, so I am far from sad that it's soon going to be gone.
Recommended Stories
iPadOS 26 is now in developer beta, with a public beta opening in July. The official release will be in the fall, and supported iPads are:
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: