Last year completely Apple multitasking has been reinvented On iPad, with the introduction of windows in iPadOS 26. At first, this meant removing multitasking, Split View, and the simpler version of Slide Over. These features did finally returnsbut it comes at a cost – they required you to use a cumbersome new window system. I was hoping iPadOS 27 would improve this, but it didn’t.
To be clear, I’m actually not totally opposed to the new window system in iPadOS 26 (and now 27). It has a time and a place, and that’s when I’m trying to switch between multiple apps at once 13-inch iPad Pro with Magic keyboardit works very well. I have mixed feelings about this on smaller iPads, but it’s good.
But what I don’t like is that the only other option (besides the Stage Manager, which is more of a feature within windowing than a different option) is to use each app full-screen – with no flexibility.
What would I like to see?
As mentioned earlier, iPadOS 26 did finally brings it back Later beta versions include Split View and Slide Over – but you can only use them if you have the window enabled. This meant that if you wanted simpler versions of multitasking, you had to deal with all the levels of complexity meant for professional users.
This is certainly good, but sometimes it’s just annoying that you have to position the windows correctly to enter Split View or Slide Over, when it was more seamless before iPadOS 26. It’s also a loss for people who like to open windows, because if you drag your window just a little wrong, it can go into Split View whenever you want.
Apple allows you to long-press traffic lights to get more specific toggles to control Split View and Slide Over states, but it’s just not suitable for iPad use.
Split View and Slide Over certainly belong in iPadOS, but shoving them inside windowing makes it more complicated than it needs to be, even a year later.
Wrap it up
Ideally, iPadOS would have two sets of multi-tap options: Classic and Pro. Classic will mostly open apps in full screen, but will have Slide Over and Split View options, and Pro will have the windows introduced by iPadOS 26. Pro may also have an option to enable/disable Stage Manager.
Overall, I feel that Apple is taking the iPad too far in one direction Magic keyboardFor /laptop replacement users and those who want their iPad to be an iPad, a lot of work experience is a bit lacking. Bringing back the “simple” multitasking option would go a long way in that direction.
How do you feel about iPad multitasking since iPadOS 26? Let us know in the comments.
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