There can be no question that iPadOS 26 was one of the biggest highlights of WWDC 2025. That’s because the latest version of iPadOS received a simple but very profound new feature: an entirely new windowing system that more closely mimics the Mac.
Apple says, “The new windowing system lets users fluidly resize app windows, place them exactly where they want, and open even more windows at once.” The idea is to help users multitask better by giving them greater freedom over where and how they want to place their app windows.
iPadOS 26's new windowing system in action. Photo: Apple
If this sounds familiar, that’s exactly how app and windows management works on macOS. It’s a feature that iPad owners have been clamouring for years and we’ve finally got it.
To understand this new feature better, I got the chance to speak with two high-level Apple executives (with very long titles), and they are:
- Kurt Knight, Senior Director of Platforms Product Marketing
- Sebastien Marinea-Mes, Vice President of Software Engineering (System Experience)
For many, this flexible multi-window model always seemed like the most obvious way for iPads to handle multitasking, so why did it take this long for Apple to implement it?
Kurt explained:
But as the hardware has gotten more powerful, as people use their iPads more and more, they've wanted to do it more and more, and we've been on a journey of adding more and more functionality and this is the biggest release of iPadOS yet.
As it turns out, implementing a windowing system like this wasn’t without its challenges. There’s the practical aspect, and then there’s the more philosophical one. In other words, the hardware needed to be capable of delivering the experience Apple wanted, and they wanted to do it in a way that was meaningful—that didn’t break the way people were using their iPads and truly added something useful to the user experience.
When you enable the new windowing mode, a "grab handle" will appear at the bottom right corner of the app window. Photo: Apple
Digging deeper, from a practical standpoint, a fluid windowing system has technical challenges because an iPad’s specifications run the gamut from mobile-class A-series processors that are more focused on efficiency, to powerful desktop-class M-series processors that prioritise performance.
Sebastian said:
It's really about how you make the most efficient use of memory and processing, and you dedicate it to the apps that the user is using in that moment.
To do this properly, Apple had to “re-architect” and “redesign” the entire windowing system—something that was reiterated to me by the many product managers I met. It wasn’t a simple case of taking what was available on macOS and plonking it into iPadOS. Remember, not only are modern Macs typically more powerful, but they have more memory too—memory is key ingredient for multitasking.
Apps still open full screen if you want. Photo: Apple
Furthermore, as for the philosophical aspect of it, how you introduce a new windowing system in such a way that it does not break what it means to be an iPad.
From Sebastian:
The team thought deeply about how to extend a powerful multi-window multitasking model across the iPad lineup while maintaining the simplicity and fluidity of iPad.
One of the best things about iPads is how simple and fast they are. To ensure that remains true, the new windowing system is turned off by default, so when you launch iPadOS 26 for the first time, apps open in full-screen mode as they always have.
But you can quickly activate the new windowing system through the Control Centre or in the Settings app. Thereafter, you’ll see a “grab handle” appear in the bottom right corner, which you can tap or click on to resize the app, and then place anywhere you want on screen.
Finally, a more robust Files app that makes it easier to manage files. Photo: Apple
The new windowing system isn’t the only thing new coming to iPadOS 26 that will improve productivity workflows and enhance the usability of iPads. As Kurt was quick to point out, iPadOS 26 is a “packed release”, and there’s also the new menu bar, which makes it easier to get to certain functions within the app. Other improvements include an updated Files app that makes managing files less cumbersome, and the ability to run certain tasks in the background.
Even though I’ve only experienced these features briefly at WWDC, I’m certain they will have a profound impact on how some people will use their iPads. I’ll need more time to tell if it’s good for the way I work, but the signs are promising. The iPad could finally replace my MacBook Pro as the device I reach for whenever I travel.
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