IPadOS 26 Effectively Turns Your IPad Into a MacBook
Finally, at WWDC 2025, Apple did something I’ve been asking for years. In addition to Liquid Glass , iPadOS 26 finally gives the iPad a proper Mac-style window management system. You can now have multiple windows on a single screen, including a menu bar! And there are even more features, like the Preview app, background tasks, an improved Files app, and more.
A real windowing system for iPad
A true window management system is coming to the iPad, and it’s nothing like the more limited Stage Manager feature. By default, apps on the iPad will still be full-screen. But now they’ll have a knob on the side that lets you shrink a window to a smaller size, then move that window around the screen. Expanding the screen will bring up the Dock, allowing you to have multiple windows on the screen at once. You can even open any app you previously had open, and it will resume its last state at the exact same size and position on the screen. Just like on the Mac!
And yes, true window management also means the iPad will get Mac-style traffic light buttons for closing, minimizing, and making apps full-screen. When you hover over these buttons with the new, smaller cursor, they’ll automatically expand.
Like the Mac, there is also a tile feature where you can simply grab and drag a window left or right to dock it to either side. You can also swipe up to open the home screen and then open any app you want. Yes, again, very Mac-like.
The Mac’s features don’t stop there. Apple is also introducing Mac-style Exposé. Swiping up and holding will expand all your windows into one view, making it easy to switch between them.
The menu bar is located here
Apple is also adding a menu bar to the iPad, finally putting an end to all the hidden gestures and menus. It will pop up when you move your cursor to the top of the screen. It’s organized to look like the Mac menu bar, and will display all of your app’s features and options in one place, with keyboard shortcuts. This will be a great option for complex apps.
Improved file management
The Files app for iPad is finally getting the update it deserves. There’s a new list view with much more detailed information for each file and folder. Even the ability to customize folder icons from the Mac is coming to iPad.
Plus, the Files app now lets you choose a default app for each file type. Folders can be added to the Dock for easy access. And just like on the Mac, clicking on folders will cause them to expand to show all the files inside.
Preview available on iPad
Preview is a dedicated app for viewing, annotating, highlighting, and filling out PDFs. Plus, it works with images, just like on a Mac.
Not limited to just iPad Pro
All iPads that support iPadOS 26 will have access to the windowing system, including the new standard iPad and iPad mini.
According to Apple, the new features in iPadOS 26 will be available on iPad Pro (M4), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (A16), iPad (8th generation and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad mini (5th generation and later).
How to Try iPadOS 26 Now with the Developer Beta
If you want to try iPadOS 26 before the official release, the only way to do so at the moment is to use the Developer beta. However, know that the public beta, which will be released sometime in July, is a more stable option and probably the best option for most people. The Developer beta can be buggy and prone to crashes.
If you want to give it a try anyway, first sign up for an Apple developer account (it’s free, though you’ll need to use two-factor authentication). Then go to Settings > General > Software Update , then tap the new Beta Updates option. Here, switch to iPadOS 26 Developer Beta . Now go back , wait for the Beta update to appear, and tap Update Now .