iPad OS 26 is Amazing!

[Alameda]

I upgraded to iPad OS 26 and plugged my iPad into my Thunderbolt dock. Holy smokes!!! I can drag windows from the iPad screen to my 4K monitor! I can resize them! I can open multiple Safari windows. I can move windows around with the mouse, like a Mac!

Sure, with the built-in screen, this stuff doesn’t make much difference, but with a keyboard, mouse and monitor, it’s a whole new ballgame. Sadly, Safari and other browsers are still limited by Apple’s iOS browser engine, but I can open a presentation in Keynote and edit it, which was barely do-able before. I’m very impressed with how much better iPad is as a desktop OS.

 

[CalMin]

Fully agree!

I just sold my M3 Air laptop, so the iPad is doing double duty for a while as an iPad and as my non-work laptop. I've only spent a couple of hours with it, but holy smokes does it feel capable when docked! I mean - email and Safari type tasks feel very MacOS desktop like when plugged into an external monitor.

That said, the more I use it, the more 'walls' I am sure I will bump into. With 16GB RAM and 2TB, my M2 iPad Pro has better specs than my MacBook, so I don't know why they just don't let it run macOS when docked. I mean, this move has made iPadOS so close to macOS that the constraints will over time lead to some frustrations.

I had an MS Surface Pro for a while, and while it kind of sucked as a tablet, Microsoft was onto something with this form factor. Imagine an iPad dock accessory that turned the iPad into a MacBook. And while they're at it, let's have a 15" iPad as well.

 

[tomtad]

Had a play on it in the store earlier today and I got a bit overwhelmed with it to be honest. One thing I couldn't do was get to the homescreen using a trackpad, you used to press the bottom bar but now that's disappeared and doesn't reappear when you mouse over it. This seems a pretty basic interaction and I was completely lost. Anyone know how you do it?

 

[RLRabb]

Had a play on it in the store earlier today and I got a bit overwhelmed with it to be honest. One thing I couldn't do was get to the homescreen using a trackpad, you used to press the bottom bar but now that's disappeared and doesn't reappear when you mouse over it. This seems a pretty basic interaction and I was completely lost. Anyone know how you do it?

Three finger upward flick on the trackpad. But you have to flick, because if you drag up slowly it simply reveals all of your current open windows. You can also press Command-H on the keyboard.

 

[says_stuff]

I upgraded to iPad OS 26 and plugged my iPad into my Thunderbolt dock. Holy smokes!!! I can drag windows from the iPad screen to my 4K monitor! I can resize them! I can open multiple Safari windows. I can move windows around with the mouse, like a Mac!

Sure, with the built-in screen, this stuff doesn’t make much difference, but with a keyboard, mouse and monitor, it’s a whole new ballgame. Sadly, Safari and other browsers are still limited by Apple’s iOS browser engine, but I can open a presentation in Keynote and edit it, which was barely do-able before. I’m very impressed with how much better iPad is as a desktop OS.

What you are describing has been around since ipados16 though? How is this different?

How To Use Your iPad With an External Monitor

For years, Apple made its iPad fanbase feel like second-class citizens as iPadOS largely felt like an afterthought. While iPadOS 15 laid the groundwork

appletoolbox.com

 

[Alameda]

What you are describing has been around since ipados16 though? How is this different?

How To Use Your iPad With an External Monitor

For years, Apple made its iPad fanbase feel like second-class citizens as iPadOS largely felt like an afterthought. While iPadOS 15 laid the groundwork

appletoolbox.com

Yes, you could use an external monitor before but window management was controlled using “Stage Manager,” which was very limiting… like “put these two app windows side by side”. Now you can just drag windows and resize them.

It has a few bugs, I think mostly because some iPad apps need specific ratios. But it generally works well. For instance, you can grab a browser window tab and drag it to create a separate window.

 

[says_stuff]

Yes, you could use an external monitor before but window management was controlled using “Stage Manager,” which was very limiting… like “put these two app windows side by side”. Now you can just drag windows and resize them.

It has a few bugs, I think mostly because some iPad apps need specific ratios. But it generally works well. For instance, you can grab a browser window tab and drag it to create a separate window.

No you can drag and resize separate windows just fine.. not sure what you mean.

 

[uacd]

I don’t currently have an iPad but maybe will get one in the future, I wonder can you turn off the iPad display or just minimize the brightness to save battery life while you are connected to external monitor? Not planning to do that much often but it is what I always use on my MacBook.

Also, does this mode work via AirPlay or it just mirrors the screen like in old days?

 

[says_stuff]

Since ipados16 the m1+ ipads could connect to “extend” to the external monitor, allowing you to use other windowed apps than what you had open in the ipad (not mirroring).

No, you still can’t turn off the ipad to save battery, a dock that lets you connect to the monitor plus charge simultaneously is a safe bet though.

 

[ITsJamie]

I don’t currently have an iPad but maybe will get one in the future, I wonder can you turn off the iPad display or just minimize the brightness to save battery life while you are connected to external monitor? Not planning to do that much often but it is what I always use on my MacBook.

Also, does this mode work via AirPlay or it just mirrors the screen like in old days?

I use an USB-C hub with HDMI port with optional power input for the charger OR you can use a smart-keyboard ($$$). The latter has a separate charge port to keep the iPad charged. I was quite happy about the update, until I found out some important apps I daily use don't support the second screen anyways. It's quite a niche and the app developers wouldn't fix or update in near future. So I gave up and use my macbook again.

To answer your initial question: well yes you could dim (not lock) the iPad screen, the dock appears on the second screen as well. Just open the apps on the external screen.

 

[Alameda]

Since ipados16 the m1+ ipads could connect to “extend” to the external monitor, allowing you to use other windowed apps than what you had open in the ipad (not mirroring).

No, you still can’t turn off the ipad to save battery, a dock that lets you connect to the monitor plus charge simultaneously is a safe bet though.

You may be right. I can’t run the older iPad OS anymore, so I can’t verify. But before, though, I couldn’t drag all the windows around to different sizes, I had to use Stage Manager, and it was pretty clumsy. Now, I can drag windows to different sizes and arrange them. There are some bugs but, for me, the experience is much better.

 

[achappy]

You may be right. I can’t run the older iPad OS anymore, so I can’t verify. But before, though, I couldn’t drag all the windows around to different sizes, I had to use Stage Manager, and it was pretty clumsy. Now, I can drag windows to different sizes and arrange them. There are some bugs but, for me, the experience is much better.

The comments are from those who never tried to use iPadOS before with an external monitor and going by what they read or saw on YouTube. Yes you could resize apps (which you were limited to the number of apps) the resizing was very limited and restricted. It would "jump" sizes and it wasn't as freeform like it is now. The window sizes were fixed. Some apps you couldn't minimize much at all and then there was the ridiculous border around the entire window. Which meant you could not have two apps truly split screen because of the wasted border.

iPadOS 26 is much more flexible as you are finding. Both external monitor or on the iPad itself.

 

[Alameda]

The comments are from those who never tried to use iPadOS before with an external monitor and going by what they read or saw on YouTube. Yes you could resize apps (which you were limited to the number of apps) the resizing was very limited and restricted. It would "jump" sizes and it wasn't as freeform like it is now. The window sizes were fixed. Some apps you couldn't minimize much at all and then there was the ridiculous border around the entire window. Which meant you could not have two apps truly split screen because of the wasted border.

iPadOS 26 is much more flexible as you are finding. Both external monitor or on the iPad itself.

Thank you for that.

The dual monitor experience was really bad. To be honest... it's still not nearly as good as a Mac. I have an iPad Pro with the M2 processor, and compared to my M1-based MacBook Pro, it's still not even close. After opening several windows, it became very sluggish, then erratic, then it rebooted itself. Or, for instance, I wanted to attach a screenshot of my desktop to this thread, to show all the windows. But the website said my image was too big, and I couldn't find a way to resize it on the iPad. On a Mac, it's easy as pie, but on the iPad, I'm sure it's possible but it's definitely a chore.

 

[achappy]

Thank you for that.

But the website said my image was too big, and I couldn't find a way to resize it on the iPad. On a Mac, it's easy as pie, but on the iPad, I'm sure it's possible but it's definitely a chore.

Exactly the same way as on macOS (at least the way I did when I had my iMac). You can use Preview and use Tools Adjust size and you have several options.

I can’t speak to the performance of yours, but I was using an M1 12.9” since Developer Beta 3 and it performed really well. I had no issues and I was pushing it pretty hard with 4 stages and probably 4 to 5 apps per stage. It was actually the reason I sold my 27” iMac and picked up an M4 and gave the M1 to my son. My son has the M1 now for college and he hasn’t had any issues.

 

[says_stuff]

What you are describing has been around since ipados16 though? How is this different?

Having used exclusively ipados for the last years, ditching windows11, using my external monitor, writing my whole master’s dissertation on it, i did ask you guys early on,

since i am avoiding ipados 26 for the lack of slideover, i still have no clue about how it’s better than ipados 18.


I am currently on ipados 18 using it on my external monitor, as the attached image. How is the new software better?

 

[Alameda]

Having used exclusively ipados for the last years, ditching windows11, using my external monitor, writing my whole master’s dissertation on it, i did ask you guys early on,

since i am avoiding ipados 26 for the lack of slideover, i still have no clue about how it’s better than ipados 18.


I am currently on ipados 18 using it on my external monitor, as the attached image. How is the new software better?

Interesting. I guess one of us would have to use both side by side to figure it out. Apple says that windowing is improved but they don’t explain how.

I do know that windows now have the three dots for Close, Minimize and Full screen. But I haven’t used the two side by side so I’m not certain. I just know that I like it.

 

[achappy]

Having used exclusively ipados for the last years, ditching windows11, using my external monitor, writing my whole master’s dissertation on it, i did ask you guys early on,

since i am avoiding ipados 26 for the lack of slideover, i still have no clue about how it’s better than ipados 18.


I am currently on ipados 18 using it on my external monitor, as the attached image. How is the new software better?

I couldn't verify since my wife upgraded her Air to 26 so we are all on iPadOS 26. Forget the fixed sizing limitations of 18 and lack of window orientation options that 26 has. Verify the following:

1. Open up more than 4 apps and see if the last or most least used gets closed.
2. Make an app completely 1/2 or 1/3 screen by resizing the app completely vertically all the way to the top of the iPad. See that you will not be able to as there is an invisible border around the "stage" that prevents an app from using the entire screen. The only way is to make the app full screen. When you drag up it will "bounce" back.
3. Freely resize three of the windows so that they are equally in thirds but taking up the full vertical screen size.

None of these are limitations in 26. Window numbers, sizing and placement is almost unrestricted (you can't make an app but so small and RAM will limit how many windows).

 

[says_stuff]

I couldn't verify since my wife upgraded her Air to 26 so we are all on iPadOS 26. Forget the fixed sizing limitations of 18 and lack of window orientation options that 26 has. Verify the following:

1. Open up more than 4 apps and see if the last or most least used gets closed.
2. Make an app completely 1/2 or 1/3 screen by resizing the app completely vertically all the way to the top of the iPad. See that you will not be able to as there is an invisible border around the "stage" that prevents an app from using the entire screen. The only way is to make the app full screen. When you drag up it will "bounce" back.
3. Freely resize three of the windows so that they are equally in thirds but taking up the full vertical screen size.

None of these are limitations in 26. Window numbers, sizing and placement is almost unrestricted (you can't make an app but so small and RAM will limit how many windows).

I think this 2-year old video would be much more useful to answer, so that you will be able to notice the changes, since not much changed since ipados16 launched until ipados26.

Happy to hear you say they lifted the limit of 7 apps in ipados26 (you could have two additional open on the connected ipad in splitview plus slideover) though i never had to open more than those, I usually only need browsing-reading-taking notes-references apps open for my use case, while messaging and music is usually relegated in slideover windows on the ipad on reach on ipados18.

and yeah I will sure be glad if or when i will be able to update, to stick the windows fully to the side to gain some more pixels.

Not sure how full freeform resizing will enhance the experience unless all developers update to support this, i’m guessing this is an issue now in 26, right?

 

[achappy]

I’m not sure who the video was for as I know how pre 26 iPadOS worked since I used it daily and know its limitations because I never used Stage Manager because of them. In 26 Stage Manager is a game changer for me.

Not sure how full freeform resizing will enhance the experience unless all developers update to support this, i’m guessing this is an issue now in 26, right?

Developers don’t need to update anything to support this unlike they did for SlideOver (there were some apps that didn’t support SlideOver). I haven’t encountered a single app that can’t be freely resized and moved.

 

[says_stuff]

I’m not sure who the video was for as I know how pre 26 iPadOS worked since I used it daily and know its limitations because I never used Stage Manager because of them. In 26 Stage Manager is a game changer for me.



Developers don’t need to update anything to support this unlike they did for SlideOver (there were some apps that didn’t support SlideOver). I haven’t encountered a single app that can’t be freely resized and moved.

You said you needed verification for some stuff since you didn’t have access to a pre-ipados26 device and I thought you might even spot more differences to report. Thank you for the answer about app optimization.

 

[ndouglas]

Anyone know a workaround to approximate the side panel feature that seems to have been disappeared? I really miss it.

What I mean is, typing this in Firefox browser for example, I want to keep this full screen browser window open while adding the Notes app as a 2-inch wide window on the right. I relied on this for YEARS for work and it’s gone.


Yes I have fiddled around with the split screen and just did so now, again, to add a screenshot to illustrate. Maybe this answers my own question but it’s clunky at best. because when both apps close, I have to retry the same adjust and moving windows around every time I want to recreate the side panel notes.

It used to be just a simple gesture, or two at most. :-(

 

[RLRabb]

Anyone know a workaround to approximate the side panel feature that seems to have been disappeared? I really miss it.

What I mean is, typing this in Firefox browser for example, I want to keep this full screen browser window open while adding the Notes app as a 2-inch wide window on the right. I relied on this for YEARS for work and it’s gone.


Yes I have fiddled around with the split screen and just did so now, again, to add a screenshot to illustrate. Maybe this answers my own question but it’s clunky at best. because when both apps close, I have to retry the same adjust and moving windows around every time I want to recreate the side panel notes.

It used to be just a simple gesture, or two at most. :-(

The upcoming iPadOS 26.1 has a new feature (new for OS 26, that is) that will allow you to pin one window on top of a full-screen app, which appears to be what you are wanting, and then slide it off and on screen as you desire.

 

[JTK Awesome]

Bring back Split View and Slide Over as an option. Yes really.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipados-26-is-an-absolute-mess.2462173/

 

[Davidalan]

Split View is back

Bring back Split View and Slide Over as an option. Yes really.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipados-26-is-an-absolute-mess.2462173/

Split View on iPadOS 26
Look the video after the summary. It’s back.

 

[Ludatyk]

Bring back Split View and Slide Over as an option. Yes really.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipados-26-is-an-absolute-mess.2462173/

Split View in terms of having two apps side by side... already exist in iPadOS 26. And Apple is adding Slide Over back with iPadOS 26.1.