iPadOS 26.1 Beta 2 Reintroduces Slide Over Multitasking

[MacRumors]

With the second beta of iPadOS 26.1, Apple tweaked multitasking on the iPad to reintroduce the Slide Over feature. Slide Over was removed in iPadOS 26 because Apple replaced it with a new windowed multitasking system, but some iPad users missed the feature.

The updated version of Slide Over works with all of the new iPadOS 26 multitasking features. You can have multiple app windows open, and then use Slide Over to quickly get to an app that overlays your windowed apps.

To use Slide Over in iPadOS 26.1, you'll need to tap on the green icon of an app's window to open up the window sizing controls. From there, you can tap on the "Enter Slide Over" button.

When an app has been put into Slide Over mode, it transitions into a Slide Over window that stays over your other open apps. You can swipe to hide the Slide Over app from view, and then swipe to bring it back again. The Slide Over window can be resized as needed, which is new in iPadOS 26.1.

Slide Over in iPadOS 26.1 beta 2 supports a single app, so it's not quite the same as the older version of Slide Over, but it should be a welcome addition to those who were missing the option.

Article Link: iPadOS 26.1 Beta 2 Reintroduces Slide Over Multitasking

 

[germanbeer007]

Overlapping windows makes zero sense on the iPad.

Let iPad be iPad and let Mac be Mac. This is so stupid.

People who want iPad to be a Mac are insufferable. Just buy a Mac.

 

[klasma]

It takes more taps to invoke, and you can’t switch between slideover apps.

 

[turbineseaplane]

YES!

To all those that say Apple aren’t paying attention to feedback on forums and in general discourse, I present to you this reversion.

 

[Astuces iOS]

Looks like my petition worked

 

[gaximus]

So happy for this, it made sending a simple text while doing something else so difficult, in comparison.

 

[david_n_n]

This was by far the main complaint from casual users, which we need to understand is perfectly fine! Devices should be easy to use!

 

[germanbeer007]

To all those that say Apple aren’t paying attention to feedback on forums and in general discourse, I present to you this reversion.

I present to you: general discourse (not my take) on Magic Mouse, iCloud 5GB storage, Apple ads in Settings.app and in push notifications, iPhone mini, no third party app stores in USA, Siri + Apple Intelligence.

 

[Kylo83]

We need simple split screen when using full screen apps, that’s what people want back

 

[darthbane2k]

Overlapping windows makes zero sense on the iPad.

Let iPad be iPad and let Mac be Mac. This is so stupid.

People who want iPad to be a Mac are insufferable. Just buy a Mac.

Totally agree - only thing I would ask for though is an Apple-made remote-desktop app for iPad so we can operate our Macs. Like Back to My Mac.

 

[Astuces iOS]

We need simple split screen when using full screen apps, that’s what people want back

Yup like before, that’s why I don’t mark as a victory yet.

 

[RevTEG]

Yes! I’m glad slide-over is back. I was getting used to the new way of having side by side apps open but the old way is just faster. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Pad OS26, but I used slide over for teaching. The old way was just faster for me when I needed to quickly reference other notes.

 

[kalafalas]

A single slide over app is all I needed. I like the simplicity actually. So happy I can have it in multi window view as well!

 

[turbineseaplane]

We need simple split screen when using full screen apps, that’s what people want back

We want that back also, but I personally was more concerned with SlideOver.

 

[kalafalas]

Totally agree - only thing I would ask for though is an Apple-made remote-desktop app for iPad so we can operate our Macs. Like Back to My Mac.

Screens works flawlessly. I’m still using version 4

 

[Astuces iOS]

We want that back also, but I personally was more concerned with SlideOver.

Time to send feedbacks to Apple everyone !! With luck we could get something even better…

 

[M5RahuL]

Not falling for it.. Will stay on 18.6.2 for as long as I can!!

 

[koifish22]

YES!

To all those that say Apple aren’t paying attention to feedback on forums and in general discourse, I present to you this reversion.

Now time to bring back Launchpad in Tahoe…

 

[Astuces iOS]

Not falling for it.. Will stay on 18.6.2 for as long as I can!!

Yeah better wait until iPadOS 26.1 final release, btw you can update to iPadOS 18.7.1 bro

 

[apparatchik]

Overlapping windows makes zero sense on the iPad.

Let iPad be iPad and let Mac be Mac. This is so stupid.

People who want iPad to be a Mac are insufferable. Just buy a Mac.

You can choose fullscreen mode and never touch the other windowing modes.

 

[darthbane2k]

Screens works flawlessly. I’m still using version 4

Subscription right? I really think Apple should just bake this into iPad OS.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Overlapping windows makes zero sense on the iPad.

Let iPad be iPad and let Mac be Mac. This is so stupid.

People who want iPad to be a Mac are insufferable. Just buy a Mac.

Yep.. Way too much listening to the podcasting/blogging types who bent themselves into a pretzel to try to do Mac things on iPads.

Just buy a Mac.

 

[Hajj.david]

Overlapping windows makes zero sense on the iPad.

Let iPad be iPad and let Mac be Mac. This is so stupid.

People who want iPad to be a Mac are insufferable. Just buy a Mac.

Makes a lot of sense actually. For example I am reviewing a web app build that my devs pushed out, I have it taking up like 90% of the screen and overlapping git (for issue tracking), and teams (for communication). The second I need either one I can tap it and do what I need to do including dragging screenshots, doing a live demo, etc and tap back to main safari window to keep working.

Its not a mac, its an iPad...thats now a lot more useful.

 

[Squozen]

Split View or nothing, Apple.

 

[JMaille]

Now time to bring back Launchpad in Tahoe…

Yes, please, please, please.