iPadOS 26 is an Absolute Mess

[Kal Madda]

Yes, and despite its attractions I have no plans to get one myself, because I’m an iPad guy. But my point was that if human nature explains the preponderance of negative views of iPadOS 26 on the Internet as Mr I7 suggests, then likewise there should be a preponderance of negative views of the Neo because of human nature. But there just isn’t.

So hand waving off the criticisms of 26 as a consequence of human nature doesn’t hold any water.

Yeah, I’m not saying iPadOS 26 is perfect, there are some legit concerns and complaints. But there’s also ragebait that actively harms the user base by making it harder for real problems to be heard and addressed. I view artificial clickbait scandal content like that as directly harmful to the user base… And that is why I oppose it the way I do.

There are real bugs, issues, shortcomings or whatever you want to call them with iPadOS 26 (just as with every previous version of iPadOS). But when people try to blow things out of proportion to create scandal and drive clicks, it makes those actual issues harder to address.

Personally, I think iPadOS 26 is the best version of iPadOS I’ve ever used. Is it perfect? Of course not. Is it the worst ever? I would argue very definitely not… 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[TigerMSTR]

I’ve seen several content creators who were extremely critical (I would argue overly so), who actually gave some very positive reviews on iPadOS 26. I’ve seen tons of positive impressions of iPadOS 26, the only main places I see negativity are in this forum and Reddit… 🤷🏼‍♂️

And ragebait like that thread just makes actual issues people may be encountering harder to find, and get drowned out by all the hollow noise, so it isn’t very helpful.

The dozen or content creators who
make content specifically about iPadOS are in no way representative of the typical iPads. At best, they’re enthusiasts, which by definition, makes them highly atypical users.

On the contrary, pay attention to where the complaints about iPadOS 26 are consistently coming from: artists, gamers, students and others with specific productivity-oriented goals for their iPads.

The problem with listening to enthusiasts is that they view using an iPad itself (and, perhaps, trying to use it as a Mac) as a hobby. So adding/removing features, dramatically overhauling the UI, and making things complicated excites them, because they’re actively looking for new things to be enthusiastic about (and to make content about). These people are not representative of people who use their iPads solely as a tool to get things done.

 

[I7guy]

People who use iPadOS as their bread and butter have more or less say in the hierarchal universe of whose complaints carry more weight That’s the argument and it’s very disingenuous and it seems like confirmation bias.

I’m not claiming iPadOS 26 is perfect, but like so much else it’s not as bad as YouTubers (and others) portray.

With many of us having little to no issues.

 

[Kal Madda]

The dozen or content creators who
make content specifically about iPadOS are in no way representative of the typical iPads. At best, they’re enthusiasts, which by definition, makes them highly atypical users.

On the contrary, pay attention to where the complaints about iPadOS 26 are consistently coming from: artists, gamers, students and others with specific productivity-oriented goals for their iPads.

The problem with listening to enthusiasts is that they view using an iPad itself (and, perhaps, trying to use it as a Mac) as a hobby. So adding/removing features, dramatically overhauling the UI, and making things complicated excites them, because they’re actively looking for new things to be enthusiastic about (and to make content about). These people are not representative of people who use their iPads solely as a tool to get things done.

A. There are more than a dozen I’ve seen… I think the point about things to make content about is probably fair, but claiming these people don’t use their devices for productivity? That one’s new…

B. Most negativity comes from content creators. Like the thread cited earlier started with a video where that content clearly didn’t have a clue how to use their device (or pretended not to for clicks), and then tried to blame iPadOS 26 for it…. I can just as easily, and I absolutely will, make the argument that negativity sells (the algorithms boost it), and so most content creators will put out negative reviews, which creates an environment that appears more negative than positive… When even the people with all the incentives to sell negativity are actually having to admit it’s good, that’s a pretty strong indicator it’s not a “dumpster fire”…

C. I’ve seen hundreds of positive comments and experiences being shared by average people using iPadOS 26 and using their iPads as a tool…

 

[TigerMSTR]

Here’s a thread of actual professional artists (not YouTube cosplayers) complaining about how iPadOS 26 has ruined their work (hundreds upon hundreds of comments).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2037105758798807132

Three months until WWDC26. Time to fix what you broke, Apple. ⏰

It’s truly incredible how the most liked comment in that thread full of professional artists suggests completely disabling the multitasking. When the whole point of iPadOS 26 was to enhance multitasking for professionals.

Apple has really screwed the pooch here.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I’ve seen several content creators who were extremely critical (I would argue overly so), who actually gave some very positive reviews on iPadOS 26. I’ve seen tons of positive impressions of iPadOS 26, the only main places I see negativity are in this forum and Reddit… 🤷🏼‍♂️

And ragebait like that thread just makes actual issues people may be encountering harder to find, and get drowned out by all the hollow noise, so it isn’t very helpful.

People need to put their expectations in check, these are not MacBook Airs or Pros. At $599 and or $499 thru the Edu Store, these are a good deal for a budget MacBook. For $200 one can buy an M4 MacBook Air for $799.

 

[Kal Madda]

It’s truly incredible how the most liked comment in that thread full of professional artists suggests completely disabling the multitasking. When the whole point of iPadOS 26 was to enhance multitasking for professionals.

Apple has really screwed the pooch here.

Or, maybe, it demonstrates the majority of people in that thread aren’t professionals…

 

[Kal Madda]

People need to put their expectations in check, these are not MacBook Airs or Pros. At $599 and or $499 thru the Edu Store, these are a good deal for a budget MacBook. For $200 one can buy an M4 MacBook Air for $799.

I agree, but I think you meant to reply to another comment? 🙂👍🏻

 

[TigerMSTR]

Or, maybe, it demonstrates the majority of people in that thread aren’t professionals…

You can’t literally view their art on their profiles 🤦‍♂️

 

[Kal Madda]

You can’t literally view their art on their profiles 🤦‍♂️

I can’t view their art on their profiles? I’m guessing you meant can? And I’m supposed to take all the time to do this? And how do I know it’s their art? How do we know some aren’t bots (an increasing issue on social media)?

Besides, for just art use, I actually could see an argument to be made for disabling multitasking regardless of how great it is. Because with art, you usually want your full canvas for your art with no distractions (another reason the video in that thread is kind of rubbish). So disabling multitasking could make sense, as digital art is usually very light on multitasking. I know, as I am a freelance graphic designer/digital artist. When I use those softwares, they are always full screen, and things are so heavy that way that many of those art apps only officially support full-screen, like Affinity never supported Split View or Slide Over. Digital art really doesn’t require multitasking…

So a comment thread of digital artists may think multitasking should be switched off, that doesn’t mean multitasking is bad, it just means it isn’t required for their workflow…

 

[notabitail]

I have iPadOS 18 on my iPad and it's got plenty of weird bugs that break features that should work.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I have iPadOS 18 on my iPad and it's got plenty of weird bugs that break features that should work.

That's not really good either. That means both suck. 🙁

I kid, I kid. Actually for me 18 was pretty good.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I'll just post it here.

So much for attention to detail and creating a premium experience...

View attachment 2616351

I have this as well, and it’s just one of many other glitches. OS 26 is the ugliest Apple has done since iOS 7.

There’s also glitches where buttons of apps would be behind these menu buttons. ChatGPT updated their app because the create new chat button (or was it the menu button?) it was behind one of Apple’s menu buttons. It happened with other apps as well. Ironically, also with their own app, Safari. 😂

Something else: has anyone managed to use window management the way it has been before iPadOS 26? Is there a way to use it exactly as it was? It used to be perfect for me, but right now it’s an absolute mess and a total nightmare for me.

 

[I7guy]

I have this as well, and it’s just one of many other glitches. OS 26 is the ugliest Apple has done since iOS 7.

Have you cleared cache and restarted the phone or iPad? Os 26 is one of the nicest looking o/a updates since iOS 6.

There’s also glitches where buttons of apps would be behind these menu buttons. ChatGPT updated their app because the create new chat button (or was it the menu button?) it was behind one of Apple’s menu buttons. It happened with other apps as well. Ironically, also with their own app, Safari. 😂

Across multiple devices I have no glitches. You may have a corruption and should try to install from scratch.

Something else: has anyone managed to use window management the way it has been before iPadOS 26?

That type of window management has been removed in favor of widowed windows.

Is there a way to use it exactly as it was? It used to be perfect for me, but right now it’s an absolute mess and a total nightmare for me.

No it’s gone and replaced by something more intuitive, better working and more flexible.

 

[Kal Madda]

Something else: has anyone managed to use window management the way it has been before iPadOS 26? Is there a way to use it exactly as it was? It used to be perfect for me, but right now it’s an absolute mess and a total nightmare for me.

Stage Manager still works the same way it did before, only it allows the ability to add more windows into a stage now if someone wants to. For me, things have only improved in terms of window management vs iPadOS 18, and I went in skeptical of the changes. YMMV, but other than the addition of the Menu Bar and the windowing buttons being moved to the left (makes sense for greater consistency IMO), I can still use Stage Manager the same way I did before if I wish. Only now it’s improved because I can use Split View and Slide Over inside Stage Manager (before you couldn’t use Split View and Slide Over if you were using Stage Manager). And I can create three or four way split views now, something I couldn’t do as cleanly or simply before.

 

[TigerMSTR]

This is more or less the vibe of everyone insisting there’s nothing wrong with iPadOS 26 🤣

 

[eltoslightfoot]

This is more or less the vibe of everyone insisting there’s nothing wrong with iPadOS 26 🤣

View attachment 2617519

Yes, what was so wrong with split screen? At least add it back.

As it is now, I just gave up and went with my Surface Pro 9. If my only options are full screen or tons-of-windows-and-we-hope-this-will-make-you-forget-about-MacOS-on-the-iPad, then I will just go with the Surface Pro, where I have windows, but I also have a desktop OS that knows what to do with them.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

This is more or less the vibe of everyone insisting there’s nothing wrong with iPadOS 26 🤣

View attachment 2617519

 

[Kal Madda]

Yes, what was so wrong with split screen? At least add it back.

As it is now, I just gave up and went with my Surface Pro 9. If my only options are full screen or tons-of-windows-and-we-hope-this-will-make-you-forget-about-MacOS-on-the-iPad, then I will just go with the Surface Pro, where I have windows, but I also have a desktop OS that knows what to do with them.

They didn’t get rid of split screen…

 

[eltoslightfoot]

They didn’t get rid of split screen…

Look I might not have the right name, but they definitely got rid of the thing that allows one to drag an app to 3/4 of the screen and then drag another app to 1/4 of the screen. And we are not talking windows here like stage manager. There was no group of 5 apps, it was just 1 app that you had to drag over to the window if you wanted it onscreen at the same time as the 1/4 app. I'll find the name if you make me get pedantic. And it is definitely gone.

Edited to add: It was called Split View. And it no longer exists. Here is a thread discussing it. Slide Over was put back, but not Split View:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/1o676fy/i_updated_to_ipados_26_and_lost_split_view_my

 

[Kal Madda]

Look I might not have the right name, but they definitely got rid of the thing that allows one to drag an app to 3/4 of the screen and then drag another app to 1/4 of the screen. And we are not talking windows here like stage manager. There was no group of 5 apps, it was just 1 app that you had to drag over to the window if you wanted it onscreen at the same time as the 1/4 app. I'll find the name if you make me get pedantic. And it is definitely gone.

Edited to add: It was called Split View. And it no longer exists. Here is a thread discussing it. Slide Over was put back, but not Split View:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/1o676fy/i_updated_to_ipados_26_and_lost_split_view_my

I wasn’t trying to be “pedantic” or criticize what you called it, I was merely pointing out they didn’t get rid of the feature you’re talking about. And they didn’t. Both Split View and Slide Over are both still supported in iPadOS 26.

Split View is still in iPadOS 26, and still invoked in a similar manner to the way it was before, with the ability to drag it from the dock and snap it to a half of the screen. Here’s split view in iPadOS 26 with one app at 3/4 and the other using 1/4 (and you can choose to keep the App Dock visible, a really nice added touch):

And Slide Over is supported as well (I think it was reincorporated in like iPadOS 26.2 or so if I recall correctly), and it now supports resizing, so I can make a larger or smaller Slide Over window then I could before:

Both are still available in iPadOS 26, they’re just a little different and improved. 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[achappy]

Look I might not have the right name, but they definitely got rid of the thing that allows one to drag an app to 3/4 of the screen and then drag another app to 1/4 of the screen. And we are not talking windows here like stage manager. There was no group of 5 apps, it was just 1 app that you had to drag over to the window if you wanted it onscreen at the same time as the 1/4 app. I'll find the name if you make me get pedantic. And it is definitely gone.

Edited to add: It was called Split View. And it no longer exists. Here is a thread discussing it. Slide Over was put back, but not Split View:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/1o676fy/i_updated_to_ipados_26_and_lost_split_view_my

Why reference a thread 5 months old instead of actually trying it? Split View was never removed. How it was invoked changed initially but then they added back the ability to drag from the dock or from Search in one of the 26.X releases.

 

[achappy]

I wasn’t trying to be “pedantic” or criticize what you called it, I was merely pointing out they didn’t get rid of the feature you’re talking about. And they didn’t. Both Split View and Slide Over are both still supported in iPadOS 26.

Split View is still in iPadOS 26, and still invoked in a similar manner to the way it was before, with the ability to drag it from the dock and snap it to a half of the screen. Here’s split view in iPadOS 26 with one app at 3/4 and the other using 1/4 (and you can choose to keep the App Dock visible, a really nice added touch):

View attachment 2617545

And Slide Over is supported as well, and it now supports resizing, so I can make a larger or smaller Slide Over window then I could before:

View attachment 2617551

Both are still available in iPadOS 26, they’re just a little different and improved. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I really admire your patience and willingness to help. I admit I could use more of it but I have little for the blanket statements that are just wrong.

 

[Kal Madda]

I really admire your patience and willingness to help. I admit I could use more of it but I have little for the blanket statements that are just wrong.

Thanks, I appreciate the encouragement. 🙂👍🏻. I definitely try, though sometimes I have been less than patient, so I’ve been trying to work on that. 🙂👍🏻

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I wasn’t trying to be “pedantic” or criticize what you called it, I was merely pointing out they didn’t get rid of the feature you’re talking about. And they didn’t. Both Split View and Slide Over are both still supported in iPadOS 26.

Split View is still in iPadOS 26, and still invoked in a similar manner to the way it was before, with the ability to drag it from the dock and snap it to a half of the screen. Here’s split view in iPadOS 26 with one app at 3/4 and the other using 1/4 (and you can choose to keep the App Dock visible, a really nice added touch):

View attachment 2617545

And Slide Over is supported as well (I think it was reincorporated in like iPadOS 26.2 or so if I recall correctly), and it now supports resizing, so I can make a larger or smaller Slide Over window then I could before:

View attachment 2617551

Both are still available in iPadOS 26, they’re just a little different and improved. 🤷🏼‍♂️

No, it is still different because all of the apps are behind it still in memory. So it takes up more RAM. But again, it isn't the same. It just isn't.

Edit: Never mind? I guess?