Which mode do you use? - Standard app / Windowed app / Stage manager / Combination in iPadOS 26?

[warrior30]

Which mode do you use? - Standard app / Windowed app / Stage manager / Combination in iPadOS 26?

Intrigued as to see what most people use. I was using Windowed app as my default, but I'm wondering whether I have any benefit from it and may go back to using the Standard app mode.

 

[achappy]

Solely Stage Manager for me. For me it works similar to Desktops when I used MacOS. So I have different stages with apps setup in a way and then I have iMessage in SlideOver to access in any stage.

 

[BigBlur]

I use Windowed Apps, but have my apps full screen most of the time anyway...so it's not much different than the standard mode. It's nice to be able to resize windows when I do want to, and to be able to access the menu bar.

 

[It’s always something]

I use full screen app mode, because I use corner swipes for Quick Notes and screenshots, and you lose those with the other modes. I also don’t care for the extra screen consumption of the other modes. If I could still occasionally use the old Split Screen I would be happy.

 

[Simacca]

Windowed apps for me. It’s converted me to using my iPad in landscape mode on my m5. In portrait mode I was always covering the camera with my hand.

 

[muzzy996]

iPad Mini 7 user here. While I appreciate the ability to resize windows in iOS 26 on the Mini, I just don't find myself needing to display more than one window in the screen very often so I primarily stay in fullscreen app mode. I'll occasionally toggle over to windowed mode when I need it. When I do, I keep the drop down menu off since I find it intrusive to pulldown gestures for notificaiton and control center shade access.

 

[warrior30]

iPad Mini 7 user here. While I appreciate the ability to resize windows in iOS 26 on the Mini, I just don't find myself needing to display more than one window in the screen very often so I primarily stay in fullscreen app mode. I'll occasionally toggle over to windowed mode when I need it. When I do, I keep the drop down menu off since I find it intrusive to pulldown gestures for notificaiton and control center shade access.

That's something I don't understand why they implemented. Whilst its always good to have options, I just can't see a reason why an iPad Mini user would find it useful (from a practicality of size point of view) to have resizeable windows. Not that I'm complaining, always been an advocate of more choice the better as long as it doesn't come as a compromise of something else that is more useful.

 

[achappy]

That's something I don't understand why they implemented. Whilst its always good to have options, I just can't see a reason why an iPad Mini user would find it useful (from a practicality of size point of view) to have resizeable windows. Not that I'm complaining, always been an advocate of more choice the better as long as it doesn't come as a compromise of something else that is more useful.

I think this is something that many don't seem to understand about the improvements in the 26 multitasking. Pre iPadOS26, only certain models got certain features like Stage Manager. With 26, ALL supported iPads get the same functionality. It's up to the user to decide if they want to use it but they now have the choice.

It's a much better solution long term for code uniformity and maintenance.

 

[warrior30]

I think this is something that many don't seem to understand about the improvements in the 26 multitasking. Pre iPadOS26, only certain models got certain features like Stage Manager. With 26, ALL supported iPads get the same functionality. It's up to the user to decide if they want to use it but they now have the choice.

It's a much better solution long term for code uniformity and maintenance.

Just to stress, my last sentence does agree with you:

Not that I'm complaining, always been an advocate of more choice the better as long as it doesn't come as a compromise of something else that is more useful.

My caveat is that it doesn't come as a compromise of something else that is more useful. In an ideal world, having the same code base for all devices sounds optimal - efficient use of code, not having to manage multiple versions of code, all devices get same functionality etc. In reality different devices have different hardware, so to keep the same features on different devices with differing hardware will have different costs to it. This cost could be disk space, CPU usage, battery life, memory usage etc.

Just want to point out that I'm not disagreeing with you with the option of more choice to the user.

 

[papbot]

I’ve used the big iPad Pros for a long time now, and full-screen apps suit my needs the most. Occasionally, I may make use of windowed mode, but those needs were always met with Split View or Slide Over. So the options in 26 add nothing useful for me that I didn’t already have and took away options that I can only access by enabling windowed mode and then having to revert back to use the functions I use most often. So it’s a very mixed bag for me; overall, I’m not a fan. One thing that aggravates me the most is the loss of the cmd and globe key combo menus. I used those all the time to find key combos that I needed; fortunately, I remember many of them, but new ones were added frequently, and without those menus, I’ll never be aware of them. Going to windowed mode and pulling down the menu bar to search through all the tabs (and their tiny fonts) is not an acceptable alternative. Why that function could not have been retained makes no sense. Visually, 26 appeals to me, even though there are so many visual glitches still remaining, but functionally, nothing was added to make my usage more efficient. So for me, it’s full screen 95+% of the time and windowed when I have to.

 

[richpjr]

I have been waiting for windowed mode for years and find my iPad infinitely more useful for my needs now that it is out.

 

[SteveOm]

Full screen goes well with my work style and I use my iPad for work a lot.