Apple’s iPadOS 26 introduces more than 20 new features that bring the iPad closer to a Mac experience with enhanced productivity and multitasking capabilities.
- App windows can be freely resized and multiple windows, including duplicates of the same app, can be open simultaneously.
- New tiling gestures allow snapping windows into halves, thirds, or quarters.
- Windows now have red, yellow, and green buttons for closing, minimizing, and maximizing, similar to macOS.
- Apps remember their window size and position when reopened, with layouts preserved on external displays.
- A swipe-up Exposé gesture displays all open windows, resembling Mac’s Mission Control.
- A new menu bar appears on swipe or cursor hover, offering app commands; third-party apps can customize these menus, and users can search for commands.
- The cursor is now a precise pointer, matching macOS behavior.
- The Files app adds resizable columns, collapsible folders, and customizable folder icons with colors and emoji. Folders can also be dragged into the Dock for quick access.
- Users can assign default apps for opening specific file types.
- The macOS Preview app is now available on iPad for PDF and image editing.
- Background Tasks enable long-running operations to continue when using other apps.
- Microphone selection can be assigned per app or website, mirroring macOS input controls.
- High-quality local capture of audio and video from calls is now supported.
- Notes can be exported as Markdown files for easier sharing and formatting.
These updates further narrow the gap between iPad and Mac workflows, enhancing the iPad’s capability as a versatile productivity device.