The iPad Has Transitioned into a Comprehensive Computing Device
A Major Shift for the iPad: The Arrival of Windowing
Craig Federighi couldn't hide his excitement as he announced the latest transformation of the iPad during Apple's WWDC25 keynote. He wasn't unveiling new hardware, dazzling software features, or AI with excellence. No, he was revealing windows - those staple computer components. With the advent of iPadOS 26, Apple equipped these devices with conventional windowing, and the iPad will never be the same.
For years, Apple's loyal fans beckoned for such a PC-like interface on the iPad. The iPad, famously peddled as "something that is not a computer," is finally giving in.
The release of iPadOS 26, due this fall, allows users to easily move and resize windows on the screen or tile multiple apps. This multitasking enhancement is a massive jump from the past limitations of either full-screen apps or side-by-side split-screen.
But with great power comes some messiness. To address this, iPadOS 26 also introduces familiar controls to manage and organize those numerous windows. Hovering over a window's corner will bring out three buttons similar to Mac, enabling users to close, minimize, or maximize the app. Android fans might delight to learn that Apple has also carried over many intuitive trackpad gestures, easing the transition for any Mac users out there. Exposé, a celebrated Mac feature that was folded into Mission Control back in 2011, gets a revival under new navigation and management controls.
iPads Aiming for Desktop Dominance
- True Resizable and Overlapping Windows: Real windowed multitasking debuts in iPadOS 26, offering users the freedom to open apps in separate, resizable windows that can be moved, overlapped, snapped into place, or stacked as desired[5].
- Universal Multi-Windowing: The innovative multi-windowing system is available on all iPadOS 26-compatible devices, including standard iPads and iPad Mini, transforming even these smaller devices into robust multitasking powerhouses[5].
- Window Position and Size Memory: iPadOS 26 remembers the last used window size and position for each app. When reopened, apps will automatically resume in the same layout[5].
- No Window Limits: Unlike previous versions, there are no constraints on the number of windows manageable[5].
This powerful, desktop-class multitasking experience will undoubtedly revolutionize the way users interact with their iPads, improves productivity, and brings visual consistency across Apple's ecosystem[1][2]. Adopting a more flexible, productive, and modern experience, the iPad steps closer to fully eclipsing desktop computers.
- Apple's iPadOS 26 includes the introduction of 'true resizable and overlapping windows', a feature reminiscent of traditional desktop operating systems, marking a significant shift in the tablet's multitasking capabilities.
- With the arrival of 'universal multi-windowing' in iPadOS 26, even smaller devices like the iPad Mini can now function as powerful multitasking devices, thanks to this innovative system.
- A beneficial feature of iPadOS 26 is its ability to remember the 'window position and size memory' for each app, allowing users to resume their work exactly where they left off, enhancing productivity and convenience.
