iPadOS 26.1 Brings Again Multitasking Characteristic That By no means Ought to Have Been Eliminated

With iPadOS 26, Apple lastly gave iPad customers the one factor that they’ve been asking for: desktop-like multitasking. Finally, you may resize and transfer app home windows anyplace in your iPad’s homescreen, just like how one can on macOS or Windows. But the software program replace got here with one draw back: it eliminated a beloved multitasking function that had been launched for iPads in 10 years in the past.

I’m, in fact, speaking about Slide Over. The multitasking function was launched for iPads in 2015, so way back that iPadOS was nonetheless known as iOS; Slide Over was a part of iOS 9. With Slide Over, you may open an app as one which floated on high of a full-screen app or two apps in Split View. The function was elementary for juggling a number of apps on the iPad.

So when Apple eliminated it altogether in iPadOS 26, individuals acquired massive mad. Why would Apple nix a wonderfully good function, however preserve the extensively disliked Stage Manager? Whether Apple heard suggestions or simply got here to its personal senses, Slide Over is now again as a part of the iPadOS 26.1 replace that dropped yesterday.

To convey Slide Over again, you first want to ensure your iPad, working the iPadOS 26.1 replace, is in “Windowed Apps” mode. You can examine this by going into the Settings app, then all the way down to “Multitasking & Gestures.” There are three multitasking modes: Full Screen Apps, Windowed Apps, and Stage Manager. Make positive it’s not within the different two modes.

Then open up an app, press and maintain the site visitors mild icons within the upper-left nook, after which faucet “Enter Slide Over.” Now, the app will nonetheless float above one other app or split-screen apps, however it may be hidden to the left or proper of your iPad’s display screen with a swipe. To exit Slide Over, simply press and maintain the site visitors mild icon and faucet “Exit Slide Over” to revert it again to an everyday resizable window.

The new Slide Over additionally has a small improve: the Slide Over app will be resized from full peak. Previously, you may solely resize an app horizontally in Slide Over mode.

Overall, it’s good to see the multitasking function return. I had requested Apple about it at WWDC, and was shocked that it had been eliminated. I used to be instructed that the brand new Windowed Apps mode was a greater substitute. Clearly, iPad house owners disagreed.

Lately, it’s felt like Apple has misplaced its focus relating to software program releases. Liquid Glass has its followers, however typically, it appears the UI has been a catastrophe from a legibility level. In iOS 26.1, Apple added a “tinted” setting for Liquid Glass that darkens the glassy and reflective interface to extend the opacity and add extra distinction. It doesn’t completely revert iOS 26 again to its pre-Liquid Glass days, nevertheless it does make issues actually simpler on the eyes.

Apple can spin these further settings as offering iPad customers with extra alternative, however longtime customers could really feel like the corporate is including and eradicating options with out rhyme or motive.