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Over the years, Apple has gradually enhanced the iPad to make it feel more like a Mac. One way it's pulled off this trick is by giving it more multitasking skills. That's especially true in iPadOS 26.
With the new OS version on a supported iPad, you can open an app in a resizable and moveable window, just like on a Mac. You're then able to launch multiple windows and drag them around the screen. By swiping up from the bottom, you can temporarily peek at all your windowed apps.
Next, you're able to close, minimize, or maximize a window through one of the icons in the upper left. You can automatically arrange your open windows so that they're all viewable on the screen. Plus, a menu bar displays a toolbar of commands for your current app.
Also: How to clear your iPad cache (and wipe out lag for good)
The new windowed capability is an upgrade over the Split View and Slide Over options from older versions of iPadOS. You can still use Split View and Slide Over as well as Stage Manager in iPadOS 26. But if you're truly into multitasking, you may prefer the windowed approach.
To use the latest multitasking skills on an iPad, you have to meet a couple of conditions.
First, you need an iPad compatible with iPadOS 26. Check out Apple's iPad support page to see which models qualify. Second, you'll have to be running version 26 or higher. To check, head to Settings, select General, and tap Software Update. You'll be told that iPadOS is up to date or prompted to download and install the latest update.
Now, here's how to use the new multitasking skills and why your iPad may feel more like a Mac than ever.
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