Hands-On Apple 187: Windowing System in iPadOS 26

Summary

Podcast Summary: Hands-On Apple 187: Windowing System in iPadOS 26

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Introduction

In the July 2025 episode of Hands-On Apple, hosted by Micah Sargent, the focus shifts to the latest advancements in Apple’s operating systems unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference. Specifically, the episode delves into the newly introduced windowing system in iPadOS 26, offering listeners an early glimpse into the enhanced multitasking capabilities awaiting iPad users.

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Overview of iPadOS 26 Windowing System

Micah begins by highlighting the aesthetic and functional upgrades in iPadOS 26. He notes the iPad's refreshed, "more glossy and glassy" appearance, attributed to the integration of the new Liquid Glass setup across Apple platforms.

Micah Sargent [02:45]: "The iPad is a little bit more glossy and glassy, thanks to the Liquid Glass setup that is now part of iPadOS and the rest of Apple's platforms."

Enhanced Multitasking Features

The core discussion revolves around the revamped windowing system, designed to streamline multitasking on the iPad. Micah demonstrates how each application now features a distinctive curved icon in the bottom right corner, signaling its capability to enter windowed mode.

Micah Sargent [03:10]: "That new little shape indicates that the app is able to go into windowed mode. You should see this in every app across every use case."

He elaborates on the intuitive resizing and arrangement of windows, drawing parallels to macOS's familiar Stoplight Icons (red, yellow, green buttons) for window management. This similarity aims to provide a seamless experience for users transitioning between Mac and iPad.

Micah Sargent [04:05]: "The stoplight buttons, red, yellow, and green, are the ways to control windows on macOS. And it works the same or mostly the same on iPadOS."

Practical Demonstration

Micah proceeds with a live demonstration, showcasing the ease of resizing and moving application windows. By clicking and dragging the curved icon, users can adjust the window size or convert an app back to full-screen mode effortlessly.

Micah Sargent [05:20]: "I can see the red button lets me close, the yellow button lets me downsize the window, and the green button lets me make the window larger, smaller, or arrange it."

He further explores multitasking by opening multiple applications, such as Safari and Music, and manipulating their window sizes and positions. This flexibility allows for a more dynamic and productive user experience, akin to a desktop environment.

Menu Bars and Keyboard Shortcuts

A significant addition in iPadOS 26 is the introduction of Menu Bars, reminiscent of those found on macOS. Micah demonstrates accessing application-specific settings directly from the menu bar, enhancing accessibility and efficiency.

Micah Sargent [07:15]: "Menu bars have come to iPadOS. I can see the Safari name here and choose Safari Settings. I can adjust the extensions for Safari, manage profiles, and make changes there as I see fit."

Additionally, the integration of keyboard shortcuts, such as Command + Comma for quickly accessing app settings, is highlighted as a favorite new feature, particularly benefiting power users who rely on keyboard navigation.

Micah Sargent [08:10]: "That's one of my favorite new features, is being able to quickly access the settings for an app with that keyboard shortcut of command comma."

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Future Outlook and Conclusion

Concluding the episode, Micah emphasizes the evolving nature of iPadOS 26, acknowledging that Apple may refine the windowing system further before its full release in the fall. He assures listeners that despite potential changes, the foundational improvements lay a strong groundwork for enhanced multitasking on the iPad.

Micah Sargent [09:00]: "I'll be keeping an eye on how things change, morph, improve, or don't improve over time as the hardworking developers at Apple continue to polish this in time for the fall release."

He invites listeners to stay tuned for more in-depth analyses and previews as the operating system approaches its official launch, making the episode a valuable resource for both early adopters and those awaiting the final version.

Micah Sargent [09:30]: "Thanks so much for tuning in to this week's episode of Hands on Apple. Back next week with another episode and I'll see you then."

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Conclusion

This episode of Hands-On Apple provides a comprehensive early look at the windowing system in iPadOS 26, showcasing Apple's commitment to enhancing multitasking and user experience on the iPad. Micah Sargent's detailed walkthrough, coupled with practical demonstrations and insightful commentary, equips listeners with a clear understanding of the upcoming features and their potential impact.

For tech enthusiasts eager to maximize their iPad's capabilities, this episode serves as an essential preview of what’s to come, ensuring they are well-prepared to leverage the new windowing system upon its release.

Transcript

[Micah Sargent]

Coming up on hands on Apple, let's take a look at the windowing system in iPadOS. 26. Stay tuned.

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[Micah Sargent]

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[Micah Sargent]

Hello and welcome back to Hands on Apple or welcome to Hands on Apple. For the first time, I am Micah Sargent and today we are taking a look at an upcoming feature. Yes, Apple has introduced its latest round of operating systems just recently at the Worldwide Developers Conference, and now is our opportunity to kind of get an early look at what's to come. Now I'll be going in much more depth as we continue to move through the summer and of course as we hit fall when these operating systems actually ship. But I've been trying to give you some early previews of what you can expect to kind of get you ready so today I thought it'd be a good idea to give a quick look at the new windowing system in iPadOS 26. Because, yes, we can finally have, in I think, a very clear and clever way, a multi window, multitasking setup on the iPad. So let's head over to ipados to take a look. All right, here we are on ipados 26. And as you can see, the iPad is a little bit more glossy and glassy, thanks to the liquid glass setup that is now part of ipados and the rest of Apple's platforms. But I want to show you what you need to know when it comes to windowing. As it stands now, keep in mind that Apple can and will and often does change many aspects of the operating system over the course of the summer. So what you're seeing now may not be what it looks like later, but the idea tends to stay the same. And so that's why it's worth kind of showing you right now. If I open a Safari experience, you know, this is me opening the Safari app. You will see in the bottom right hand corner there is a curved sort of macaroni noodle piece. And that new little shape indicates that the app is able to go into windowed mode. You should see this in every app across every use case. If I tap on this, it will, or rather if I tap and move it, it will allow me to resize this page and turn it into a window that I am able to use. Now, first and foremost, look in the top left hand corner. You will notice that there is something that those of you who are have used a Mac will be aware of, will have seen before, and that is the stoplight icons. The stoplight buttons, red, yellow and green. Those are the ways to control windows on macOS. And it works the same or mostly the same on iPadOS. If we take our cursor and we move it up to those icons, I can see the red button lets me close, the yellow button lets me downsize the window, and the green button lets me make the window larger, smaller, or arrange it. Now, if I move over those spotlight, those stoplight, excuse me, icons, then I can see what kind of move and resize functionality I have. I can move it to the left, move it to the right, move it to the top of the screen, the bottom of the screen, I can fill the entire page, which kind of turns it back into a full screen app and go on from there. Now let's go back to the main screen and let's launch the music app. We're going to take the music app and we are going to make this a Windows experience here. And I'm going to close the messages app and then we will go back to the main screen and I will launch Safari again and we will change the size of this window. Now you'll notice that I can click on the tag on the tab bar at the top and I can move it around so that I get two different windows that I could have open at the same time. Now if I were to go to Safari and choose new, it will open it as a new tab, not as a new page, but you can open it as a new window if you'd like. And we'll take a look at that next. So along with the new windowing system in ipados which gives you this great experience of being able to view all of these windows at once, if I want to launch the Settings app and also turn this into a window, I can do that. Well, there's also something that will be familiar to those of you who are on macOS. We're going to make Safari full sized. And here I am scrolling through the Twit page, but check out what happens if I move to the top of the page. Yes, menu bars have come to ipados. I can see the Safari name here and choose Safari Settings. I can adjust the extensions for Safari Manage profiles and make changes there as I see fit. I have file edit, view history. I mean I've got everything there. Let's change this back back to a window so that I can go into settings and see what we have in settings which will make full screen. You don't have to make it full screen to view the the menu bar, but it's kind of nice just to see what you're working with here at the top. So I can scroll up here. Settings, I've got Settings Settings which should take us back to the general page file to close the window view to search window to minimize exit, full screen, etc. And help, which is just the search functional. Then let's go into music so you can see what it looks like there. I have access to controls, I have access to view the sidebar, show what's now playing, show lyrics, access to songs, and of course access to the settings for music which will pop us right in. That's one of my favorite new features, is being able to quickly access the settings for an app with that keyboard shortcut of command comma so that is a look at the menu bar which has come to IPADOs as well. That again, a very, very quick look at the windowing system in ipados 26. I'll be keeping an eye on how things change, morph, improve, don't improve over time as the hardworking developers at Apple continue to polish this in time for the fall release. But as I mentioned, it's a great time to kind of get ready for what you will soon be able to experience, even if you don't plan yourself to be a person who is riding and rocking the beta train, as it were. Thanks so much for tuning in to this week's episode of Hands on Apple. Back next week with another episode and I'll see you then. Bye bye.

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