True multitasking and menu bar for the Apple iPad: iPadOS 26 now available
Together with iOS 26 for the iPhone, Apple has also just released iPadOS 26. The operating system update is compatible with the iPad Pro from 2018, the third-generation iPad Air, the eighth-generation iPad, the fifth-generation iPad mini, and all newer iPad models.
The update introduces several significant innovations, starting with Apple's new Liquid Glass design, which allows windows, widgets and app icons to be partially transparent. Combined with redesigned animations and some improved apps, this is intended to give the operating system a fresh look and feel. More importantly, iPadOS 26 finally introduces "true" multitasking, allowing multiple app windows to be freely placed, overlapped and freely scaled on the display.
Users can now view all open windows side by side with a single gesture, allowing for easy switching between them. A macOS-style menu bar makes it easier to select tools and options with a mouse. An improved Files app allows users to manage folders more flexibly, change their color and icon, set default apps for different file types, and even place folders in the Dock for quicker access.
Apple also brings the Preview app from the Mac to the iPad, allowing you to open, edit and resave files such as PDF documents or photos without having to resort to third-party apps. The Phone app from the iPhone has also been added to the iPad, and phone calls can be recorded and transcribed in the Notes app. More details on iPadOS 26 can be found here.
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