How To Understand the Key Feature Removed in iPadOS 26

So, iPadOS 26 drops and hits with some shiny new multitasking features, like resizable windows and a sneaky new menu bar support. I mean, it kinda feels like Apple’s trying to bring the iPad closer to a Mac experience, and honestly, some of it is pretty neat in theory. But then, you realize the big punch to the gut — they’ve outright killed off Slide Over and made Split View way harder to pop open. And that’s where things get kinda frustrating.

New Multitasking Features: Resizable Windows and Menu Bar Support

Apparently, you can now resize app windows freely, which is a nice touch—gives a little more flexibility rather than the old fixed sizes. To activate this, you go into the App Switcher or just drag the corners of windowed apps. The Menu Bar now sits on top of the screen, similar to macOS, so accessing app functions is a tad more straightforward. Again, this is for users who want a more desktop-like vibe on their iPads. When it works, it’s kinda cool—makes multitasking feel a little less like a bunch of separate apps and more like a real workspace.

On some setups, though, the window resizing can be a bit iffy—sometimes it doesn’t register the resize or ‘stick’ in a weird way. Not sure why it works sometimes and not others, but it’s definitely not flawless. This applies mostly when apps don’t fully support resizable windows yet, which is kind of annoying.

Background Task Processing: Improved Efficiency

Anyway, background tasks seem snappier in this update. If you’ve noticed apps running smoother when switching back and forth, that’s probably why. They’ve tweaked the background management, making multitasking a bit more seamless—at least in theory. You can see this if you’re juggling multiple apps without things freezing or lagging as much. It’s an improvement if you deal with heavy or multiple background apps.

Not sure why, but some apps still seem to get hung up, so it’s not a perfect fix—and sometimes, they still crash or lag when background processing gets too ambitious. But, overall, it feels more solid than before.

The Fatal Flaw: Removal of Slide Over and Split View

And here’s where it gets really irritating. The core issue—Slide Over is totally gone. Yep, couldn’t believe it either. The little overlay window that lets you swipe in another app on your main screen? Gone. That’s a huge hit for folks who rely on quick multitasking. You could just drag in an app over your current window, and bam, multitasking done. Now? Nope, nadda. You’re stuck with full-screen apps or a cumbersome side-by-side that doesn’t feel quite as snappy or fluid. On smaller iPads, like the 11-inch Pro, the separation bar feels clunky and wastes screen space, especially if you’re pushing for efficient multitask.

Split View is still technically a thing, but getting it to work isn’t as snappy. You gotta go into the multitasking menu, then manually select two apps and position them. It’s not a one-swipe thing anymore. And don’t get me started on how much screen real estate the gap consumes—kinda defeats the purpose of tight, quick multitasking if your split view has a big chunky middle border.

User Feedback: The Call to Action

If you’re like me, you’ve probably already hit the Feedback app (it’s in Settings > Feedback) and let Apple know how much this sucks. Just log in with your Apple ID, choose iPadOS, and type out your frustrations. Because of course, Apple doesn’t just magically revert these things unless enough people complain. Might still be a shot that they’ll bring back Slide Over in some future update, but yeah, patience is needed.

On some devices, feedback seems to get buried, on others, maybe they listen—who knows? But it’s worth a try if you’re heavily reliant on these features. Also, keep an eye on beta updates or hints from Apple—they sometimes sneak back features in minor patches after community outcry.