8 Features of iPadOS 26 That Enhance Your iPad to Function Like a Mac

The distinction between the iPad and the Mac is becoming increasingly ambiguous with the introduction of iPadOS 26, currently in beta and set to launch this fall. Apple is enhancing the iPad’s functionality with several powerful new features that bring it closer to a traditional desktop environment while maintaining the tablet’s unique advantages. One of the standout features is the new macOS-style menu bar, which can be accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen within any app.

This menu includes familiar options such as File, Edit, and Help, tailoring its content to the specific application in use. Additionally, iPadOS 26 introduces a Windowed Apps mode that allows users to arrange and resize multiple app windows. This capability mimics the efficiency of a Mac, giving users more control over their workspace.

Users can easily drag and stack app windows, resize them, or scatter them across the screen. The introduction of Mac-like traffic lights in the upper-left corner of app windows allows for intuitive window management, letting users close, minimize, or maximize apps with ease. There are also new options for moving and arranging windows for added convenience.

Moreover, the update includes an App Exposé-style view for better access to all open apps and a revamped Preview app that now supports Apple Pencil for easy editing and markup of various file types. File management also sees significant upgrades with a new List view in the Files app, allowing for improved organization and easy customization of folders. Users can now add folders to the Dock, which supports a greater number of icons and offers classic macOS display preferences.

Overall, iPadOS 26 significantly narrows the gap between the iPad and the Mac, establishing a more versatile and powerful user experience.

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