According to Gizmodo, Apple has brought back the Slide Over multitasking feature in iPadOS 26.1 after completely removing it in the iPadOS 26 update. The feature was originally introduced in iOS 9 back in 2015, making it nearly a decade old when Apple decided to eliminate it. To use the restored Slide Over, users must first enable “Windowed Apps” mode in Settings under Multitasking & Gestures, then press and hold the traffic light icons in an app’s upper-left corner to activate it. The revived feature includes a small upgrade allowing vertical resizing of Slide Over apps, which wasn’t possible before. Apple had previously defended the removal by claiming the new Windowed Apps mode was a better replacement, but user feedback clearly forced a reversal.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
Apple’s Multitasking Whiplash
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just about one feature coming and going. It feels like Apple’s software strategy has been all over the place lately. They introduce something like Stage Manager that many users find clunky, then remove a beloved feature like Slide Over that people actually use daily. And now they’re walking it back? It makes you wonder who’s making these decisions and what the actual vision for iPad multitasking really is.
Basically, Apple seems to be struggling with its own identity when it comes to the iPad. They want it to be a laptop replacement with desktop-class features, but they keep messing with the very multitasking tools that make that possible. The fact that they had to add a “tinted” setting for Liquid Glass in the same update tells you everything – they’re constantly having to fix their own “improvements.”
What This Means For iPad Users
For people who rely on their iPads for work, this back-and-forth is frustrating but ultimately a win. Slide Over is genuinely useful for quick reference apps, messaging, or keeping an eye on something while working in another app. The ability to hide it with a swipe and bring it back instantly is something Stage Manager never replicated well.
But the bigger question is: can we trust Apple not to randomly remove features we depend on? This isn’t some obscure setting – Slide Over has been core to the iPad experience for years. When companies start yanking established workflows without clear reasons, it makes users nervous about investing in an ecosystem. And honestly, it’s not a great look when you have to publicly reverse course weeks after telling everyone your new approach was better.
The good news is that Apple listened. The bad news is that they had to be told something pretty obvious. At least now iPad multitasking feels complete again – even if we’re all wondering what might disappear in the next update.
