According to Gizmodo, Apple has reinstated the Slide Over multitasking feature in iPadOS 26.1 after removing it entirely in the iPadOS 26 update that launched just weeks earlier. The feature was originally introduced back in 2015 with iOS 9, making it a decade-old iPad staple that users had come to rely on for juggling multiple apps. To use the restored feature, users must first ensure their iPad is in “Windowed Apps” mode within the Multitasking & Gestures settings. The new implementation includes a small upgrade allowing Slide Over apps to be resized from full height, whereas previously they could only be resized horizontally. Apple had initially defended the removal by claiming the new Windowed Apps mode was a better replacement, but user feedback clearly forced a reversal.
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Multitasking Whiplash
Here’s the thing about removing features people actually use: they notice. And they get mad. Apple basically took away something that worked perfectly fine while keeping Stage Manager, which has been pretty controversial since its introduction. Why would anyone think that was a good idea? The whole situation feels like Apple testing how much they can change before users push back.
I’ve been using Slide Over for years to quickly reference messages or notes while working in other apps. It’s one of those features that just makes sense on a tablet – lightweight, accessible, and out of the way when you don’t need it. Removing it felt like Apple was prioritizing their vision of desktop-like computing over what actually works well on a touchscreen device.
Bigger Picture Problems
This isn’t just about one feature coming and going. Lately, Apple’s software strategy seems… messy. They introduce flashy new interfaces like Liquid Glass that look cool but sacrifice usability, then have to walk it back with “tinted” modes to make things readable again. It’s starting to feel like they’re adding and removing features without much thought about how people actually use their devices day to day.
And let’s be honest – when you’re paying premium prices for Apple hardware, you expect the software to be polished. Not constantly changing fundamental workflows that people have built muscle memory around for nearly a decade. The fact that they reversed course so quickly suggests even Apple realized they’d made a mistake.
What This Means For iPad Users
For now, the good news is that Slide Over is back and slightly improved. But the whole episode raises questions about Apple’s commitment to the iPad as a productivity device. If they’re willing to casually remove core multitasking features that people depend on, how stable is the platform really?
The silver lining here is that Apple actually listened to feedback. That doesn’t always happen. So while the removal was frustrating, the quick reversal shows they’re paying attention to how people use these devices in the real world. Let’s just hope they learn from this and think twice before taking away features that have become essential parts of people’s workflows.
