Apple has released iPadOS 26.1 beta 2 to developers, reintroducing the Slide Over multitasking feature to the iPad. This update addresses user feedback regarding the removal of Slide Over in the initial iPadOS 26 release, which had replaced traditional multitasking methods with a new windowing system.
Background on Slide Over:
Slide Over allows users to quickly access and manage multiple apps without leaving their current workspace. By swiping from the side of the screen, users can bring in a secondary app that floats above the primary app, facilitating tasks like responding to messages or checking emails without disrupting the main activity. This feature has been integral to iPadOS, enhancing productivity by enabling seamless multitasking.
Changes in iPadOS 26:
With the launch of iPadOS 26, Apple introduced a comprehensive windowing system aimed at providing a more flexible multitasking experience. This overhaul led to the removal of both Split View and Slide Over, two features that had been central to iPad multitasking. While the new system offered advanced window management capabilities, it lacked the quick-access convenience that Slide Over provided, leading to user dissatisfaction.
Reintroduction in iPadOS 26.1 Beta 2:
In response to user feedback, iPadOS 26.1 beta 2 brings back Slide Over, integrating it with the new windowing system. Users can now activate Slide Over by selecting the ‘Enter Slide Over’ option within an app’s window resize controls, located in the top-left corner. This action resizes the app into a Slide Over window, allowing it to float above other apps without obscuring them. Users can easily hide or reveal the Slide Over app by swiping it off or onto the screen, and they can adjust its size to their preference.
Current Limitations:
The current beta version supports only a single Slide Over app at a time, a departure from previous iterations that allowed multiple apps in Slide Over mode. This limitation means users cannot stack multiple apps in Slide Over for quick switching. It remains to be seen whether future updates will reintroduce this functionality.
User Reactions:
The reintroduction of Slide Over has been met with positive reactions from the iPad community. Users appreciate the return of this feature, which enhances multitasking efficiency by allowing quick access to secondary apps without disrupting the primary workspace. However, some users have expressed a desire for the ability to manage multiple Slide Over apps simultaneously, as was possible in earlier versions of iPadOS.
Conclusion:
The restoration of Slide Over in iPadOS 26.1 beta 2 demonstrates Apple’s responsiveness to user feedback and its commitment to refining the iPad multitasking experience. While the current implementation has some limitations, it represents a significant step toward balancing advanced window management with the intuitive multitasking features that users have come to value.
