With iPadOS 26.1, Apple makes a popular multitasking feature available again on the iPad. Slide Over, the feature that allows you to place an app as a floating window over other apps, initially disappeared with the introduction of iPadOS 26. However, since iPadOS 26.1, the feature has returned and works seamlessly with the new window system that Apple introduced this year.
The return of Slide Over is good news for iPad users who for years used the feature for quick tasks like checking messages, consulting notes, or controlling music, without having to adjust their workspace. In this article we explain how Slide Over works in combination with the new multitasking features of iPadOS 26.
Multitasking for the iPad
iPadOS 26 introduces the biggest innovation ever in multitasking for the iPad. The most important addition is support for windows. You can open apps in separate windows that you can freely move, resize, and even overlap across the screen, similar to macOS.
To make way for this new windowing system, Apple removed two long-standing multitasking features: Split View and Slide Over for iPad. Split View can easily be recreated with the new window system by placing apps side by side, but Slide Over was more difficult to replace.
This feature made it possible to temporarily show an app over other apps and hide it again with a swipe, perfect for quick breaks without disrupting your workflow. Fortunately, this feature has returned since iPadOS 26.1.
Activate Slide Over
Activating Slide Over has always been cumbersome, unfortunately you have to apply a new method under the new system. For example, Slide Over can now be found behind the Traffic Light buttons and in the menu bar.
Use traffic light buttons
- Open the app you want to open in Slide Over
- Place your finger on the traffic light buttons
- Wait a few moments
- Choose Open Slide Over
- Make a choice
Don’t see the traffic light buttons? Then you may have displayed the window full screen. Then it is best to activate the menu bar by swiping down from the top of the screen. The traffic light buttons are then activated.
Slide Over via menu bar
- Open the app you want to open in Slide Over
- Swipe down from the top of the screen
- Tap ‘Window’ in the menu bar
- Choose ‘Slide Over’
- Make a choice
Restrictions Slide Over for iPad
There is one important limitation: you can only use one app in Slide Over at a time in iPadOS 26.1 or later. In previous versions of iPadOS, you could place multiple apps in a stack and easily switch between them with a swipe. This functionality is not available. If you place a second app in Slide Over, the first app will automatically exit Slide Over mode. It is not yet clear whether Apple will add this feature in a later version or whether the limitation to one app will remain permanent.
Another limitation is the multitasking view for iPad. This is how slide works across all when you use ‘Apps in windows’. The function does not work under Stage Manager and Full-screen apps. You can enable this via Settings ▸ Multitasking & gestures.
Use and manage Slide Over
Once an app is in Slide Over mode, you can control it in several ways.
Enlarge and reduce the window. One of the biggest advantages of the new Slide Over is that you can freely resize it:
- Place your finger on a corner of the Slide Over window
- Drag the corner inward to make the window smaller
- Drag the corner out to make the window larger
The window will adjust to the new size and stay that size even if you temporarily hide the app.
Move the window
You can move the Slide Over window between the left and right sides of the screen. Place your finger on the top of the Slide Over window and drag the window to the other side of the screen. Release to place the window in the new position
Hide and unhide the window
A core feature of Slide Over is the ability to temporarily hide the window
- Swipe the Slide Over window to the edge of the screen to hide it
- Swipe in from the edge of the screen to reveal the window
Exit Slide Over
Want to get an app out of Slide Over mode? This can be done by tapping the traffic light buttons at the top left of the Slide Over window. Tap the green button to make the app full screen, tap the red button to close the window, or put your finger on the buttons to make another choice.