Apple has addressed one of the biggest complaints iPad users have had about their tablets and, whisper it, made the iPad a little more like the Mac. At the firm’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled new versions of all its products’ software, including a new version of iPadOS that has “an entirely new powerful and intuitive windowing system”, according to Apple.

This system gives iPad owners the ability to resize app windows a lot more flexibly than on iPadOS 18, the current version, and in a demo the windows were easily resized and kept their shape even when layering them on top of one another, a first for the iPad.

Until today, iPad windows have been fairly rigid, either taking up the whole screen or half of it in Apple’s split screen mode. With the new software, dubbed iPadOS 26 to correspond to 2026, Apple may be conceding that people just want their iPad to act more like a Mac – and it could be music to your ears.

“Familiar window controls allow users to seamlessly close, minimize, resize, or tile their windows. Window tiling is designed for the unique capabilities of iPad, and enables users to arrange their windows with a simple flick,” Apple said.

“If a user previously resized an app, it opens back in the exact same size and position when they open it again.”

Sound familiar?

This move is sure to make using a iPad more intuitive, particualry to those buyers who ar emor eused to the traditonal windowing of desktop computers such as Apple’s Mac and Microsoft’s Windows.

If that weren’t proof enough that Apple is making the iPad act a little more like the Mac, iPadOS 26 will also introduce a new menu bar (see below image) that appears at the top of apps if you swipe down when in them, or by moving the cursor to the top if you are using a mouse or trackpad with your iPad.

Apple has been hesitant to make the iPad act like a Mac, presumably because the firm fears cannibalising sales of the Mac. Apple would prefer you own both.

But perhaps it has conceded that those vocal iPad users who really want windowing and menu bars are a vocal minority, and adding these features won’t stop most people buying an iPad and using it to stream Netflix in bed. I know which camp I fall under.

As well as the new features, iPadOS 26 will also look a little fresher. Apple is updating its design language across its devices including the iPhone with a look it calls Liquid Glass.

“The beautiful new design brings more expressive and delightful experiences to iPad users, while maintaining the familiarity of iPadOS,” Apple said in a press release.

“It’s crafted with Liquid Glass — a translucent new material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, while reacting to user input and dynamically transforming to bring greater focus to the content they care about most.”

It’s a bit shinier at first glance, and there are sublte tweaks to the way things appear. But this isn’t the huge visual update we got back in 2013 when iOS 7 got rid of the skeuomorphic look of the original iPhone software.

Apple said iPadOS 26 will also include an update called Local capture where you can create high-qaulity cideo recordings using different video conferencing apps, with audio enhancements and recording tools that link with the newest AirPods.

But will your iPad get the new features and look?

“New software features will be available this fall as a free software update for iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (A16), iPad (8th generation and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad mini (5th generation and later),” Apple said.

The release date will likely be in September or October after Apple’s usual iPhone launch event, but you will be able to download and test out the beta version of iPadOS 26 next month, if you like.