This new multitasking feature is now available on iPadOS 26.4

Good news for iPad Owners: The latest iPadOS update comes with a big upgrade to multitasking.

Released last September, iPad OS 26 It included some updates to Stage Manager, the iPad’s productivity feature. iPadOS 26 initially brought the apps you run front and center, while others remain in the background but are still open. You can switch between them, as well as move them, group them, and resize them.

Now, after several iterations, iPad OS 26.4 It has a new feature to help you track down dozens of open windows that may be hiding: the Hidden Windows feature.

You’ll still have all the same window functionality as in iPadOS 26, but if you have multiple windows open for a single app, you can press and hold the app icon and select it. Show all windows From the pop-up menu. If you have multiple windows open for the same application, but they are hidden, you will see a button at the bottom of the screen that says X hidden windows (X will be the number of hidden windows you have), which you can tap to view those windows you have open from the app.

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I’ve tested the Hidden Windows feature, and it’s not a game-changer

I’ve tried opening multiple Calendar and Messages windows on my device iPad mini 6th generationThis feature works as intended, but there’s a catch: the window must be completely hidden for the button to appear.

I opened the Messages app and displayed it full screen. Then I saw the button. The same was true when I opened my calendar. I can’t say this makes multitasking a game-changer when I’m using my iPad, but it’s nice to know that other windows are open in case I forget to finish a task, like scheduling my son’s playdate or responding to a separate message.

Here are the iPads compatible with iPadOS 26.4:

• iPad mini (5th and 6th generation)
• iPad mini (A17 Pro)
• iPad (8th to 10th generation)
• iPad (A16)
• iPad Air (3rd to 5th generation)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2 to M4)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2 to M4)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st to 4th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation to 6th generation)
• iPad Pro 13-inch (M4 to M5)

We’re starting to see more features that make… The iPad works like a Macsuch as the red, yellow, and green controls in the upper-left corner to manage the window, as well as the menu bar. But the big question is: can we see some similar features? iPhone in the future?

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.