With just a few weeks to go before WWDC 2026, here’s my wishlist for iPadOS in 2026!

OS-level tabs

This feature massively benefits screens with less real-estate to work with. It seems especially suited to iPad.

It exists as a macOS feature, but I’ve pulled this out of the grab-bag because I’d like to see Apple go further than the current macOS implementation, by allowing tabs from multiple apps in the same window. This would allow windows to be used like mini-workspaces, with a tabbed multitasking system.

CompilerKit

If arbitrary code execution is dangerous, allow it the right way - with a bunch of scary warnings, hoops to jump through, and a use-case specific Apple-vetted app capability. Throw up a scary prompt on downloading a project, and require going to Setting and entering a user-password to allow it to run, like with profiles.

Apple can’t keep innovating their hardware and building new OSs if they’re always going to be tied to macOS. When AR glasses become commonplace with natural language voice control and neural implants, will we still have to buy a laptop with hardwired keyboard and trackpad to build apps?

Pinned tab ‘homepages’ in Safari

When a tab is pinned, store the tab’s current full address permanently, and allow quickly reverting to it following navigations to different pages on the domain.

That’s all Arc’s fancy tab-bookmarks are, in essense, and with tab groups being makeshift folders, and Profiles being a feature too, this alone is the final feature which would have me switch for good.

Window Manager API

What complaint do macOS and iPadOS have in common? No-one loves the stock windowing system, whatever it might be at any given time.

One of my more out-there ideas - I’d love to see an OS gain a privacy-first API for building window managers. This would allow options Apple may never choose to built themselves, like classic multitasking, automatic tiling window managers, and scrolling window managers to become possible.

Homescreen inline folders & density

I’d love to see more apps on the iPadOS homescreen, or configurable density.

Something which would help this be practical is inline app folders - visual groupings of user-selected apps, but with contents accessible with a tap - kind of like how the Siri Suggestions widget works currently.

macOS grab-bag

Xcode for iPad

I’ve put many words into this, but it bears mentioning - the app development functionality in Swift Playground is clearly on life-support and dying a slow death. The bugs just keep mounting version to version, and the app development space has moved on from the original Swift Playgrounds 4 featureset.

With pro apps having been available on iPad for a while, Xcode continues to be a glaring omission.

Key asks:

  • Regular updates
  • Git built-in
  • Local LLM assistant support
  • Local package/module support
  • Widget and test target support

Customisable menubar keyboard shortcuts

Another macOS feature, though a little-known one - macOS allows any menu bar item, app or system level, to be assigned a custom keyboard shortcut via System Settings. As a feature along the lines of customisable toolbars, I’d like to see this come to iPad, so even niche functionality can be readily available if it fits my workflow. I wish for this every time I reach for the window corner-tiling options in the menu bar.

New Search Experience

Another straight copy from macOS. I’m particularly keen for the parameterised Shortcuts functionality as it’ll make a common task for me - running Shortcuts from Search - that much more seamless.

Universal Control between iPads

This is what I thought Universal Control would be, before it wasn’t.

Display folders as icons in Dock

If you add multiple folders containing folders to your dock, you know the pain of being entirely unable to differentiate which folder is which.

Gatekeeper for iPad - 3rd party app distribution

Apple is kidding themselves if they think they can keep a platform more secure through human vetting, and in many regions the ship is sailing. Governments of the world will force their hand on the issue if they don’t figure out a new monetisation strategy soon. Give us Gatekeeper, and Apple has a better chance of preserving the ability to pull the worst offending apps and block/vet dev accounts.

Delivering on the rumours

Some rumours which may, or may not, meet our expectations!

The death of UIRequiresFullscreen

Worth a mention, as I’m sure Apple announced this 10 years ago but copped out.

Games companies will be the biggest holdouts, but iPadOS 26 can enforce minimum window sizes, so there really is no excuse not to follow the macOS model at this point, and just require 1280 by 1080 points as minimum for the game’s window.

iPads come in all sizes now, with differing aspect ratios, and foldable phones seem inevitable. External display support is here. I really hope Apple deliver on this, and don’t let devs who don’t understand the system continue to hold out.

New Siri

Rumoured, and I’m very excited for it if it can hook together shortcuts actions like MCP tools, as the rumours suggest. I trust Apple to build a safe permissions model around it, and the idea of Siri knowing my calendar, reminders, and notes is a game-changer for accessing knowledge stored on my phone (or watch!) when outside.