Isn’t this just stage manager with extra steps ?

[Newgoblin49]

I don’t get the hype for this new iPadOS update. It seems to me like this new Windows tiling feature is the exact same thing as stage Manager, which was there for a very long time. It’s just reinvented a little bit. That’s all so why the sudden hype?

 

[Macalway]

Well, since no one has it yet, your guess is as good as mine (downloading and will report back).

And hype? I'm not 100%, but doesn't that take a little while to build?

 

[JD2015]

You have to activate stage manager as before.You can now run more than 4 windows on a screen at a time. Opened up seven or so documents in pages for example.
The file system menu is universal whatever app it is. However, it appears you need the ipad to be paired with a mouse or the Magic Keyboard
The close, minimise and full screen option is available whatever way you use the ipad. It expands when you touch it or if there is a cursor over it.
The cursor is not round anymore. It is now a traditional cursor.

 

[JD2015]

You can now move windows off screen whereas before it would just bounce straight back on
The beta is very buggy as you would expect.
Preview is a stand alone app

 

[The Game 161]

No

Stage manager is awful

This is great. Basically like using a Mac

 

[Cbarnett202]

I’m running the beta on my M4 IPP and am really impressed. It’s much more versatile and responsive compared to stage manager.

 

[JD2015]

I’m running the beta on my M4 IPP and am really impressed. It’s much more versatile and responsive compared to stage manager.

I thought initially you needed the ipad to be connected to a mouse to enable the menu system but you dont. I discovered if you swipe down from the top it brings up the file menu system.

 

[nutmac]

No

Stage manager is awful

This is great. Basically like using a Mac

I concur.

I wouldn't go as far as say Stage Manager is wrong for everyone. I am sure there are folks that think it's the best implementation of windowing system. But I am a Mac user and having to juggle multiple stages with apps opening at this stage and that was just too much work.

Multiple windows is supposed to be messy, which is why iPad defaults to the full screen experience. But once you are on the multiple windows mode, I should be able to make whatever mess that helps me be productive.

 

[Abazigal]

My guess is that it’s basically stage manager integrated into the main Home Screen.

Previously, you needed to toggle stage manager on, the apps you had so carefully set up would be lost once you turned stage manager off, and the windows always felt more finicky to arrange and resize. This looks like it streamlines the process and should make people use it more.

 

[infomofo]

It's a little bit buggy but the new multitasking and windowing feature is much better for my use case- I like to draw in Procreate and often need to use a reference that isn't totally compatible with the reference photo feature built into procreate- this new windowing feature is much better than the old slipover for having a second window with a reference to draw from.

There are still some bugs but I am pretty optimistic that this will be a good experience by the time it launches in September, at least for my use case.

 

[Devvy]

I am wondering how many people actually use stage manager? And why was stage manager once considered so 'heavy' that only the higher end iPads could run it? There is this idea of sessions that stage manager offers, but I never really got the hang of it.

 

[Ludatyk]

Multiple windows is supposed to be messy, which is why iPad defaults to the full screen experience. But once you are on the multiple windows mode, I should be able to make whatever mess that helps me be productive.

I disagree, having multiple windows is not supposed to be messy. I like the option that Apple has given the user because they know some users care to have a structured environment.

You have the option to have a messy environment as you suggested and a structured one... I argue the best way to do be productive is having a focus setting. And I'm running iPadOS 26... still using Stage Manager, but I will default to the new window (multiple) system on an external monitor particular for the bigger display.

 

[KPOM]

I am wondering how many people actually use stage manager? And why was stage manager once considered so 'heavy' that only the higher end iPads could run it? There is this idea of sessions that stage manager offers, but I never really got the hang of it.

I use Stage Manager every day.

 

[richpjr]

As mentioned, it's very buggy (as you would expect), but it is a huge step in the right direction. Far more usable.

 

[profets]

My guess is that it’s basically stage manager integrated into the main Home Screen.

Previously, you needed to toggle stage manager on, the apps you had so carefully set up would be lost once you turned stage manager off, and the windows always felt more finicky to arrange and resize. This looks like it streamlines the process and should make people use it more.

Screenshot from settings. I was curious how this was going to work as someone who uses Stage Manager all the time. Taking a bit of getting used to, that's for sure.

 

[Ipadonly1]

I’m not on 26 yet, but I’m a little curious as to what happens to apps that aren’t in view, as in has the traditional multitasking app switcher been done away with? I never liked it personally and was unsure why an app I opened once two weeks ago continued to show up in it, when tapping on that ‘window’ would have to relaunch the app anyway.

It seems like now minimising might throw apps off to the side of the exposé, which is fine and pressing the red button in the traffic lights closes the app down completely? Is anyone able to confirm?

 

[Devvy]

I use Stage Manager every day.

But does it offer anything else for you than the free positioning of windows?

 

[RLRabb]

I have a question for the beta users: if I want to keep certain apps bundled together in a single space/stage (for example, Mail, Calendar, and Messages), with no other apps in that stage/space, and have those apps come up together when I tap any of those icons in the dock, do I still need Stage Manager turned on? It seems from the description in the Settings app that if you want more than one work space to keep persistent apps grouped together, Stage Manager needs to be enabled.

 

[profets]

I have a question for the beta users: if I want to keep certain apps bundled together in a single space/stage (for example, Mail, Calendar, and Messages), with no other apps in that stage/space, and have those apps come up together when I tap any of those icons in the dock, do I still need Stage Manager turned on? It seems from the description in the Settings app that if you want more than one work space to keep persistent apps grouped together, Stage Manager needs to be enabled.

This is exactly the bit that is throwing me off (as someone who has used Stage Manager since it launched). On Mac I use spaces quite a bit and I've gotten into that type of routine with Stage Manager on iPad. Treat them like different spaces so to speak. I'm used to keeping a 'space/stage' with reminders and calendar. And using 3-4 finger gesture to swipe to the next stage with something else open. Can't do that with this multitasking. It treats it much more like a traditional macOS desktop.