Apple exec explains why it took so long to bring desktop-style multitasking to iPad and what made this year different.
At WWDC 2025, Apple announced major changes to iPadOS 26, including a more desktop-style multitasking system that feels closer than ever to the Mac. This long-requested update brings overlapping windows, a visible menu bar, and better support for background tasks. But as Apple executives explained in a recent interview, the road to this moment was far from simple.
Speaking with Ars Technica, Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, acknowledged that the new interface may seem obvious now, but the company had its reasons for holding off. Early iPads lacked the processing power, memory, and responsiveness to support true multitasking. That limitation shaped how Apple designed iPadOS for years.
If you touch the screen and something doesn’t move immediately, it breaks the experience. Craig Federighi, Senior VP of Software Engineering, Apple
In addition to hardware constraints, many iPad and iPhone apps weren’t built to adapt to different screen sizes or be resized like desktop apps.
