I just added a permanent Menu Bar to my iPad in iPadOS 27, and it's made my Apple tablet feel much more Mac-like

Date:
Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:37:02 +0000

Description:
I just discovered an iPadOS 27 setting that's changed the way I use my iPad.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Apple has traditionally kept
the iPad closer to the iPhone in terms of core functionality (even after it released iPadOS as a standalone software package in 2019), but iPadOS 26 marked a distinct shift towards making the iPad feel more Mac-like .

And honestly, this change in direction made sense. After all, iPads now run MacBook-level M-series chips; the iPad Pro (2025) , for instance, uses the
M5. They also let you run background exports in creative apps, switch audio sources while podcasting, and complete many more high-level productivity tasks. One excellent addition in iPadOS 26 was the arrival of the Menu Bar, which acts as a facsimile of the macOS version of the same feature. But
having used iPadOS 27, which launches today (September 14), since its launch in beta earlier this year, I can confidently say that this new software package makes the iPad feel more Mac-like than ever and the Menu Bar is once again responsible for that. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Passing the bar The Mac-like Menu Bar in iPadOS 27 (Image credit: Future) As mentioned, the Menu Bar is about as Mac as it gets, offering app-specific options at the top of the iPad screen. Its as synonymous with macOS as the Dock, and its one of the core features that take some getting used to when switching from a Windows PC to a Mac.

On Mac, the Menu Bar is permanent. It sits at the top of the screen for easy access and highlights which app youre currently using (something thats particularly useful if youre juggling multiple apps and keyboard shortcuts), but in iPadOS 26 it wasnt, meaning it could be just as much of a hindrance as it was a help.

Thankfully, iPadOS 27 ensures the Menu Bar is always available, and while there are still some things I wish I could do on Apples tablet, the ability
to affix the Menu Bar permanently is a change I welcome. (Image credit: Future) To do so, once youve updated to iPadOS 27, open Settings and select Multitasking & Gestures on the left-hand sidebar. Youll have to be on the Windowed Apps or Stage Manager option to be able to see the Menu Bar. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

From here, look for a toggle labelled Automatically Show and Hide Menu Bar.
If its on, turn it off, and youll see the Menu Bar consistently across apps, unless youre watching something in full-screen mode. If you get fed up with it, just toggle that Automatically Show and Hide Menu Bar option back on, and itll disappear again. Still a way to go The Siri AI interface in iPadOS 27 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) Once youve toggled that setting, you can enjoy having the Menu Bar at the top of your iPad screen, but there are some caveats to be aware of.

For one, its not particularly useful if you use your iPad with your finger. The Menu Bar is much more suited to using a mouse, trackpad, or the Apple Pencil. I use the Magic Keyboard and, as ridiculously pricey as it was, this feature makes my whole iPad much more useful.

The other thing to be aware of is that the Menu Bar cant be customized with third-party apps in the same way that long-running Mac ones like Bartender can. Sadly, it remains static in terms of what you can put on the right-hand side of it. Maybe one day thatll change, but I cant see Apple rolling out utility apps on its iPadOS platform anytime soon.

Finally, some nifty features to be aware of: you can still drag down from the right-hand side of the Menu Bar to access the Control Center (which is customizable, thankfully), and the left-hand side still takes you to your notifications (although I do wish this was a column on the side of the screen
la the macOS notification centre, rather than taking up the whole screen).

You can also drag down from the middle of the Menu Bar to access Siri AI, which is new in iPadOS 27 and makes Apples voice assistant much more useful.

So, what do you think? Is this the closest well ever get to a MacPad? Or are you sticking with the Mac for now and leaving the iPad for content consumption? Let me know in the comments below. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Todays best iPhone deals Apple iPhone 17 $599.99 View Deal See all prices Apple iPhone 17 Pro $1,099.99 View Deal See all prices Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max $1,199.99 View Deal See all prices Apple iPhone 17e $599.99 View Deal See all prices Apple iPhone Air $999.99 View Deal See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tablets/ipad/i-just-added-a-permanent-menu-bar-to-my -ipad-in-ipados-27-and-its-made-my-apple-tablet-feel-much-more-mac-like


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)