iPadOS 27.3 beta adds double-tap window zoom setting for iPad

What the new setting does

Apple is testing a new windowing option in the iPadOS 27.3 beta, according to 9to5 Mac. The setting, called Double-tap Top of Window to Zoom, lets users enlarge an app window to fill the screen with two taps, then return it to its previous size with another double-tap.

The option appears in Settings under Multitasking & Gestures, but only if Windowed Apps is enabled. It also works with a trackpad, where a double-click on the top of a window has the same effect.

Why Apple added it

iPadOS 26 and 27 brought major changes to how app windows work on the iPad, and 9to5 Mac notes that some details still feel rough. The traffic light controls in the top-left corner of a window can move or disappear depending on the window size, which the report describes as frustrating.

Keyboard shortcuts can resize windows without those controls, but not everyone remembers them. The new setting offers a touch-friendly alternative for people who mostly use their iPad without a keyboard.

Who it suits

The option is optional and off by default, so it only affects users who turn it on. 9to5 Mac's writer, who uses an iPad Pro as a primary computer, found it useful for temporarily making a window full screen while keeping set window sizes for normal use.

Anyone who resizes windows often by touch, rather than with shortcuts or a mouse, is likely to benefit most.

When it may arrive

iPadOS 27.3 is currently in beta, so the setting is not yet in the public release of iPadOS. Features in beta software can change or be removed before the final version ships, and Apple has not announced a release date in the material reviewed.

Readers who want to try it now would need beta access, and should follow Apple's official guidance before installing beta software.