More multi-window options on iPadOS

bb

This feature enables users on iPadOS to open tabs or links in a new window to utilize iPadOS Split View. Currently, Orion cannot display two browser windows side-by-side using native iPadOS multitasking, unlike Safari or Brave. Adding this will significantly improve user productivity and side-by-side web browsing workflows on iPad.

Users can trigger and use this feature through the following standard iPadOS interactions:

Long-press Menu: Long-pressing a tab or a link presents an "Open in New Window" context menu item. Selecting it instantly opens the target tab or link in a second side-by-side Orion window using iPadOS Split View.
Drag-and-Drop: Users can tap, hold, and drag a tab or link to the left or right edge of the iPad screen to create a side-by-side Split View window.
System Shelf & App Expose: When viewing Orion in the iPadOS App Switcher or Shelf, users can create or manage multiple window instances.
Examples in other apps:
Safari on iPadOS allows dragging any tab to the screen edge or choosing "Open in New Window" from the context menu to split the screen into two independent, fully active windows.
Brave on iPadOS similarly supports multi-window instances via the context menu and iPadOS drag-and-drop.
Extension of existing features:
If Orion already supports drag-and-drop for reordering tabs, this feature would extend that behavior by allowing a tab to be dragged outside the window boundary to spawn a new, independent window instance.

jeanetienne

Hi bb thank you for taking the time to write this ticket!

You're right, these are great ideas, and they would definitely make multi window even better. "Open in New Window" in the tab and link menus, and dragging a tab out to create a new window, are already on our backlog.

I'm a bit confused when you say Orion can't display two windows side by side though, because multi window is already supported. On iPadOS 26 you can long press the Orion icon in the Dock or on the Home Screen and tap New Window, or use Window → New Window from the menu bar. You can then place the two windows side by side.

On iPadOS 18, tap the three dots at the top of the screen and choose Split View, then pick Orion again from the Home Screen or the Dock. A second Orion window opens in the other half of the screen.

Please let me know if that helps.

Thank you for your help in making Orion a better browser!

bb

Hi jeanetienne ,

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I just tested it and confirmed that I can indeed have two Orion windows side by side using the iPadOS multitasking features.

Because of that, what I’d really love to see added first is support for dragging a tab to create a new window, similar to how Safari and Brave behave on iPadOS. In other words, when I drag a tab out, Orion should treat it as a new window that can immediately participate in Split View.

I think adding this behavior would make the existing multi‑window support feel much more natural and discoverable for users.

Thanks again for considering this!