Craig Federighi says macOS would ruin what makes the iPad special
Apple's Craig Federighi explains why iPads won't run macOS anytime soon, even as iPadOS 26 brings them closer than ever.
Apple remains committed to keeping iPad and Mac separate
In a new interview following WWDC 2025, software chief Craig Federighi clarified why Apple remains committed to keeping iPadOS and macOS separate, even as iPadOS 26 brings more Mac-like features to the tablet.
The latest update, iPadOS 26, introduces a floating menu bar, flexible app windowing, and support for more advanced keyboard shortcuts. These additions aim to make the iPad feel more like a Mac for those who want power-user tools.
Federighi said the goal is not to merge platforms. Instead, Apple wants to "retain all the simplicity of the iPad" while still giving users space to "push it at their own pace to doing more."
Apple emphasizes that the iPad should be approachable for users of all ages and tech comfort levels. By keeping iPadOS simple and intuitive, the company avoids overwhelming these users with macOS's complexity.
Federighi noted that the iPad's touch-first, streamlined design contributes to its success. Adding full desktop features too quickly could make it harder for people who value ease and clarity over customization and power.
He acknowledged that the two operating systems continue to borrow from each other, saying, "There are lots of things the two platforms can learn from one another, and that's where we've adapted our best ideas to each."
Apple says touch is central to the iPad experience
Federighi was responding to growing user speculation about whether Apple might eventually let iPads dual-boot macOS. The question has lingered for years, especially since iPads now use the same M-series chips found in Macs.
But Apple's stance is clear.
"The iPad is the best touch computer. And the Mac is the best keyboard and mouse computer," Federighi exclaimed.
He emphasized that hardware convergence does not mean the software should be the same. Federighi also praised new features in iPadOS 26, calling background task support "probably the single best feature ever" for iPad power users.
But he pushed back on the idea that the iPad should fully copy the desktop model.
Apple doesn't want to alienate iPad users with Mac complexity
Apple has made similar arguments before, often comparing its devices to tools that serve different purposes. The iPad isn't a lightweight Mac. It is a distinct product with its own design goals.
Touch-friendly macOS remains a possibility
Federighi didn't rule out the idea that macOS could eventually support touch input. Rumors continue to circulate about future MacBooks or foldable iPads with touch-ready versions of macOS.
For now, Apple remains committed to its split strategy. The iPad will continue gaining advanced productivity features, while macOS stays focused on keyboard and pointer use.
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Comments
The iPad OS can be the default, but please allow power users to install OSX. iPad apps already work inside of Mac OSX, so no functionality is lost.
An iPad with an M4 processor, 16GB RAM, 2TB SSD, Thunderbolt 3, and a Magic Keyboard Folio (Keyboard and trackpad) would make a damn fine portable Mac.
So why on earth should Apple repeat that same mistake? (Unless they want to proof to everybody they now reached the failing company mode that Microsoft got into the early 2000s before they got they current CEO who turned the ship around).
Indeed. What makes the iPad special. A fully capable computing device available with up to 2TB storage, 16GB RAM, and probably the single most capable mobile processor ever designed, that's locked down so you're only allowed to install apps via Apple's proprietary store where they take a 30% cut of sales and you can't even back the device up without paying for Apple's cloud storage and sync services. I can see why Apple might not be inclined to give users more choice.
I'm sure someone will jump in to tell me why this is great and I'm silly for even wanting to go outside of Apple's walled garden. But the truth is, this is more important for plenty of people than any multitasking or other capabilities Apple might add to the OS. Until we're able to break out of this box and use our own on-premises backup solutions, install our own apps, etc. the iPad is a compromised platform.
Sure, if all you want to do is stick within some specific apps, it's a uniquely capable device. But, it could and should be so much more than it is given what the hardware is actually capable.
Tablets are tools like anything else in the digital sphere. They are also computers so they should be able to do anything a similarly sized standard laptop can do.
The days of tablets being incapable (in hardware terms) of achieving laptop-like productivity should be gone by now.
Deliberately holding them back is doing them and underservice. Especially at the top end.
There should be seamless integration between these devices and they should offer the same general functionality.
That, ideally (and possibly inevitably) would require a single OS running on multiple devices with it simply being paired down to each device's strengths/weaknesses.
Write once, run anywhere. One app with multiple deployment targets.
Apple is already inching (but agonisingly slowly) towards convergence in certain areas and my guess is that that is the real goal at some point (including touchscreen Macs of course).
If they want to keep tablets in a 'limited' role, just add a 'tablet' mode to the device.
Mac OS shipped with Simple Finder years ago. Tablets could have a similar mode and let users decide. Tablets already accommodate even more limited roles (with things like Kiosk Modes).
I can't see any decent reason why modern powerful tablets should be able to do far, far more than they currently do but they need the right apps and OS foundations.
I definitely see no good reason why they should not be fully multiuser for example.
Of course it would take a lot of engineering effort and probably require some serious reworking of the foundations but the competition isn't sitting still and is already moving in this direction. The foundations have been laid.
IMO, that is probably the real reason Apple wants to temper the desire for 'macOS tablet' at the moment. They don't have the foundations ready.
Are we really to believe these poor arguments and then see more and more 'macOS' features seep into 'iPadOS'?
I see convergence in spite of these claims that that isn't the goal.
Reality: touch-enable laptops exist today and nobody cares because it sucks. EOS. It’s out there. I had one 10 years ago, it sucked, never used it, don’t miss it.
Giving a touch device optional shortcuts for mouse & pointer use is inherently different (and better for it) than giving a pointer device optional touch.
That you keep insisting its their secret plan just reaffirms that you still don’t understand Apple and its product lines very well. Sounds like you’re more happy with the chinese knockoffs and that’s fine.
Anyway. Once more, years later:
It's greed: Apple wants to sell more devices. They don't want parents sharing their devices with their children. And they don't want power users consolidating their accounts onto fewer devices.
That's fine for some but is a burden for struggling families and travelers.
Oddly enough, VisionOS appears to now support multiple user accounts, albeit linked to individual iPhones.
Imagine they throw out something called AppleOS. A unified system. Suddenly the merging 'iOS' with 'macOS' never happened. Except it did in that hypothetical scenario!
Why? Because such an OS would require major foundational changes and no doubt merit a completely new name. It would effectively be a new OS!
To all intents and purposes, it would be iOS merged with macOS (and every other OS Apple currently ships).
Why would that be necessary? Because we are entering the IoT age and the process of convergence is already happening. Year after year, more cross device functionality will be needed. More features will bleed through from one device to another. That is what we are seeing. That is happening. Now.
A 'siloed' system foundation is by definition not optimal for cross device interoperability.
The question is where you draw the line, but you only need to see all the Android ideas that have been landing on iOS in recent years to understand that the line is in fact moving.
Personalisation was a very restricted concept for iOS until not long ago. But now? What a change!
File management is another clear case of Apple having to implement changes.
Any hypothetical 'HomeOS' would be better with free flowing interaction within the ecosystem. Not having to punch holes into every 'silo' on every OS it needs too.
An iPad with a physical keyboard is basically a touch enabled computer!
That is my point. Moving between one device to another should be seamless. Touch on Macs. Cursor on tablets.
Anyone moving to a non-touchscreen after prolonged tablet use will inevitably 'touch' the screen even while knowing it isn't touch capable!
That isn't seamless.
What do you see as more probable? More siloes, or more convergence? Remember. That line is moving.
The only thing I’ve wanted from Apple is to make the iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro and the Mac to work seamlessly together as only a vertical computer company can do despite the crying, none of the competition can do what Apple is doing today with their OS and Apple Silicon combination.
I do not want the OS on both the iPad and the Mac to be the same they are not the same device and at 2025 WWDC Apple took a nice step towards making that happen.
1. iPhone.