Apple adds persistent menu bar and unified Spotlight‑Siri shortcut in iPadOS 27 beta

Apple’s iPadOS 27 beta introduces a setting that lets users keep the menu bar permanently visible, mirroring the macOS experience. The option, found under Settings → Multitasking and Gestures, disables the automatic hide behavior, and the active app’s name is now shown continuously in the status bar.

The keyboard shortcut Command + Space has also been updated. When a keyboard is connected, the shortcut opens a single access point that decides whether the query should be handled by Spotlight search or Siri’s AI assistant, streamlining workflow for multitasking and shortcut‑heavy users.

These changes aim to make the iPad more window‑ and pointer‑friendly, bringing its interface closer to that of a Mac for users who rely on keyboards and trackpads.