App Launchscreen Size NOT Correct on iPadOS 26

Question

HuijieLin OP

Created Feb ’26

Replies 3

Boosts 1

Participants 3

Hello，

We’re seeing an iPad-specific Launch Screen issue related to multitasking window sizes.

Environment

Device: iPad (iPadOS 26)
Device orientation: Landscape
App is launched in a small window where the app window is portrait-shaped (width < height)

Issue

When the iPad is in landscape but the app is launched as a portrait-shaped small window, the LaunchScreen.storyboard appears to be rendered/layouted as landscape, not matching the actual window geometry. As a result, the Launch Screen content is clipped / partially missing (we see blank/empty area at the bottom during launch). After the app finishes launching, our first view controller uses the correct window size and the UI looks fine — the problem is mainly during the Launch Screen phase.

What we checked

LaunchScreen.storyboard uses Auto Layout and is expected to adapt to screen/window size.
This only reproduces when the device orientation and the app window aspect ratio don’t match (landscape device + portrait-shaped app window, or vice versa). When device orientation and window shape are aligned, the Launch Screen displays correctly.

Question

Is it expected that iPadOS renders LaunchScreen.storyboard based on the interface orientation / size class rather than the actual window bounds in multitasking scenarios?
If not expected, what is the recommended way to ensure the Launch Screen matches the app’s actual window size/aspect ratio at launch (without using code, since Launch Screen is static)?
Are there any additional diagnostics or recommended steps to help us investigate and confirm the root cause (e.g., specific logs, APIs/values to capture at launch such as UIWindowScene bounds, interfaceOrientation, size classes, or any guidance on how Launch Screen snapshots are chosen/cached in multitasking)?

Thank you.

Answer 1

AlexeyVasilkov OP

3d

Got the same issue on iPad Pro 13" (iOS 18.6)

Answer 2

AlexeyVasilkov OP

1d

Our application uses landscape layout and if iPad is in portrait mode and uses multiwindow layout (window is horizontal) then application's screenboard is cut as if is was in portrait mode. Screenshot 2026-08-08 at 04.08.00.png Reproduces on the last release of Township game

Answer 3

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

13h

Dear @AlexeyVasilkov, @HuijieLin,

Could either of you please provide a small test project that replicates this issue? You could provide a link to download the project. If you're not familiar with preparing a test project, please take a look at Creating a test project.

To answer the questions in the OP:

Is it expected that iPadOS renders LaunchScreen.storyboard based on the interface orientation / size class rather than the actual window bounds in multitasking scenarios?

This would not be the case, except if UIRequiresFullScreen is set to true, causing your app to be in compatibility mode, making your scene’s interface orientation to match the aspect ratio of the scene bounds. (Note: this key is deprecated as of iPadOS 26. For details, please see technote TN3192: Migrating your iPad app from the deprecated UIRequiresFullScreen key.)

If not expected, what is the recommended way to ensure the Launch Screen matches the app’s actual window size/aspect ratio at launch (without using code, since Launch Screen is static)?

As per above, unless you are in compatibility mode with UIRequiresFullScreen, there shouldn’t be any additional setup to get that, as far as I can recall.

Are there any additional diagnostics or recommended steps to help us investigate and confirm the root cause (e.g., specific logs, APIs/values to capture at launch such as UIWindowScene bounds, interfaceOrientation, size classes, or any guidance on how Launch Screen snapshots are chosen/cached in multitasking)?

A sample app would be the quickest way for us to examine if this issue was caused by usage of the API, or by bugs in the API.

Some questions:

Is your app using UIRequiresFullScreen or generally not resizable?
Is your launch screen defined only by LaunchScreen.storyboard? The storyboard shouldn’t affect the launch screen's orientation- it's a snapshot rendered prior to app launch. As an a static image, the launch screen cannot react to the window scene’s bounds during runtime. For more info, please see technote TN3118: Debugging your app’s launch screen.
Are you using SwiftUI with UIKit in your layout code?

Hoping this helps,

Richard Yeh  Developer Technical Support