# Ipados Design Guidelines

Apple Human Interface Guidelines for iPad.

- Repository: https://github.com/ehmo/platform-design-skills (637 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-03-19
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill ipados-design-guidelines -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill ipados-design-guidelines -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill ipados-design-guidelines -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add ehmo/platform-design-skills --skill ipados-design-guidelines -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Apple Human Interface Guidelines for iPad. Use when building iPad-optimized interfaces, implementing multitasking, pointer support, keyboard shortcuts, or responsive layouts. Triggers on tasks involving iPad, Split View, Stage Manager, sidebar navigation, or trackpad support.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# iPadOS Design Guidelines

Comprehensive rules for building iPad-native apps following Apple's Human Interface Guidelines. iPad is not a big iPhone -- it demands adaptive layouts, multitasking support, pointer interactions, keyboard shortcuts, and inter-app drag and drop. These rules extend iOS patterns for the larger, more capable canvas.

---

## 1. Responsive Layout (CRITICAL)

### 1.1 Use Adaptive Size Classes

iPad presents two horizontal size classes: **regular** (full screen, large splits) and **compact** (Slide Over, narrow splits). Design for both. Never hardcode dimensions.

```swift
struct AdaptiveView: View {
    @Environment(\.horizontalSizeClass) var sizeClass

    var body: some View {
        if sizeClass == .regular {
            TwoColumnLayout()
        } else {
            StackedLayout()
        }
    }
}
```

### 1.2 Don't Scale Up iPhone UI

iPad layouts must be purpose-built. Stretching an iPhone layout across a 13" display wastes space and feels wrong. Use multi-column layouts, master-detail patterns, and increased information density in regular width.

### 1.3 Support All iPad Screen Sizes

Design for the full range: iPad Mini (8.3"), iPad (11"), iPad Air (11"/13"), and iPad Pro (11"/13"). Use flexible layouts that redistribute content rather than simply scaling.

### 1.4 Column-Based Layouts for Regular Width

In regular width, organize content into columns. Two-column is the most common (sidebar + detail). Three-column works for deep hierarchies (sidebar + list + detail). Avoid single-column full-width layouts on large screens.

```swift
struct ThreeColumnLayout: View {
    var body: some View {
        NavigationSplitView {
            SidebarView()
        } content: {
            ContentListView()
        } detail: {
            DetailView()
        }
    }
}
```

### 1.5 Respect Safe Areas

The rest: https://github.com/ehmo/platform-design-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/ipados/SKILL.md