Explore iPadOS 26 with Advanced Multitasking and Apple Intelligence

Apple has unveiled iPadOS 26 at WWDC 2025, marking a significant evolution in the tablet’s operating system. This update introduces a fresh design language called Liquid Glass, inspired by VisionOS, which brings a sleek, glass-like aesthetic across the UI, including a new "all clear" mode for home screen icons. This cosmetic enhancement adds a futuristic vibe that aligns iPadOS more closely with Apple’s broader ecosystem.

The headline feature of iPadOS 26 is its multitasking overhaul. Apple has introduced a new windowing system that allows users to resize apps into floating windows, enabling multiple apps to run simultaneously with precise placement control. Window tiling simplifies rearranging open windows, and integration with Stage Manager and external displays expands workspace flexibility. Borrowing from MacOS, the new Exposé feature offers a quick overview of all open windows, enhancing navigation and productivity.

Complementing multitasking improvements, iPadOS 26 introduces a new menu bar accessible by swiping down or hovering a mouse cursor at the top of the screen. This menu bar provides app-specific settings and tips, giving developers the ability to customize what appears, further enhancing user control and app interaction.

The Files app has been redesigned to mirror MacOS’s file browsing experience more closely. It now supports folders that expand to show contents, multiple list layouts, and the ability to drag files into the dock. Users can also set default apps for opening files, streamlining workflows and making file management more intuitive.

For creators and streamers, iPadOS 26 enhances audio input controls, improving accessory connectivity and offering more precise audio selection tools. Additionally, a new Preview app, modeled after Mac’s Preview, supports Pencil annotations and provides a dedicated space for managing images and documents, improving multitasking and file handling.

Apple Intelligence powers several new features in iPadOS 26. Live Translation now works across Phone, FaceTime, and Messages apps, offering automatic translation and captions in your preferred language—even when communicating with non-iPhone users. Enhanced Genmoji customization and ChatGPT-powered Image Playground allow users to create personalized images and styles seamlessly. Shortcuts gain intelligent actions like text summarization and image creation, enabling sophisticated automation workflows.

iPadOS 26 also brings new apps and communication features from iOS, including a Journal app for note-taking with Apple Pencil or keyboard, and a Games app featuring a Game Overlay for event updates and social play. The Phone app arrives on iPad, complete with call hold and screening capabilities, further bridging the gap between iPad and iPhone functionalities.

For creative users, the new Reed Pen tool offers stroke-angle presets to practice calligraphy with the Apple Pencil. This tool integrates across Notes, Preview, Free Form, Journal, and any third-party app using Apple’s PencilKit API, enriching handwriting and drawing experiences.

Accessibility receives a significant boost with features like Accessibility Reader, a systemwide reading mode customizable for low-vision users and those with dyslexia. Braille Access enables note-taking and app navigation via Braille Screen Input or connected Braille keyboards, supporting Nemeth Braille for calculations and opening Braille Ready Format files, making iPad more inclusive than ever.

iPadOS 26 supports a broad range of iPads, from the latest iPad Pro models with M4 chips to older generations like the 8th gen iPad and 5th gen iPad Mini. However, Apple Intelligence features may require newer hardware for full functionality.

The public release of iPadOS 26 is expected alongside the iPhone 17 launch in September 2025. Developers can access the beta now, with a public beta arriving in July, offering early hands-on experience with these transformative features.