What to Know<\/h3>\n\n- Apple announced the\u00a0new iPad operating system, iPadOS 26, on June 9, during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference keynote address.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- iPadOS 26 shares a “Liquid Glass” redesign with the other new Apple device operating systems.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- New features focus on multitasking and making the iPad more closely resemble a MacBook in functionality than ever before.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
iPad users have wished for a more Mac-like interface for years, but\u00a0Tim Cook has insisted for just as long that Apple wasn’t planning to create a “converged Mac and iPad.”<\/a>\u00a0We haven’t reached a unified Mac and iPad operating system, but iPadOS 26 is certainly a giant step in that direction. In addition, the iPad gets a massive visual redesign.<\/p>\nRelease Dates & Compatibility<\/h2>\n\n- Availability:\u00a0<\/strong>iPadOS 26 will debut this fall, most likely in mid-September. Want to try out the latest features earlier than that? The beta version of iPadOS 26 will be available to the public in July.\u00a0Want to get started even earlier? A\u00a0developer beta<\/a>\u00a0was released today. (Keep in mind that the\u00a0beta and developer\u00a0beta software can be buggy.\u00a0Make a complete backup<\/a>\u00a0of your iPad before you sign up for either program.)<\/li>\n
- Compatibility:\u00a0<\/strong>iPadOS 26\u00a0will be available this fall for\u00a0the following iPad models:\u00a0iPad Pro (M4),\u00a0iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later),\u00a0iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later),\u00a0iPad Air (M2 and later),\u00a0iPad (A16),\u00a0iPad (8th generation and later),\u00a0iPad mini (A17 Pro), and\u00a0iPad mini (5th generation and later).\u00a0Apple Intelligence features<\/a>\u00a0are available only on\u00a0iPad models with M1 and later chips.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The iPad Becomes More Mac-Like<\/h2>\n
iPad users rejoice! Apple has finally broken down and given us much of the Mac functionality we’ve been craving.\u00a0Let us count the ways!<\/p>\n
App Windows & Tiling at Last<\/h3>\n
This is the year that Apple debuts an easier way to keep\u00a0app windows organized and switch between them. Nobody had to reinvent the wheel for this one; it’s strangely familiar, in fact: iPadOS 26 users can resize app windows, put them wherever they want on the screen, and have more apps open than ever before.<\/p>\n
Window Tiling displays all open apps simultaneously with the flick of a finger, and if you’ve resized an app window, it will reopen in the same size and location you previously assigned. The Expose feature displays all open windows in a single view, making it easy to navigate from one app to another. For those of us who need a lot of room to work, you can use these new features with Stage Manager and an external display.<\/p>\n
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A Convenient Menu Bar<\/h3>\n
iPadOS 26 organizes all app commands in one place. Just swipe down from the top of your iPad screen, and you’ll find the app commands in a searchable menu bar. Developers can even customize the menu bar to make sure all features and controls are included.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n![\"menu]( "\\"menu")
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Files App Updates<\/h3>\n
The Files app for iPad is getting an update that will make it easier and more intuitive to access and edit your files. There’s a new List view, so you can see document details in resizable columns with customizable, collapsible folders. Change colors and icons, or add emojis to easily identify your folders across devices.\u00a0You can also drag any\u00a0folder straight into the iPad Dock for easy access, just like on your Mac!<\/p>\n
Preview, Journal & Apple Games<\/h3>\n
Preview, formerly available only for Mac,\u00a0will be available to iPad users with iPadOS 26. Preview coming to iPad is a great thing, in my opinion, since the larger screen size of the iPad makes it easy to use a finger or Apple Pencil to view, edit, sign, draw, and otherwise create and mark up PDFs and other images.<\/p>\n
Journal, previously exclusive to iPhone, will also be coming to the iPad.\u00a0The Apple Pencil can make journaling\u00a0more creative, allowing users to add drawings and\u00a0handwriting to their entries. Speaking of the Apple Pencil, iPadOS 26 has a new tool on offer:\u00a0the reed pen. You’ll be able to practice your calligraphy in Journal, Preview, Notes, and more, including some third-party apps!<\/p>\n
Apple Games is new for all devices, but will be especially fun on the easily portable, large-screened iPad. We can look forward to\u00a0cool features like a Library tab that shows every game you’ve ever downloaded, and the ability to invite friends to play and set challenges with them.<\/p>\n
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\n![\"ipad]( "\\"ipad")
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iPadOS 26 Gets ‘Liquid Glass’ Redesign<\/h2>\n
iPad users have wished for a more Mac-like interface for years, but\u00a0Tim Cook has insisted for just as long that Apple wasn’t planning to create a “converged Mac and iPad.”<\/a>\u00a0We haven’t reached a unified Mac and iPad operating system, but iPadOS 26 is certainly a giant step in that direction. In addition, the iPad gets a massive visual redesign.<\/p>\n iPad users rejoice! Apple has finally broken down and given us much of the Mac functionality we’ve been craving.\u00a0Let us count the ways!<\/p>\n This is the year that Apple debuts an easier way to keep\u00a0app windows organized and switch between them. Nobody had to reinvent the wheel for this one; it’s strangely familiar, in fact: iPadOS 26 users can resize app windows, put them wherever they want on the screen, and have more apps open than ever before.<\/p>\n Window Tiling displays all open apps simultaneously with the flick of a finger, and if you’ve resized an app window, it will reopen in the same size and location you previously assigned. The Expose feature displays all open windows in a single view, making it easy to navigate from one app to another. For those of us who need a lot of room to work, you can use these new features with Stage Manager and an external display.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n iPadOS 26 organizes all app commands in one place. Just swipe down from the top of your iPad screen, and you’ll find the app commands in a searchable menu bar. Developers can even customize the menu bar to make sure all features and controls are included.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Files app for iPad is getting an update that will make it easier and more intuitive to access and edit your files. There’s a new List view, so you can see document details in resizable columns with customizable, collapsible folders. Change colors and icons, or add emojis to easily identify your folders across devices.\u00a0You can also drag any\u00a0folder straight into the iPad Dock for easy access, just like on your Mac!<\/p>\n Preview, formerly available only for Mac,\u00a0will be available to iPad users with iPadOS 26. Preview coming to iPad is a great thing, in my opinion, since the larger screen size of the iPad makes it easy to use a finger or Apple Pencil to view, edit, sign, draw, and otherwise create and mark up PDFs and other images.<\/p>\n Journal, previously exclusive to iPhone, will also be coming to the iPad.\u00a0The Apple Pencil can make journaling\u00a0more creative, allowing users to add drawings and\u00a0handwriting to their entries. Speaking of the Apple Pencil, iPadOS 26 has a new tool on offer:\u00a0the reed pen. You’ll be able to practice your calligraphy in Journal, Preview, Notes, and more, including some third-party apps!<\/p>\n Apple Games is new for all devices, but will be especially fun on the easily portable, large-screened iPad. We can look forward to\u00a0cool features like a Library tab that shows every game you’ve ever downloaded, and the ability to invite friends to play and set challenges with them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nRelease Dates & Compatibility<\/h2>\n
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The iPad Becomes More Mac-Like<\/h2>\n
App Windows & Tiling at Last<\/h3>\n
\n![\"new](\"https:\/\/www.iphonelife.com\/sites\/iphonelife.com\/files\/styles\/full_width_wide_2x\/public\/new_windows_and_tiling_ipados_26.jpeg?itok=2jYDdNju\" "\\"new")
<\/p>\nA Convenient Menu Bar<\/h3>\n
\n![\"menu](\"https:\/\/www.iphonelife.com\/sites\/iphonelife.com\/files\/styles\/full_width_wide_2x\/public\/menu_bar_ipados_26.jpeg?itok=Z5kfGVbR\" "\\"menu")
<\/p>\nFiles App Updates<\/h3>\n
Preview, Journal & Apple Games<\/h3>\n
\n![\"ipad](\"https:\/\/www.iphonelife.com\/sites\/iphonelife.com\/files\/styles\/full_width_wide_2x\/public\/ipad_game_app_ipados_26.jpeg?itok=7x80TZAU\" "\\"ipad")
<\/p>\niPadOS 26 Gets ‘Liquid Glass’ Redesign<\/h2>\n
![\"liquid](\"https:\/\/www.iphonelife.com\/sites\/iphonelife.com\/files\/styles\/full_width_wide_2x\/public\/liquid_glass_across_devices.png?itok=zPF1fqWn\" "\\"liquid")
<\/p>\n![\"shortcuts](\"https:\/\/www.iphonelife.com\/sites\/iphonelife.com\/files\/styles\/full_width_wide_2x\/public\/shortcuts_ipados_26.jpeg?itok=GNtAmiCk\" "\\"shortcuts")
<\/p>\n![\"record](\"https:\/\/www.iphonelife.com\/sites\/iphonelife.com\/files\/styles\/full_width_wide_2x\/public\/image_6-9-25_at_5.54_pm.jpg?itok=uNh8C6TA\" "\\"record")
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