Apple previewed iPadOS 26, as part of WWDC 2025. Calling it “the biggest iPadOS release ever”, the company says iPadOS gets a slew of new features to help users communicate, express themselves, and get things done.
With Apple going further down the road of making the experience between its major computing platforms more consistent, iPadOS gets Live Translation, new ways to create images with Genmoji and Image Playground, and intelligent actions with Shortcuts. The Files app gets a much needed facelift with the ability to add Folders to the the dock to make it easier to access downloads, documents, and other files.
A major new addition is the Preview app. While you can view and annotate PDFs in Notes, Preview promises to be easier to use. It includes Apple Pencil Markup and AutoFill built in.
As with iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26 Apple brings its Liquid Glass user interface to the iPad.
Multi-tasking also gets much needed boost with better window controls to seamlessly close, minimise, resize, or tile windows. If a user previously resized an app, it opens back in the exact same size and position when opened again. Exposé comes to the iPad so users can quickly see all their open windows spread out, helping them easily switch to the one they need. The new windowing system works alongside Stage Manager. A new menu bar lets users access the commands available in an app with a simple swipe down from the top of the display, or by moving their cursor to the top.
Apple says its much-maligned AI offering, Apple Intelligence, becomes more capable and more integrated across iPadOS 26 with Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime, and Messages. In Messages, incoming texts, including group messages, are automatically translated into the user’s preferred language.On FaceTime, a user can follow along with translated live captions while still hearing the speaker’s voice. And when on a phone call, the translation is spoken aloud throughout the conversation.
As with all the other new software previewed at WWDC 2025, developers can access beta versions today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com.
A public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com.
New software features will be available this Spring as a free software update for iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (A16), iPad (8th generation and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad mini (5th generation and later).
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.