WWDC25: Everything announced for iPadOS 26

At WWDC25, Apple introduced iPadOS 26, skipping ahead from iPadOS 18 as part of a sweeping rebrand that brings version numbers across all its operating systems into alignment. But it is more than just a version bump.

This update marks a shift in how Apple positions the iPad, not just as a tablet, but as a true powerhouse for productivity and creativity.

With iPadOS 26, Apple is pushing the device into new territory, drawing it closer to the Mac while still honouring what makes the iPad unique: its flexibility, portability, and touch-first interface.

From multitasking enhancements to design refinements and new creative tools, Apple is making it clear that the iPad isn’t just evolving but stepping into a new era. Here's everything they announced.

| 1 | Windowed Multitasking Comes to iPad

This is the one that changes everything. With iPadOS 26, Apple finally brought real windowed multitasking to the iPad. We’re not talking about the old split view or Slide Over gimmicks. You can now open apps in separate, resizable windows and move them anywhere on the screen—overlapping them, snapping them into place, or stacking them however you want. It's clean, fluid, and makes the iPad feel less like a tablet and more like a full-blown computer.

| 2 | Preview and Settings Overhaul

Apple also took a major step toward blurring the line between iPadOS and macOS by bringing over several key apps and system features. For starters, Preview, the beloved macOS app for PDFs and image editing, is now fully native on iPad. That means you can open, edit, sign, and mark up PDFs without any janky workarounds.

Even the Settings app got the desktop treatment. Gone is the iPhone-style scroll-fest. In its place is a sidebar-based layout like on macOS, where everything is easier to find and better organised.

| 3 | Exposé: Multitasking, Reimagined

In addition to the new windowed multitasking feature, iPadOS 26 introduces a new multitasking overview called Exposé, and it’s slick. With a swipe or shortcut, you zoom out to see all your open app windows, even across different spaces. It’s an easy, visual way to move between tasks, close what you don’t need, or reorganise your layout. For anyone juggling multiple apps, this is a huge time-saver and far more intuitive than the old App Switcher.

| 4 | A Menu Bar on iPadOS

Another huge shift: iPadOS now includes a floating menu bar, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. When you're using an app with a keyboard or mouse, the top of the screen fills with app-specific options like File, Edit, View, and more.

It makes navigating professional apps easier and faster, and it eliminates the awkward need to memorize where every obscure option is hidden.

| 5 | Supercharged Files App

The Files app on iPadOS finally feels like a grown-up. It now supports tabs, so you can work across multiple folders or drives in one window. There's better drag-and-drop support, easier zip/unzip handling, and built-in document previews (thanks to Preview).

File tagging, folder customisation options, custom views, and advanced search filters make it easy to organise large libraries. Network drive access and improved iCloud Drive integration help professional users manage work files across devices.

| 6 | Apple Intelligence + Live Translation

Apple Intelligence is baked into iPadOS 26, and it’s doing more than just suggesting better sentences or cleaning up your grammar. It now powers Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime, and Messages. So, if you're on a call with someone speaking another language, your iPad can translate it in real-time, including text and voice.

| 7 | iPad Gets Its Own Phone App

Yes, you read that right—the iPad is now officially a phone. You can make and take regular calls straight from your iPad. It looks and works just like it does on iOS, including voicemail, recent calls, and even FaceTime Audio.

| 8 | Refined Design and Visual Upgrades

iPadOS 26 introduces a fresh new look powered by Liquid Glass, a translucent material that subtly reflects and refracts your surroundings. It dynamically responds to touch and context, drawing focus to what matters most. This design shift brings new energy to the Lock Screen, Control Center, and Home Screen, where updated app icons now adapt to light and dark modes with vibrant new tints or a sleek, glass-clear finish. Combined with smoother animations and sharper UI, the entire experience feels more alive, more responsive, and more personal.

| 9 | Journal App Comes to iPad

Apple’s Journal app—originally launched for iPhone—finally lands on iPad. And with the bigger screen, Pencil support, and keyboard compatibility, it’s better than ever. You can now write longer entries, drop in photos or videos, and even record audio reflections. It syncs across devices, uses Apple Intelligence to surface meaningful moments, and feels like the perfect blend of personal wellness tool and digital scrapbook.

| 10 | New Games App

Gaming on iPad gets a little more organised with the new Games app. It acts as a centralised hub for your game library, Game Center friends, achievements, and personalised recommendations. It’s clean, easy to use, and adds a more console-like layer to iPad gaming, especially as more AAA titles arrive on the platform.

| 11 | Background Tasks and Enhanced Audio/Video Tools

For creators, this might be the sleeper hit. iPadOS 26 now allows certain apps, such as video editors and audio workstations, to continue processing in the background. So, exports, renders, or downloads don’t stall just because you switch apps.

On top of that, iPad now supports advanced audio routing, multi-track recording with external gear, and enhanced video controls like frame management and display mirroring. In short, the iPad is now a legitimate part of a pro content creation setup.

Additional Updates for iPadOS

• Calligraphy‑style reed pen: A new tool palette option simulates traditional calligraphy with stroke-angle presets, working with Apple Pencil or touch across Notes, Preview, Freeform, Journal, Markup, and PencilKit apps.
• 3D graphing in Calculator: Math Notes now supports equations with three variables and renders 3D graphs directly in-app.
• Markdown and audio imports in Notes: You can now import/export notes as Markdown and record Phone app conversations with automatic transcription inside Notes.
• Expanded accessibility: New features include Accessibility Reader for easier text reading, a redesigned Braille Access, and Share Accessibility Settings to temporarily use someone else’s setup.
• Genmoji: Create custom emojis by mixing existing emojis and text descriptions, then use them across Messages and other apps.
• Image Playground: Leverage ChatGPT-powered AI to generate images (oil painting, anime, vector, etc.) from text or photos, with full user control over sending data.
• Local capture: Record high-quality audio or video locally during video conferences, then share recordings, while echo cancellation focuses on your voice.
• Smarter Shortcuts: Shortcuts gets “intelligent actions” powered by Apple Intelligence, which allows you to automate tasks like summarising text, generating images via Image Playground, or comparing audio to notes.

Conclusion

iPadOS 26 is more than a collection of new features. It's a statement of intent. Apple is no longer treating the iPad as a middle ground between the iPhone and Mac. With this update, it's carving out a clear identity for the iPad as a full-fledged, standalone platform for work, creativity, and everyday use.

Whether you're a casual user, a student, or a professional, iPadOS 26 brings the iPad closer than ever to fulfilling its promise as a device that can adapt to almost anything.