At its WWDC keynote in June, Apple announced iPadOS 18, which will arrive this fall alongside iOS 18, macOS 15, and watchOS 11. As always, there are plenty of new features coming with iOS 18, including Apple Intelligence, which will launch in beta and gradually add features throughout 2025. But there are also some exciting new features just for iPad users, including finally a new Calculator app.
If you want to know what’s coming this fall, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about iPadOS 18. That includes which models will be compatible with iPadOS 18, how you can get and install betas to test the software out early, what new features you can expect when the full version launches later this year, and all the beta developments. So, stay tuned to this superguide for everything you need to know about iPadOS 18 for more information as the release date approaches.
iPadOS 18: release date
Apple has yet to officially confirm the exact launch date of iPadOS 18, but looking at previous releases, it seems very likely that it will arrive in mid-September, around the same time we expect to see the new iPhone 16 models.
For reference, here’s when the latest generations of iPadOS were released:
- iPadOS 17: September 18, 2023
- iPadOS 16: October 24, 2022
- iPadOS 15: September 20, 2021
- iPadOS 14: September 16, 2020
- iPadOS 13: September 24, 2019
Updating to the new version will be a simple affair, but if you’re not sure how to do it, you can check out the detailed instructions from last year’s guide on how to get iPadOS 17 on your iPad, as the steps should be exactly the same.
iPadOS 18: Beta versions
Apple is testing iPadOS 18 alongside iOS 18 and is currently in the sixth beta, which was released on August 12. Apple is also testing iPadOS 18.1 with some Apple Intelligence features for release after the first release of iPadOS 18. You can learn more about the features in these betas below and in our iOS 18 superguide.
iPadOS 18: How to install the beta
Starting in mid-July, Apple will offer a beta testing program for members of the public who would like to try out new features before iPadOS 18 launches in September. The process is simple: just enroll your device and select the beta from the list Software Update tab in Settings.
- Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and sign up with your Apple ID.
- Log in to the beta software program.
- Click Register your iOS device.
- Open Settings, tap GeneralSO Software Update.
- In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta.
If you want to uninstall the beta and stop receiving beta updates, read this: How to Remove an iOS Beta from Your iPhone.
iPadOS 18: Compatibility
Apple has revealed which iPad models will be compatible with iPadOS 18, so if you’re wondering if you’ll be able to upgrade, here’s the list:
- iPad Pro (M4)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
- iPad Air (M2)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (7th generation and later)
- iPad Mini (5th generation and later)
It’s worth noting, however, that not all models will be able to run all of the new features, as some will rely on the latest hardware, including Apple Intelligence, which will only be available for iPads with M1 and above, and only if Siri is set to use US English.
iPadOS 18: New features
Apple Information
Artificial intelligence is all the rage right now, and Apple is jumping on the hype train with its own AI called Apple Intelligence, which will arrive with iOS 18.1. It will bring a variety of new features to iPad, including a new Siri experience, tools to help you improve your writing, email and webpage summaries, and much more, including powerful image generation tools to create your own emoji and illustrations. Many features, including the
However, most iPads won’t be able to install it. Apple Intelligence is limited to iPads with the M1 chip and above, which rules out everything but the iPad Air and iPad Pro. But if it’s as good as Apple says it is, it might be worth the upgrade.
Calculator
They said it was impossible! Or rather, no one ever understood why Apple didn’t do it. But the new standalone Calculator app for iPad might have been worth the wait. In addition to standard and scientific layouts, Apple also introduced a new feature called Math Notes that lets you use your Apple Pencil to scribble formulas that are instantly solved as you write. And if you go back to edit something, it will even update your work in real time.
Photos
The Photos app gets a makeover in iPadOS 18. The top of the main page now shows a collage of your photo stream. Below that, Apple added Collections that automatically organize your library into topics like Recent Days and People & Pets. You can also set up pinned collections for quick access to your favorite collections and albums.
Personalization
One of the biggest changes in iPadOS 18 is the ability to fully customize your Home screen pages. You’ll now be able to add a color tint to app icons, making them appear uniformly shaded in a hue that you can match to your wallpaper. It’s also possible to place icons wherever you want without them immediately snapping to the next open spot on the grid, as well as make them larger and remove the name underneath them.
In iPadOS 18, tap and hold an icon to reveal its options, which now include the ability to instantly turn an icon into a widget if a widget is available. If you want to keep an app private, iPadOS 18 gives you the option to lock or hide certain apps, with Face ID or Touch ID being the only way to access them.
The Control Center also has some customization options, with several new control pages. Users can now add more controls to the list and resize them to their liking. Third-party developers will also be able to create their own controls.
Remarks
One of the best Apple apps on iPad is Notes. It’s gradually become a veritable writing machine over the years, and iPadOS 18 brings even more improvements. First, you can now highlight text to quickly mark important parts of your notes. You can also hide text with collapsible section headers to better organize longer writings.
But that’s not all, as Smart Script will transform notes written with Apple Pencil into more coherent versions, the feature tidying up your messy handwriting so it looks more readable. An additional cool feature is that if you paste a text note into Handwritten Notes, it will now be converted into your handwriting style to match the rest of the document. There’s also a Live Audio Transcription feature that will automatically transcribe any audio notes you take, giving you a text version when you’re done.
Password Manager
iCloud Keychain has been a feature of Apple devices for a long time, but in iPadOS 18 it will be transformed into a dedicated passwords app. With this, you can manage all your passwords, access keys and Wi-Fi codes, and share them securely with your friends or family members. Everything is encrypted, of course, and this could be something that will worry a lot of the entries in our table of the best password managers.
iPadOS 18: Other features
Many additional features are coming to your iPad this fall in iPadOS 18:
Floating Navigation Bar: The small and fast tab bar is now available on most Apple apps, allowing you to stay in full screen mode while still having access to navigation tools.
Game mode: Reduces in-game response time, improving performance, while reducing latency of Bluetooth controllers. Audio latency is also reduced when wearing AirPods.
Messages: Text formatting is coming to Messages in iPadOS 18, along with Tapbacks, which let you reply to people with any emoji. There’s also a new feature that lets you schedule messages to be sent at a later time or date.
Safari Updates: Quickly display a web page’s highlights (most relevant information) and an improved reader design that includes a page summary and table of contents.
Shareplay Updates: You can now share your screen and draw on it so your friends or family can follow the instructions you give them. If they want more direct assistance, they can now allow you to use their device remotely.
Free form: The Freeform app now includes a Scenes feature that you can use to quickly move to different areas of the document.
Confidentiality: You can now decide which contacts an app can see, and the layout of the Privacy section has been improved for easier navigation.
As you can see, iPad OS 18 has a lot to look forward to. If you want all the features mentioned above, you might have to upgrade to a new device. You can check out our best iPad and iPad Pro deals to see if there’s a good deal on a new model that will let you get your hands on all the best bits Apple has in store for iPads when the full software update rolls out in September.
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