iPadOS 26: Key features you should know about Apple tablet's new OS

The new iPadOS 26 brings a lot of improvements not just with the user interface (Liquid Glass UI) but also value-added features to enhance the user experience on iPad.

Apple offered a sneak peek at the new software for iPad at the Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC) 2025, Cupertino, California.

It brings a lot of improvements not just with the user interface but also value-added features to enhance the user experience on iPad.

Apple iPadOS 26: Key features you should know about iPad's new OS

All new visual UI: Taking inspiration from visionOS, Apple is calling it Liquid Glass UI. As the name suggests, it has a glass-like translucent UI, which promises to create a lively experience and make the iPad more enjoyable.

The new UI design extends to all aspects of software from the smallest elements users interact with every day - such as buttons, switches, sliders, text, and media controls - to larger elements, including tab bars and sidebars for moving through apps. It also extends to the Lock Screen, Home Screen, notifications, Control Center, and more.

Liquid Glass UI on iPad.

Windowing system: This feature allows users to resize their favourite apps as per their needs on the Home Screen. It also offers the option to place or pin them anywhere on the screen for easy access.

New enhanced Files app with an updated List view: This allows users to see more of their document details in resizable columns and collapsible folders. To make folders easier to identify at a glance, Files also offers folder customisation options that include custom colours, icons, and emoji that sync across devices.

Windowing system on iPad.

Preview app: For the first time, iPad will soon get a standalone Preview app. It helps in creating a quick sketch, as well as viewing, editing, and marking up PDFs and images with Apple Pencil or by touch gestures.

Improvements to the Calculator app: The calculator which made its debut on iPad last year is also getting a new update. The upcoming iPadOS 26 introduces new 3D graphing capabilities in Math Notes, allowing users to write an equation with three variables and create a graph in three dimensions.

New File system on iPad.

The rest of the features (listed below) are similar to iOS 26 announced for the iPhones.

Apple Intelligence-powered Live translation comes to Messages, FaceTime and Phone apps: It will work on-device and doesn’t need connection to the cloud server to process the live translation. Initially, it will support up to nine languages including English (US & UK), Spanish, German, Chinese, French, Italian, Korean and more.

Improvements to Visual Intelligence: iPadOS 26 brings a new Visual Intelligence feature 'highlight to search', which allows users to scan the website on the phone’s screen and get summaries, or add an event to the calendar. It will be similar to the Google Gemini AI-powered Circle to Search feature we see on Android phones.

Improvements to Genmoji and Image Playground: Both the apps, which churn out custom emojis and photos with text descriptions, will soon allow users to mix two emojis to create new genmojis. It same with Image Playground too, users will be able to create more personalised images in several styles including painting, cartoon and real-life images with rich colours.

Big privacy update coming to Phone app: With the new iPadOS 26, Apple is bringing the much-awaited call screening option. This feature allows the iPhone to answer calls and ask the caller’s name and this screening feature can help users decide to either answer or reject calls. This same feature will also be available on the Messages app as well.

Update to Apple Music app: The iPadOS 26 brings lyrics translation and lyrics pronunciation features to the Music app, which can assist users while playing karaoke.

Improvements to the Messages app: Besides the live language translation feature, the Messages app also gets a chat background wallpaper and a Polls option.

Apple Games: The new application will be the one-stop destination for users to find all the new games and also be able to resume the gameplay right where they stopped the previous time.

List of Apple iPads eligible for iPadOS 26 update:

iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation and newer versions), iPad Pro 11‑inch (1st generation and newer versions), iPad Air (M3), iPad Air (M2), iPad Air (3rd generation and newer versions), iPad (A16), iPad (8th generation and newer versions), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad mini (5th generation and newer versions).

The new iPadOS 26 beta is available for testing exclusive to registered developers.

Next month, Apple will be rolling out iPadOS 26 beta for public testers.

Later in the year around September, Apple will release the final iPadOS 26 version as free update to all eligible iPads.

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