iPadOS 26 has officially landed, and it’s a big one. Unveiled at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), this latest update promises to reshape how we use the iPad. Whether you’re diving into creative projects, juggling work tasks, or simply catching up on a show, iPadOS 26 aims to make the entire experience smoother, smarter, and—somehow—more beautiful.
Key Takeaways:
- iPadOS 26 features a new “Liquid Glass” design across the system.
- A powerful new windowing system allows for flexible app window resizing and placement.
- The Files app receives a significant overhaul with improved organization.
- The Preview app is now available on iPad for PDF and image handling.
- Apple Intelligence features are more integrated, offering smart assistance.
- New tools for creatives support demanding audio and video workflows.
- The update includes a new Apple Games app and improved gaming experiences.
A Striking New Visual Language: Liquid Glass
The first thing you’ll probably notice? That fresh coat of paint. iPadOS 26 introduces a system-wide “Liquid Glass” design. It’s sleek, almost mesmerizing, with a translucent, glassy look that reacts—subtly, but noticeably—to your surroundings and taps. The idea here isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a modern, unified experience that makes content pop while everything else fades into this soft, elegant background.
Even app icons have had a makeover. They now adapt with both light and dark modes in a way that feels… just right. And apps like Mail, Safari, Apple TV, and Apple Music? Their controls and interfaces have been rethought to align with the new design. It’s not radical, but it’s certainly refreshing.
Multitasking Reimagined: The Windowing System
For anyone who has ever tried to multitask seriously on an iPad, this part might feel like a long-awaited answer. iPadOS 26 introduces a brand-new windowing system. Think: resizable app windows you can place anywhere, open side-by-side, and organize however you like.
You’ll find familiar tools like close, minimize, and resize controls, which make managing windows far more intuitive than before. There’s also a “window tiling” gesture that snaps apps neatly into place. Handy detail—if you resize a window, it’ll remember that size and position the next time you open it.
This new system integrates with Stage Manager, letting you group apps into stages that feel a bit like dedicated workspaces. And for those using an external display, the whole experience gets a boost—more space, more flexibility, less hassle.
At the top of the screen, a swipe or cursor movement reveals a customizable menu bar. It’s simple but powerful, offering quick access to commands or even a search function to dig into app features. Developers, take note: you can tailor this menu for your own apps.
File Management Gets an Upgrade
If you’ve ever found the Files app a bit clunky, you’re not alone. Thankfully, iPadOS 26 gives it a serious polish. There’s a new List view with resizable columns and detailed file info. Folders can now collapse, which sounds small but makes a big difference when you’re organizing a ton of documents.
Even better, you can personalize folders—colors, icons, emojis, all synced across your Apple devices. And now, you can drag any folder right into the Dock for lightning-fast access. Also notable: users can assign default apps to open specific file types. Finally.
Preview Arrives on iPad
One of macOS’s most useful tools has finally made its way to the iPad: Preview. It’s exactly what you think—a dedicated space to view, edit, and mark up PDFs and images. You get tools like sketching, annotations, and AutoFill, all optimized for touch and the Apple Pencil. For students, editors, or anyone reviewing documents on the go, this addition feels like a win.
Apple Intelligence: Smarter, More Integrated
Apple is continuing its slow but steady march toward a more intelligent OS. In iPadOS 26, Apple Intelligence is baked deeper into the experience. Live Translation now works inside Phone, FaceTime, and Messages, giving you instant captions and translated text during calls. It’s one of those things that might not seem vital—until you use it.
New “Genmoji” features let you create your own emojis with tweakable attributes. Meanwhile, Image Playground now includes ChatGPT-driven image generation. And Shortcuts? They’re smarter too, handling tasks like summarizing text or comparing a lecture transcript with your notes. It’s a bit nerdy, but if you’re into automation, it’s a treat.
Empowering Creative Professionals
If your iPad is your creative workstation, iPadOS 26 wants to take things further. The OS can now handle demanding background tasks more efficiently, with Live Activities keeping you updated on their progress.
There’s more granular control over audio input—per app or even per website. Voice isolation improves clarity, especially in noisy environments, and local capture enables high-quality recordings straight from your iPad, complete with echo cancellation.
Journal, previously only on iPhone, is now on iPad. It’s great for combining handwritten notes, images, voice memos, and locations in one place. Artists get a new reed pen in drawing apps, and Math Notes in Calculator supports 3D graphing. Meanwhile, the Notes app can now import/export markdown and even record/transcribe calls from the Phone app.
Gaming Gets a Central Hub
Gaming isn’t forgotten here either. iPadOS 26 adds the Apple Games app—a unified place to find, manage, and play games. Expect recommendations, leaderboards, and friend competitions all in one spot.
A new “Game Overlay” means you don’t have to exit a game just to tweak settings or manage events. It’s a minor addition, perhaps, but it streamlines the whole experience.
With iPadOS 26, Apple seems to be inching closer to its long-standing vision of the iPad as a true computer alternative. Between the flexible windowing, the sleek new design, and the deeper intelligence integration, the iPad is evolving fast—and perhaps not just for play or convenience anymore. It’s becoming something more powerful, more capable. And honestly? It’s about time.
