At its WWDC keynote in June, Apple announced iPadOS 18, which will be released this fall alongside iOS 18, macOS 15, and watchOS 11. As always, iOS 18 includes a bunch of new features, including Apple Intelligence, which will be released in beta and added gradually throughout 2025. But there are a few exciting new features just for iPad users, including a new Calculator app.
If you want to know what’s coming this fall, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about iPadOS 18. That includes which models are compatible with iPadOS 18, how to get and install the beta release to get an early look at the software, and what new features and beta developments you can expect when the full version launches later this year. So as we get closer to its release date, keep an eye out for this super guide that will tell you everything you need to know about iPadOS 18.
iPadOS 18: Release Date
Apple hasn’t revealed a specific release date for iPadOS 18 yet, but based on past releases, it seems very likely that it will arrive in mid-September, which is around the same time that the new iPhone 16 models are expected to be released.
For reference, here are the last few generations of iPadOS 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 is a simple task, but if you’re not sure how to do it, you can check out our detailed instructions on how to install iPadOS 17 on your iPad in last year’s guide. The steps are exactly the same.
iPadOS 18: Beta Release
Apple is testing iPadOS 18 alongside iOS 18, with the sixth beta currently in development, which was released on August 12. Apple is also testing iPadOS 18.1, which includes some Apple Intelligence features that will be released after the initial iPadOS 18 release. You can read 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 the public who want to try out new features before iPadOS 18 launches in September. The process is simple: just enroll your device and opt in to the beta. Software Update The Settings tab.
- Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
- Log in to the Beta Software Program.
- Clicking sound Register your iOS device.
- Open Settings and tap . generalthen Software Update.
- In the Beta Updates section, select: iOS Public Beta.
If you want to uninstall the beta and stop receiving beta updates, see How to Uninstall iOS Beta on iPhone.
iPadOS 18: Compatibility
Apple has revealed which iPad models are eligible for iPadOS 18. For those wondering if they can upgrade, here’s the list.
- iPad Pro (M4)
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch (3rd generation or later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation or later)
- iPad Air (M2)
- iPad Air (3rd generation or later)
- iPad (7th generation or later)
- iPad Mini (5th generation or later)
However, it is important to note that not all models can run the full range of new features, as some rely on newer hardware, particularly Apple Intelligence. This feature is only available on M1-based iPads and later, and only when Siri is set to use US English.
iPadOS 18: What’s New
Apple Intelligence
AI is all the rage right now, and Apple is jumping on the hype train with its own AI called Apple Intelligence, which is coming with iOS 18.1. It’ll bring a bunch of new features to iPad, including a new Siri experience, tools to help you improve your writing, email and web page summaries, and even the ability to create your own emoji and illustrations using powerful image creation tools. Here’s a bunch more:
However, most iPads won’t be able to install it. Apple Intelligence is limited to M1-based iPads and above, excluding everything but the iPad Air and iPad Pro. But if it’s as good as Apple says it is, it might be worth upgrading.
calculator
They said it couldn’t be! Well, more accurately, no one understood why Apple didn’t just do it. But the new standalone calculator app for iPad might have been worth the wait. Apple introduced a new feature called Math Notes, along with standard and scientific layouts, that lets you scribble equations with your Apple Pencil and they’ll be instantly resolved. And when you go back to change something, your work is updated in real time.
picture
The Photos app has been given a major overhaul in iPadOS 18, with a collage of your photo stream now appearing at the top of the main page. Below, Apple has added Collections, which automatically organize your library by recent dates and topics like People and Pets. You can also set up pinned collections for quick access to your favorite collections and albums.
Custom
One of the most eye-catching changes in iPadOS 18 is the ability to completely customize your Home screen pages. You can now add color tints to app icons so they appear to be uniformly shaded in a hue that matches your wallpaper. You can place icons wherever you want without them snapping to the next open spot on the grid, and you can even make icons larger and remove the names underneath them.
In iPadOS 18, you can tap and hold an icon to bring up options, including the ability to instantly turn the icon into a widget, if available. If you want to keep your apps private, iPadOS 18 gives you the ability to lock specific apps or hide them from view, accessible only by Face ID or Touch ID.
Control Center also offers some customization options along with a few new control pages. Users can now add more controls to the list and resize them to their liking. And third-party developers can create their own controls, too.
Note
One of the best Apple apps on iPad is Notes. It’s been steadily growing in power over the past year, and iPadOS 18 brings even more improvements. First, you can now highlight text to quickly mark important parts of a note. You can also hide text with collapsible section headers to better organize long texts.
But that’s not all. Smart Script converts your Apple Pencil notes into a more consistent version, cleaning up messy writing and making it easier to read. A cool extra feature is that when you paste text notes into your handwritten notes, they’ll be converted to a handwritten style that matches the rest of your document. There’s also Live Audio Transcription, which automatically transcribes audio notes you’ve written and provides a text version when you’re done.
Password Manager
iCloud Keychain has long been a feature of Apple devices, but in iPadOS 18 it’s being transformed into a dedicated Passwords app. It lets you manage all your passwords, passkeys, and Wi-Fi codes, and share them securely with friends and family. Of course, it’s all encrypted, which is something to be very concerned about when it comes to the best password managers.
iPadOS 18: More Features
iPadOS 18, coming to iPad this fall, has a number of additional features.
Floating navigation bar: A small, snappy tab bar is now available in most Apple apps, giving you access to navigation tools while remaining in full-screen mode.
Game Modes: It improves performance by reducing in-game response times, while also reducing latency for Bluetooth controllers. When wearing AirPods, audio latency is also reduced.
message: Messages in iPadOS 18 adds text formatting, Tapbacks so you can reply to people with any emoji, and there’s also a new feature that lets you schedule messages to be sent later.
Safari Updates: An improved reader design that quickly loads highlights (the most relevant information) from web pages and includes page summaries and a table of contents.
Shareplay Updates: Now you can share your screen and draw on it so that your friends or family can follow the directions you give them. If they want more direct help, they can now allow you to operate their devices remotely.
Freestyle: The Freeform app now includes a scenes feature that you can use to quickly navigate between different areas of your document.
seclusion: You can now decide which contacts you see in the app, and the layout of the Privacy section has been improved for easier navigation.
So as you can see, there’s a lot to look forward to in iPad OS 18. If you want all the features we’ve mentioned above, you might need to upgrade to a new device. Check out the best iPad deals and the best iPad Pro deals to see if there’s a discount on a new model that’ll get you all the best bits Apple has in store for your iPad when the full software update rolls out in September.
