New in iPadOS 26

Upcoming updates to Apple's tablet operating system.

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iPadOS 26 is the biggest iPadOS release ever, taking a huge leap forward and pushing the unique capabilities and versatility of iPad even further. Like the iPhone, the tablet benefits from Liquid Glass, giving it a great new look. Of course, many of the other improvements that come with iOS 26, such as the Apple Intelligence features, Genmoji improvements and super-powered Shortcuts come to the iPad with iPadOS 26 too. While maintaining the simplicity of iPad, iPadOS 26 introduces an entirely new powerful and intuitive windowing system with new features that help you control, organise, and switch between apps.

The supercharged Files app offers new ways to organise files and customise folders.

And with Folders in the dock, users can conveniently access downloads, documents and more from anywhere. The Preview app comes to iPad, giving users a dedicated app to view and edit PDFs, with powerful features like Apple Pencil Markup and AutoFill built in. And with Background Tasks, audio input selection and Local capture, iPadOS 26 unlocks new capabilities for creative pros working with audio and video..

Working with files

iPadOS 26 introduces powerful new ways to manage, access, and edit files. An enhanced Files app with an updated List view lets you see more of your 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. For quicker access, you can now drag any folder from the Files app right into the Dock. Additionally, you can set a default app for opening specific files or file types.

Taking advantage of the incredible power of Apple silicon, iPadOS 26 can perform computationally intensive Background Tasks.