Apple Unveils iPadOS 26 With New Windowing System, Liquid Glass Design, and Pro Features

Apple today took the wraps off iPadOS 26, previewing what it calls the biggest update ever for its tablet operating system. The new software introduces a complete design refresh, a powerful new windowing system, deeper Apple Intelligence integration, and new capabilities for creative professionals.



A central feature of the update is a completely new windowing system designed to be more intuitive and powerful. Users can now fluidly resize app windows, place them anywhere on the screen, and open more windows simultaneously. The system includes familiar controls for closing, minimizing, and tiling windows, and it remembers an app's size and position for the next time it's launched. A new Exposé feature lets users see all open windows at once, and a menu bar, accessible with a swipe from the top, brings app commands to the forefront.






The user interface gets a significant update built around a new translucent material Apple calls Liquid Glass, which refracts its surroundings and reacts to user input. This new look affects the Lock Screen and Control Center, and also enables new Home Screen personalization with updated app icons, new light and dark tints, and an elegant clear option.






Apple Intelligence also sees a significant expansion in iPadOS 26. Live Translation will allow for real-time translation in Phone calls, FaceTime, and Messages. Users can create more detailed Genmoji by modifying attributes like hair or accessories, while Image Playground gains new styles, including integration with ChatGPT. New intelligent actions in Shortcuts will let users build more complex workflows, like summarizing a transcribed lecture and comparing it to written notes.





Managing files gets a big boost with an enhanced Files app. It features an updated List view with resizable columns and collapsible folders, along with new customization options for folders including colors, icons, and emoji. Users can now drag any folder directly to the Dock for quick access and set default apps for specific file types. Alongside these changes, the Preview app is officially coming to the iPad, offering a dedicated place to view and mark up PDFs and images.





For creative professionals, iPadOS 26 unlocks several new capabilities. A feature called Background Tasks allows long-running processes to continue in an app while providing progress updates via Live Activities. Users will also gain more granular control over audio, with the ability to select different microphone inputs for individual apps and websites, and take advantage of Voice Isolation for clearer recordings. Local capture for video conferencing apps will enable high-quality recordings of a user's audio and video during a call.



The update also brings several new and updated apps to the platform. The Journal app arrives on iPad, as does a new Apple Games app with a Game Overlay for in-game settings and social features. The Messages app gets conversation Backgrounds, Polls, and a redesigned details view. For the first time, the native Phone app is coming to iPad, bringing features like Hold Assist and Call Screening.





Other notable additions include a new reed pen tool in the tool palette for calligraphy, 3D graphing capabilities in the Calculator's Math Notes, the ability to import and export markdown files in Notes, and several new Accessibility features including Accessibility Reader and an all-new Braille Access experience.





A developer beta of iPadOS 26 is available today, with a public beta scheduled for next month. The final version will be released this fall as a free update for iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (A16), iPad (8th generation and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad mini (5th generation and later). Apple Intelligence features will require an iPad with an M1 chip or later.

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