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iPadOS 26

Apple demoed a new windowing system for iPadOS 26 at WWDC 2025.
Say goodbye to limited app windows on iPad.

iPadOS 26 is shaping up to be one of Apple’s most transformative updates yet — think of it as the iPad stepping firmly into laptop territory. Debuted at WWDC 2025, this release ushers in a sweeping design shift, advanced window handling and refined multitasking.

The update is currently in beta, with a public launch expected around mid‑September 2025.

iPadOS 26 compatible tablets

iPadOS 26 is compatible with iPad models A12 and newer: iPad (8th gen), mini (5th+), Air (3rd+), Pro 11″ (1st+), Pro 12.9″ (3rd+), and new M4 iPad Pro. It drops support for iPad (7th gen), and requires Apple Neural Engine hardware for AI features. Stage Manager finally extends to all supported iPads, though external display use remains limited to more powerful chips

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on iPadOS 26:

New iOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2 betas show testing is nearly over [Updated]

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iOS 26.2 beta 3 is here
iOS 26.2 beta 3 is here!
Graphic: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple continues to quickly push ahead with development of its next round of operating system updates. The result: the third betas of iOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2 reached developers on Monday, and the public on Tuesday. The same goes for iPadOS 26.2 beta 3, watchOS 26.2 beta 3, tvOS 26.2 beta 3 and visionOS 26.2 beta 3.

Expect the full versions to be ready in only a few weeks.

The most surprising tweaks in iOS 26.2 beta 2 you need to know

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iPhone screenshot showing iOS 26.2 beta 2 download option
iOS 26.2 beta 2 packs a surprising number of changes.
Image: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple’s latest iOS 26.2 beta 2 may look like a minor update on the surface, but it hides a handful of clever changes. It builds on the changes found in iOS 26.2 beta 1 to deliver an even better experience. 

Below are all the changes and tweaks iOS 26.2 beta 2 brings to your iPhone.

Your iPhone and Mac now automatically install security patches

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Background Security Improvements protect your Mac, iPhone and iPad
Security patches stand between your Apple devices and danger.
Graphic: Google Gemini

When Apple needs to install a security patch onto an iPhone, iPad or Mac, it now does so without requiring the user to do anything — or even be aware of the update. The new Background Security Improvements feature delivers “additional security protections between software updates,” according to Apple.

It’s a feature of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1, but users have the option to deactivate it.

How to turn off Liquid Glass in iOS 26.1 if you hate it

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Turn off Liquid Glass
You can easily deactivate Liquid Glass in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe if you really can’t tolerate it.
Photo: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Liquid Glass in iOS 26 brings dramatic change to the look of the iPhone user interface, so it’s no surprise that some people hate it. If it’s just not for you, the option to turn off Liquid Glass was added in iOS 26.1. And it’s easy.

The same setting is available in macOS Tahoe 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, so you can turn off Liquid Glass on all your devices. Here’s how:

Thank goodness Slide Over is back in iPadOS 26.1

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Toggling Slide Over on the iPad
Slide Over multitasking returns to iPad!
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Slide Over, one of the best iPad multitasking features, got rescued from the rubbish heap with the new iPadOS 26.1. It’s an ideal way to keep an application that you check frequently but not constantly within easy reach — it’s offscreen but accessible with just a flick of a finger.

Here’s how to use Slide Over, and why you shouldn’t ignore the option now that it’s back in iPadOS 26.1, which launched on Monday.

5 new features in iOS 26.1 you don’t want to miss

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iOS 26.1 Update: Top 5 Features
The best new features in the latest update.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iOS 26.1, which Apple released Monday, brings five features you should check out immediately after you install the update.

The biggest change gives you a way to customize the legibility of Liquid Glass, the major user interface overhaul Apple delivered to all its software platforms this year. But there’s plenty of other cool stuff you don’t want to miss.

Other key upgrades come to Apple Music and the iPhone’s alarm clock interface. Plus, there’s a setting that can keep your iPhone battery from draining in your pocket. And for iPad owners, there’s the celebrated return of Slide Over on iPad.

iOS 26.1 and macOS Tahoe 26.1 take their last big step before release

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iOS 26.1 release candidate
The iOS 26.1 release candidate means the final version is almost out.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple seeded the release candidates of iOS 26.1 and macOS Tahoe 26.1 to developers and the public on Tuesday. This is usually the final step before new versions launch — which should happen next week. The highlight is a new setting that makes the controversial Liquid Glass UI less transparent.

Release candidates for iPadOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1 and visionOS 26.1 also went out to on Tuesday.

M5 iPad Pro reviews roundup: Closer to Mac than ever

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M5 iPad Pro with Apple Pencil
The Apple M5 chip boosts the performance of the 2025 iPad Pro, but not as much as iPadOS 26 does.
Image: Apple

Many early reviews of the 2025 iPad Pro with Apple’s new M5 processor share a general theme. The new chip makes the device faster, and paired with the major redesign of iPadOS 26, the tablet might just rival a MacBook.

Read on for M5 iPad Pro reviewers’ comments.

Split View is still in iPadOS 26 — here’s how to use it

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Split View is still in iPadOS 26
Installing iPadOS 26 doesn’t mean losing Split View from your iPad!
Graphic: Apple

Apple kept Split View side-by-side multitasking in iPadOS 26 — despite what you might have read online. And setting it up is as easy as a couple of flicks of your finger.

Here’s how to keep using Split View on your iPad. Apple even made a video that demonstrates what to do.

Best new features in iPadOS 26: Major UI revamp, Liquid Glass and more

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iPadOS 26: Windowed Apps
Windowed Apps is the best new feature in iPadOS 26.
Image: Apple

iPadOS 26 is the biggest iPad revamp since 2010, bringing new features that make the tablet far more Mac-like. And there are other enhancements too, especially the user interface overhaul dubbed Liquid Glass that Apple’s latest software brings to all of he company’s devices.

Here are the best changes to iPadOS 26 … the ones you’ll use every day. (Many of the new iPadOS 26 features can also be found in the latest iPhone software, so be sure to also read our guide to everything new in iOS 26.)

What time will Apple release iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 on September 15 in your time zone?

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iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 release time
iOS 26 is finally ready for public release.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple is finally ready to release iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS Tahoe to the public. After initially showcasing these operating systems at WWDC25 this spring, the company will release the first stable build on September 15.

So when will iOS 26 actually land on your compatible iPhone? With all the new features packed in, you’ll want to be first in line to grab the update. Here’s when iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS Tahoe go live in your region.

This is when iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS Tahoe arrive

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iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 naming scheme
Liquid Glass is coming to your iPhone, iPad and Mac next week.
Image: Apple

Apple Awe Dropping Event: Following months of beta testing since WWDC25, Apple is finally ready to release iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe to the public. These operating systems finally have a release date.

The updates will start rolling out as early as September 15, just a week after Apple’s Awe Dropping event.

Why you should install the iPadOS 26 beta on your iPad today

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Why you should install the iPadOS 26 beta on your iPad today
iPadOS 26 includes huge changes. Don’t wait to try them!
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPadOS 26 brings the most profound changes to the iPad ever, making the tablet far more Mac-like. And you can go ahead and install the massive upgrade, even though it’s still in beta testing.

I’ve thoroughly tested the most recent beta version, and I find it quite stable. It’s not perfect, but if you don’t need your tablet in life-or-death situations, you could dive in and try the revamped iPad multitasking system, Liquid Glass and other enhancements.

iOS 26 beta 7: All the new features and changes

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iOS 26 Beta 7
The latest iOS 27 beta is light on changes.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult Of Mac

Apple continues testing iOS 26, releasing the seventh beta build to developers on August 18, Monday. This is the third consecutive beta from the company in three weeks.

Unlike the last few beta builds, iOS 26 beta 7 doesn’t pack any major changes. Check out everything new in the build below.

Get cool new AirPods features early. Here’s how.

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AirPods firmware trick: Try new iOS 26 audio features now
You don’t have to wait. You can easily install pre-release AirPods firmware to try the audio features coming along with iOS 26.
Graphic: Soulful Pizza/Pexels/Cult of Mac

Apple now makes it easy to install prerelease AirPods firmware on your wireless earbuds. The company once reserved this option for only a select few developers. But now, anyone willing to put potentially buggy software on their AirPods can try upcoming features early.

The temptation is understandable. The upcoming iOS 26 brings a range of enhancements to Apple earbuds, but you need unreleased AirPods firmware to take advantage of them. Install the beta AirPods software, and you can try out improved audio recording, auto-pause when sleeping, and many other new features.

Feeling brave? Let’s go.

P.S. Not looking for the prerelease version? We also have a guide on how to install the regular non-beta AirPods software.

Politicians freak out about iOS 26 anti-spam protections

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iOS 26 anti-spam protections block political texts
iOS 26 treats political fundraising texts like any other messages from unknown senders.
Image: Cult of Mac

An iOS 26 anti-spam feature intended to protect iPhone users from junk texts is causing a furor among politicians. They point out that political fundraising texts automatically go into a folder where the user might not see them.

“That change has profound implications for our ability to fundraise, mobilize voters, and run digital campaigns,” reads a memo sent by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

iPadOS 26 paves the way for super-size folding iPad

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iPadOS 26 paves the way for super-size folding iPad
It’s clear Apple plans an extra-large folding iPad, not its first touchscreen Mac.
Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Early leaks about an upcoming Apple computer with an 18- to 20-inch folding display were vague about whether the device will be an iPad or the first Mac with a touchscreen. In the wake of the introduction of iPadOS 26, the answer now seems obvious: Apple’s extra-large folding tablet will be an iPad.

Recent comments by a high-level Apple executive about not merging macOS and iPadOS add weight to the theory.

iPad won’t run macOS because Apple doesn’t make sporks

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iPad + Mac = Spork
An Apple executive says an iPad/Mac combo would be as bad as a spork.
Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, turned to a pair of metaphors in a recent interview to explain why macOS will not replace iPadOS on the iPad. Perhaps the most notable: “We don’t want to build sporks.”

Questions about iPad’s future came up after the unveiling at WWDC last week of iPadOS 26, which moves Apple’s tablet closer to the Mac than ever before.

iOS 26 features you’ll miss on older iPhones

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iPhone 12 running iOS 26.
Older iPhones will get iOS 26 but with some key features missing.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS 26 introduce a host of new features in addition to the Liquid Glass design makeover that will bring glossy, translucent harmony to Apple’s software ecosystem this fall. However, not all of those advanced features will make it to every compatible device when Apple releases its next-gen operating systems.

If you own an old iPhone or Intel-based Mac, you will miss out on several improvements. Here’s a look at what won’t make the cut.

Why Apple still won’t put macOS on iPad

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Why Apple still won’t put macOS on iPad
A high-level Apple exec explains why iPad and Mac will stay separate.
Image: Cult of Mac

iPadOS 26 moves the iPad closer to the Mac than ever before. But don’t take the upcoming operating system as a stepping stone toward an eventual unification between iPadOS and macOS. That’s clearly not going to happen.

The reason can be summed up with a phrase that Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software development, used in an interview at WWDC this week: “iPad’s gonna be iPad.”

New iPhone tools help parents keep kids safer online

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New iPhone tools help parent keep kids safer online
A new Apple system can securely share the age range of children with apps.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26 and other upcoming Apple operating systems include new tools intended to help parents protect kids and teens online. These include a system that enables parents to share the age range of their children with third-party applications in a way that doesn’t violate the kids’ privacy.

There are also new protections for teens under 18 as they use their Apple devices, and parental controls on communicating with new phone numbers.

iPadOS 26 hands-on: The iPad upgrade pros wished for

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iPadOS 26 multitasking features
New multitasking features are the highlight of iPadOS 26.
Screenshot: Apple

Those who want their iPad to function more like a Mac got their wish: iPadOS 26 includes multitasking features very similar to the ones in macOS. This year’s iPad upgrade also borrows plenty of other things from Apple’s desktop OS.

I loaded the initial iPadOS 26 beta on my iPad Pro. Here’s what it’s like to use it … and why pro users should be excited while non-pro users shouldn’t worry.

iOS 26 adds charging time estimates to iPhone Lock Screen

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iOS 26 shows the time remaining on Lock Screen.
iOS 26 will finally tell you how long your iPhone will take for a full charge.
Screenshot: Rajesh PandeyCult Of Mac

iOS 26 introduces a small but useful feature for iPhone users: the ability to view the estimated time remaining for a full charge. This information appears directly on the Lock Screen while your device is charging, giving you a quick glance at how long you need to wait.

You can get an even more detailed breakdown in the Battery sub-menu in the Settings app.

iOS 26 Adaptive Power mode boosts iPhone battery life under pressure

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iOS 26 announcement
iOS 26 introduces a new Adaptive Power mode for a longer iPhone battery life.
Photo: Apple

iOS 26 adds a new Adaptive Power Mode to newer iPhones to extend their battery life under heavy load. It will achieve this by lowering the display brightness and making other under-the-hood changes.

Additionally, iOS 26 revamps the Battery Usage menu, providing more details about power consumption from various apps.

WWDC25 recap: iOS 26, Liquid Glass and the full keynote in 90 seconds

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90 seconds.
Watch the Keynote in just 1.6% of the time.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

During the WWDC25 keynote on Monday, Apple announced the next versions of every operating system with a new naming scheme and fresh look. iOS has an all-new interface with redesigned Camera, Messages and Phone apps; macOS has a brand-new Spotlight; iPadOS has supercharged multitasking.

But if you don’t have 90 minutes to spare, you can catch up in just 90 seconds.