iPadOS 18 superguide: What you need to know about the iPad update

During the WWDC keynote in June, Apple announced iPadOS 18 and it’s now here, arriving alongside iOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia on Monday, September 16.

As always, many of the new features are also part of iOS 18, including Apple Intelligence, which will launch in beta and gradually add features throughout 2025. But there are also some exciting new things just for iPad users, including at long last a new Calculator app.

If you want to know what’s coming to iPads in September 2024, we’ve broken down all the things you need to know about iPadOS 18. This includes which models will be compatible with iPadOS 18, how you can get and install the beta releases to try the software out early, plus the new features you can expect when the full version launches later this year and any beta developments. So, stay tuned to this superguide for everything you need to know about iPadOS 18 for more information as the release date nears.

iPadOS 18: Release date

iPadOS 18 became available to download on September 16. This is a similar date as the last few generations of iPadOS launches:

• 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 will be a simple affair, but if you’re unsure how then you can look at the detailed instructions from our guide on how to update iPadOS on your iPad.

iPadOS 18: Beta releases

Apple is testing iPadOS 18.1 alongside iOS 18. Apple is also testing iPadOS 18.1 with some Apple Intelligence features for release after the first iPadOS 18 release. You can read more about the features of those betas, and the latest versions, in our iOS 18 superguide.

iPadOS 18: How to installl the beta

Apple offers a beta testing program for members of the public who would like to try out new features before iPadOS 18 launches. Those testers also get to try out new features that aren’t ready in time for the full release–Apple continues development for the year following the release.

The process is simple—just enroll your device and select the beta from the Software Update tab in Settings.

1. Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
2. Log in to the Beta Software Program.
3. Click Enroll your iOS device.
4. Open Settings, tap General, then Software Update.
5. In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta.

If you want to uninstall the beta and stop receiving beta updates read this: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone.

iPadOS 18: Compatiblity

Apple has revealed which iPad models will make the cut for iPadOS 18, so if you’re wondering whether you’ll be able to upgrade, here’s the list:

• iPad Pro (M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen and later)
• iPad Air (M2)
• iPad Air (3rd gen and later)
• iPad (7th gen and later)
• iPad Mini (5th gen and later)

It should be noted though that not all models will be able to run the full range of new features, as some will rely on the latest hardware, most notably Apple Intelligence, which will only be available for M1-powered iPads and above, and then only if Siri is set to use U.S. English.

iPadOS 18: New features

Apple Intelligence

AI is all the rage at the moment, and Apple is getting on that hype train with its own AI named Apple Intelligence, which will arrive with iOS 18.1. It will bring a variety of new features to the iPad, including a new Siri experience, tools to help you improve your writing, summaries of emails and web pages, and much more, including powerful image generation tools to make your own emoji and illustrations. Many features, including the

Most iPads won’t be able to install it, however. Apple Intelligence is restricted to M1-powered iPads and above, which leaves out everything but the iPad Air and iPad Pro. But if it’s as good as Apple says, it could be worth the upgrade.

Calculator

They said it couldn’t be done! Well, more accurately, no one ever understood why Apple just didn’t do it. But the new standalone Calculator app for the iPad might have been worth the wait. Along with the the standard and scientific layouts, Apple has also introduced a new features called Math Notes that lets you use your Apple Pencil to scribble formulas that are instantly solved as write. And if you go back to change something, it’ll even update your work in real time.

Photos

The Photos app gets a serious makeover in iPadOS 18, with the top of the main page now showing a collage of your photo stream, Below, Apple has added Collections that automatically organizes your library into topics such as Recent Days and People & Pets. You can also set Pinned Collections for quick access to your favorite collections and albums.

Customization

One of the most eye-catching changes coming in iPadOS 18 is the ability to fully customize your Home Screen pages. Now you’ll be able to add a color tint to app icons, making them appear uniformly shaded in a hue that you can match to your wallpaper. There’s also the ability to place icons where you like without them immediately snapping back to the next open spot on the grid, as well as making them larger and removing the name beneath.

In iPadOS 18, tapping and and holding on an icon to bring up its options, which now include the ability to instantly turn an icon into a widget if one is available. If you want to keep an app private, iPadOS 18 brings the ability to lock certain apps or hide them from view, with Face ID or Touch ID the only way to gain access.

Control Center gets some customization options too, with several new pages of control. Users now are able to add more controls to the list, plus resize them to suit their tastes. And third-party developers will be able to make their own controls as well.

Notes

One of the best Apple apps on the iPad is Notes. It’s been slowly building into something of a powerhouse over the year, and iPadOS 18 brings even more improvements. First up, you can now highlight text to quickly mark up important parts of your notes. You can also hide text with collapsible section headers to better organize longer writings.

That’s not all though, as Smart Script will turn Apple Pencil-written notes into more consistent versions, with the feature tidying up your messy writing so it looks more legible. A cool additional capability is that if you paste a text note into a handwritten notes, it will now be converted into the style of your handwriting to match the rest of the document. There’s also a Live Audio Transcription feature that will automatically transcribe any audio notes you make, giving you a text version when you’re done.

Password Manager

iCloud Keychain has been a feature of Apple devices for a long time, but in iPadOS 18 it will turn into a dedicated Passwords app. With this, you can manage all of your passwords, passkeys, and Wi-Fi codes, and securely share them with friends or family members. It’s all encrypted of course, and could be something that the entries in our best password manager chart will be very worried about.

iPadOS 18: Other features

There are plenty of additional features coming in iPadOS 18 that will be available on your iPad this fall:

Floating Navigation Bar: The small and quick tab bar is now available on most of Apple’s apps, allowing you to stay in full-screen mode but have access to navigation tools.

Game Mode: Reduces the in-game response time, improving performance, while also reducing the latency of Bluetooth controllers. Audio latency is also reduced when wearing AirPods.

Messages: Text formatting comes to Messages in iPadOS 18, along with Tapbacks that allow you to respond to people with any emoji. There’s also a new feature that lets you schedule messages to be sent at a later time or date.

Safari updates: Quickly pull up the highlights on a webpage (most relevant information), and an improved Reader design that includes a summary of the page as well as a table of contents.

Shareplay updates: You can now share your screen and draw on it so that friends or family can follow the instructions that you’re giving them. If they want more direct assistance, then they can now allow you to remotely operate their device.

Freeform: The Freeform app now includes a Scenes feature which you can use to quickly move through various areas of the document.

Privacy: You can now decide which contacts an app can see, and the Privacy section layout has been improved to make it easier to navigate.

So, as you can see, there’s plenty to look forward to in iPad OS 18. If you want all the features mentioned above, then it may require upgrading to a new device. You can check out our best iPad deals and best iPad Pro deals to see if there’s a bargain on a new model that will allow you to get your hands on all the best bits Apple has in store for iPads when the full software update drops in September.