iPadOS 18 superguide: Everything you need to know about the next iPad update
Macworld

During the WWDC keynote in June, Apple announced iPadOS 18, which will arrive this fall along with iOS 18, macOS 15, and watchOS 11. 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 this fall, 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
Apple has yet to officially confirm specifically when the iPadOS 18 launch date will be, but looking at past releases it seems very likely that it will arrive in mid-September, around the same time as when we expect to see the new iPhone 16 models.

As a reference, here’s when the last few generations of iPadOS have launched:

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 last year’s guide on how to get iPadOS 17 on your iPad, as the steps should be exactly the same.

iPadOS 18: Beta releases
Apple released the third beta of iPadOS 18 on July 8. That follows the launch of the first beta on June 10 and the second beta on June 24. Several features have yet to arrive including the new Apple Intelligence features.

iPadOS 18: How to installl the beta
Beginning in mid-July, Apple will offer a beta testing program for members of the public who would like to try out new features before iPadOS 18 launches in September. The process is simple—just enroll your device and select the beta from the Software Update tab in Settings.

Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
Log in to the Beta Software Program.
Click Enroll your iOS device.
Open Settings, tap General, then Software Update.
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:


Apple

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. 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.


Apple

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 upgade.

Calculator

Apple

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
Apple

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 organizesyour 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

Apple

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

Apple

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.