For iPadOS 26, Apple invents something called 'Windows'

Apple announced a ton of new features at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, including personalized backgrounds and customizable emoji, a new design language called Liquid Glass, and the macOS 26 update, "Tahoe." Among those exciting new updates are a ton of changes to the iPad, coming this fall in iPadOS 26.

"iPadOS 26 is our biggest iPadOS release ever, with powerful features that take the experience to the next level and transform what users can do on iPad," Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, said in a press release. "With a beautiful new design, an entirely new powerful and intuitive windowing system, even more features powered by Apple Intelligence, huge improvements to working with files, and new capabilities for creatives to power their workflows, iPadOS 26 makes our most versatile device even more capable."

So, what changes are coming to your iPad with iPadOS 26? It's not just a new look, even if that was the main focus at WWDC 2025. Here's everything you need to know about the new iPad updates announced at Apple's 2025 WWDC.

Did someone say Windows?

If you didn't expect an Apple event to talk about Windows so much, you're not alone. And yet — they really couldn't stop saying it.

iPadOS 26 gives users the ability to play around with app windows, including being able to resize them, drag and place them on the screen, close, minimize, and tile them. And the new menu bar makes it even easier to navigate through all those windows.

Liquid Glass is a "Beautiful New Design," according to Apple

At WWDC 2025, Apple introduced Liquid Glass, a new visual aesthetic that brings more glass-like and translucent features to your display. Liquid Glass is one of the biggest redesigns in recent Apple history, and so far the Mashable hive mind seems to be in favor of the new look.

Not only can you customize the appearance of widgets and other elements on the display, but you can also make them clear, creating the illusion of additional space on the screen. This translucent design appears in all sorts of ways across iPadOS 26, as well as in iOS 26 and macOS 26.

Apple Intelligence on your iPad

Apple Intelligence is bringing Live Translation to your iPad in Phone, FaceTime, and Messages — just like it did to your iPhone. You can create new custom Genmoji thanks to Apple Intelligence, for example. You can even use ChatGPT to create new Contact Posters and other images for your Apple tablet.

Of course, WWDC 2025 included a ton more Apple Intelligence updates (just not as much as some Apple fans would have liked).

Files gets a facelift

As part of the new Liquid Glass personalization options, your Files widget is getting a makeover.

A newly enhanced Files app makes it easier for users to identify folders, customize folders with colors, icons, and emojis, and drag them onto the Doc in iPadOS 26.

Apps, new and old

If you love Preview on your MacBook, we have great news for you: The app is finally coming to your iPad, making it way easier to mark up PDFs without the rigmarole of using a separate app. The calculator app is bringing 3D graphics to Math Notes, and users now have the ability to import and export notes in the Notes app into a markdown file.

When does iPadOS 26 arrive?

In a footnote in the official press release, Apple only says that the new iPad software features will be available "as a free software update" in the fall. Assuming we don't get any new iPad releases later this year, that means iPadOS 26 will be coming to the following devices: iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen and later), iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Air (3rd gen and later), iPad (A16), iPad (8th gen and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad mini (5th gen and later). However, Apple Intelligence features will only be available with devices running Apple's M series silicon chips.