By Kavita Mistry 
iPadOS 26 is the update we have all been waiting for. Apple has renamed all of its OSes to match the year, so after iPadOS 18 last year, this year iPadOS is called iPadOS 26. For the past few weeks, I have been using the latest iPadOS 26.
Currently, Apple iPadOS 26 is a public beta and is expected to roll out in September. So if you have an iPad, here are the 15 things that you should know.
iPadOS is currently in beta, and a stable update is expected to roll out in September. If you are reading this guide before that and want to try out these features early, you can go to Settings> General> Software Update and download iPadOS 26 beta and update your iPad. Remember, it is a beta version and might contain bugs, so it is not recommended to install it on your primary iPad. If you don’t see the update, ensure your model is on the iPadOS 26 supported list.
Disable Transparent Design
One of the major changes you will instantly notice after updating your iPad to iPadOS 26 is a new liquid glass design. The UI is now more transparent and glossy, matching Apple’s bigger aim for a streamlined OS experience.
While the new UI on iPadOS seems to look modern, there are some drawbacks with the new interface, such as it being hard to read. However, compared to the Mac and compared to the iPhone, the liquid Glass design on the iPad looks so much better.
I personally like it on iPadOS 26, but for someone who wants to use less transparency, Apple is also giving an option to control the transparency. You can go to settings > accessibility and then reduce the transparency setting, and it significantly reduces the transparency on your iPadOS, which makes it now easier to read. The new liquid UI is a part of the system design, so there is no option to go back if you hate it.
Enable the new Windowing Feature
Finally, iPads are getting closer to the Mac with proper multitasking support. With iPadOS 26, Apple has added proper Windows support on iPad. You can freely move Windows anywhere on the screen and resize them the way you want. You can also open multiple Windows on top of each other, similar to Mac Windows layering, and switch between them easily.
In addition, Apple also added Windows quick actions, such as close, minimize, and resize options, similar to Mac. Currently, there is no limit on how many apps you can layer on top of each other; as long as your iPad has a high-end processor, you can use multiple apps.
Apple has also made it easy to split apps side by side using gestures. Apple calls it Windowing apps, and this is not a replacement for the Apple Stage Manager feature, which Apple introduced in iPadOS 16. The new multi-taking windowing feature is available along with the stage manager; you can select either of them based on your preference. I would suggest you select the windowing apps because it is so much better than the Stage Manager on your iPad.
How to use the new Windowing feature on iPadOS 26:
- Open your iPad and then control center, and find the Windowing option and turn it on.
Big Updates to the File Manager on iPad
If you are a long-time iPhone user or an Apple user, you might know how hard it is to navigate the file manager on Apple’s small-screen devices, such as the iPhone and iPad. It is hard to find all your downloads and find the exact file you are looking for, and moreover, Apple has had the same file manager on iPhone for the iPad for the past years, but now, finally, with iPadOS 26, this is changing.
Apple has rolled out the biggest update for the file manager in iPadOS 26. Before talking about each feature in detail, here are a few notable updates. The new file manager comes with resizable columns in the list view and also collapsible folders. Now you can select custom folder icons, colors, and even emojis, and drag and drop folders to the dock for easy access, and you can set the default app for opening files from the file manager. It comes with an updated version of the view, which has more features and better support, and comes with an advanced search to find the files you are looking for.
If you are also a Mac user, these features might sound very familiar to the Mac, since they are, and that’s a very welcome feature for iPad users. Now you can use a big file manager on your iPad. First, the biggest update is that the sample list view now allows you to resize columns and also collapsible folders, which can help you see more details about the document and also organize and navigate between file structures very easily.
And finally, you can add tags, custom icons, and images to your folders to easily filter and tag them. Along with these notable features, Apple has also optimized its file manager. Now it is said to be faster in copying and transferring files within, and also while transferring your files to external apps or devices.
Set Custom Ringtone on Your iPad
Now you can finally set a custom ringtone on your iPad without using any third-party apps like GarageBand. We have a detailed step-by-step process for setting a custom ringtone on your iOS 26, and you can also follow each step to set up a custom ringtone on your iPad. Ensure the ringtone is stored locally on your iPad and it is within 30 30-second limit. Here is the detailed video on how you can set it on your iPhone, and you can follow the similar steps on your iPad.
Run Background Tasks Without Any Limitations
Previously, to preserve battery life, Apple had to force-stop the task running in the background, no matter which app you are using, whether you are uploading an Instagram post or exporting a video. You had to keep the app open to complete the task, which is super frustrating, especially since iPads today have more powerful processors than some of the high-end MacBooks. So it has been one of the biggest bottlenecks for iPads.
Fortunately, this is changing with iPadOS 26. Apple is finally letting apps run in the background without any issues. Not only allowing the background task, Apple has also added an option to help you easily view the current status of the background tasks by showing you the progress in the form of live activities.
Now you can switch to the apps while there is an active background task running on the app, and also see the background processes manually without manually opening the app, and also know the background processes, which are all very useful and helpful updates for the iPadOS power users.
While this can be especially useful if you often run background tasks on your iPadOS, it can also be a concern if plenty of apps use the background task without your consent, which can affect your battery usage a lot. To prevent apps from running in the background, you can use existing battery manager features, such as background app limit, to stop apps from running in the background without your consent.
Use the New Preview App on iPad
Another useful addition to iPadOS 26 is the Preview app, which has been available for a long time on macOS. Now using the latest preview app, you can easily edit PDFs, including opening the PDF files directly from your files app, and add annotations, signatures, fill forms, and also merge and rearrange PDFs.
And also, if you use the Apple Pencil, you can use it for drawing on the PDF. The preview app is not only for the PDF; you can also preview other files, such as images, with useful tools like open, crop, rotate, annotate, and save images.
You can also export these files in any format you want, which also supports the multiple windows feature, where you can open multiple files and switch between them easily.
New Signature Management
If you are like me and use your iPad and your Apple Pencil to sign your documents, there is a big update coming to iPadOS 26 you should know. First, there is a centralized signature library in the preview app inside which now allows you to create, store, and manage multiple signatures in one place.
And the improved UI now allows you to drag and drop signatures directly into the documents. You can also edit your signature, rename it, and also delete it if you want. Stored signatures can also be synced across all your devices with the same iCloud support, meaning that all your signatures created on your iPad can also be viewed and shared on your macOS and more.
New Journal App
With iOS 16, Apple has added a journal app to iPhone, but it has very limited support with limited features. However, with iPadOS 26, the journal app on the iPad gets a huge upgrade. The journal app on iPad supports Apple Pencil for your handwritten journals out of the box.
Now you can directly use your Apple Pencil inside your journal app and write handwritten notes, which many people have been waiting for. Also, now you can add images, photos, location, voice memos, and also state, making it a completely dependable journal app if you are looking for a replacement for any third-party alternative. Apple’s built-in journal app is available for all major platforms and is also free to use without any limitations. Plus, it also now integrates with the Apple Watch for quick journal notes.
Take Calls on Your iPad Directly Without Needing Your iPhone
Apple has now added the Phone app to macOS and iPadOS. While adding the Phone app isn’t useful for everyone, it can be useful if you regularly take calls on your iPhone, especially if you use your iPad for working, watching videos, and browsing.
Now, you can directly answer or dial calls from your iPad without switching to your iPhone. Remember, your iPhone should be cellularly active to take your calls on your iPad. In my testing, the call quality is decent and works without any errors. And not only for calls, you can also view all your call history from your iPhone, and also set and delete your phone contacts.
Lock Screen Customization Features
And if you are a fan of customization, iPadOS 26 is a treat for you. It comes with plenty of lock screen customization to personalize your iPad experience. First, the biggest update is for the clock. Now you can set different clock styles and convert your 2D wallpaper into a 3D wallpaper effect. Although these two features of lock customization might seem small, this has made a significant difference to my iPad lock screen on my iPad Pro, combining with previous lock screen customization options like widgets and more.
Related: 26 Best Wallpapers for iOS 26 Lock Screen [4k] Direct Download
New Apple Games App
Apple has also added a new dedicated Games app with iPadOS 26, now, which you can use to manage all your games in one place, including support for Apple Arcade games. If many of you use an iPad for gaming, this is a handy addition.
Plus, it also comes with useful features like now you can directly browse all your games in one place, manage them easily, and also you can enable social and see what your friends are playing and also online, and also manage your library.
Is iPadOS 26 Ready for Your Daily Workflow?
Those are the eleven best iPad features coming to your iPad with iPadOS 26, and there are plenty of hidden features that you should know. I recently published a guide on hidden features of iOS 26 and useful new accessibility features in iOS 26, and those features are also available on iPadOS 26.
You can visit the guide and enable all the hidden features on your iPad and enhance your iPadOS experience. And along with these features, if you often draw with your Apple Pencil, there is a new tool in the Apple Notes called Read pen for the realistic brush pen writings, and also, if you often use Apple Music on your iPad, It also comes with features like the ability to pin your favorite albums, drag and drop to reorder your playlist and also live translate all your song lyrics locally on your device and also lets you to customize your iMessage chat and also enable live caption and translate messages.
If you use a keyboard for your iPad now, there is now a more precise cursor and similar to that found on Mac, and also better keyboard support compared to the previous generation, and now you can finally set a custom ringtone on your iPad. So those are the best features coming to your iPad. I hope you find this guide helpful. If you have any suggestions, you can comment below.