Installation and compatible devices

You can install iPadOS 18 by going to Settings – General – Software Update on your device. If you have a compatible device, the update will be available there automatically.

The following iPad models support the update:

• M4 iPad Pro.
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and newer).
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and newer).
• iPad Air (3rd generation and newer).
• iPad (7th generation and newer).
• iPad mini (5th generation and newer).

If your model is not on this list, the update is not available for you.

New features in iPadOS 18

iPadOS 18 has many iPad-exclusive features, but thanks to this year’s massive iOS 18 release, it still offers many great new features that you can enjoy with your smartphone and other devices in the Apple ecosystem. Here are some of them.

Customize everything

Customization tools for the iPad have finally arrived in iPadOS 18. Here are some examples of what you can now tweak:

• Location on home screen: Apps and widgets on the home screen can be freely placed anywhere on the screen; they are no longer limited to being placed side by side behind the grid.
• Color icons: App icons can be colored with custom colors, just like dark mode icons.
• Control Center: You can choose from a variety of new control lists to customize Control Center to your liking.
• Tab panels: Tab bars in some system apps have been redesigned and are customizable in most cases.

One of the scary examples of how you can now personalize an Apple tablet or smartphone / Photo by Apple

Calculator and Password programs

Two apps are available for the first time on iPad: Calculator and Passwords.

• The Calculator app didn’t arrive on iPadOS right away, but Apple added interesting features like Math Notes to the app.
• The Passwords app is a new, dedicated place to access all your accounts. It’s very similar in functionality to what’s found in Settings, but it’s nice to have it in a separate app.

Smart scripting with Apple Pencil

Apple Pencil users will love the new handwriting feature in Apple Notes. Smart Script makes your handwriting cleaner and more consistent, while remaining unique and original. Plus, handwritten text can be edited more easily, working in the same way as typed text.

Smart Script with Apple Pencil / Apple Photo

Update Apple apps for iPad

If you use Apple’s pre-installed apps, iPadOS 18 brings a bunch of great changes. Here are some of them:

• The Files app lets you keep your files and folders always up to date.
• Messages has received many updates: scheduled sending, emoticons, RCS, text formatting, and much more.
• The Photos app has been redesigned and is fully customizable.
• “Notes” supports color highlighting and sectioning.
• The Calendar app has full integration with Reminders.
• Music gets updates to SharePlay, Music Haptics, and more.
• The TV has added InSight to detect broadcast information and automatic subtitles when you turn the volume down or mute the sound.
• Podcasts allow you to share timestamped links and have advanced episode support.
• Books now has a great notification feature that saves you money.
• Safari added Highlights, Distraction Control, and an updated reading mode.
• A new navigation layout has appeared in “Settings.”
• “Maps” with thousands of detailed route maps are already ready for hikers.
• Freeform has added tools for creating scenes.
• “Fitness” has a new, customizable design.

A number of other new features have appeared in iPadOS 18, including:

• Eye Tracking is a powerful eye tracking feature for iPad navigation inspired by Vision Pro.
• The document browser used in apps like Pages, Keynote, Numbers, and various third-party apps is getting a new look.
• Any app can now be locked for an extra layer of security.
• Apps can be hidden in the new “Hidden apps” folder.
• Powerful voice shortcuts can be configured to perform system actions using custom voice commands.
• Built-in new environmental sounds – “Fire” and “Night”.
• When someone shares their screen with SharePlay, you can draw directly on the screen to help them, and you can also request remote access.
• Game mode will improve performance in games and reduce latency with Bluetooth accessories.

What about Apple Intelligence?

One of the biggest feature sets iPad users have been waiting for is Apple Intelligence. But neither this iPadOS 18.0 update nor the iOS update added AI. The first Apple Intelligence features will appear next month as part of iPadOS 18.1 and iOS 18.1. They’ll be available for any iPad with an M1, M2, or M4 chip. Check if your device is compatible here.