At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, Apple announced a range of new features coming to iPadOS 26. These enhancements include a Liquid Glass user interface, an advanced window system for multitasking, updates and additions to system apps, and various tools beneficial for content creation on the iPad.

1 Liquid Glass User Interface

The standout feature at WWDC 2025 is the introduction of the Liquid Glass user interface—a digital "material" that mimics the behavior of real-world glass. This design approach uses translucent visual layers that interact with each other, reflect and refract on-screen lighting, and respond dynamically to movement with fluid transitions unique to Apple.

This interface also reacts to user input by transforming itself to highlight areas of focus. While noticeable in larger elements like sidebars and rounded toolbars, this effect extends to smaller details such as buttons, switches, sliders, and media controls.

Beyond the iPadOS 26 UI, the Liquid Glass aesthetic permeates system applications like Camera, Photos, Safari, Apple Music, and more.

2 Enhanced Lock Screen and Home Screen Experience

In line with the Liquid Glass design philosophy, the Lock Screen's time display adjusts to available space in images without obscuring faces or key subjects. Another innovation called Spatial Scenes adds a three-dimensional depth to pictures, making the Lock Screen more lifelike—this feature is also present within the Photos app.

On the Home Screen, updated app icons are now more reflective (in both light and dark modes), come with vibrant tints, feature a rounder Dock, and introduce a Clear Look theme with nearly transparent icons and text. Widgets have also adopted the Liquid Glass style.

3 Advanced Window System for Multitasking

iPadOS 26 introduces a fresh yet familiar windowing system that allows simultaneous use, organization, and switching between multiple app windows. For the first time on iPad, users can resize windows, position them anywhere on the screen, and open several windows concurrently. To manage these, simply utilize the close, minimize, resize, or tile options located at the top left corner.

Notably, apps retain their size and placement when reopened. Additionally, you can view all open windows (when not tiled) and bring the desired ones forward, much like on macOS. The windowing system is a major update in iPadOS 26 and integrates seamlessly with Stage Manager.

4 A Redesigned Menu Bar

iPadOS 26 includes a new menu bar offering quick access to in-app controls via dropdown menus—similar to macOS. You can access these controls by swiping down from the top of the screen or moving your cursor toward the top edge.

For instance, opening the Pages app will reveal options like File, Edit, Insert, Format, Arrange, and View in the top menu bar.

5 Live Translation Feature

iPadOS 26 comes equipped with Apple Intelligence enhancements, including Live Translation across Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. As its name implies, this function automatically translates supported languages into your preferred one during conversations using those apps.

Within Messages, translated text appears below the original message. During FaceTime calls, live translated captions appear on-screen. On phone calls, you'll hear the translation directly. This functionality promises to be particularly useful for users communicating with others who speak different languages.

6 Enhancements to the Messages App

With improvements to the native Messages app, users can now filter texts from unknown senders, which are moved to a separate folder without triggering notifications. Additionally, custom backgrounds and polls can now be used in individual or group chats—features previously exclusive to third-party messaging platforms.

Group chats now support typing indicators, and sending, requesting, and receiving Apple Cash is possible directly through the Messages app.

7 AI-Driven Shortcuts

While Shortcuts have always been valuable, iPadOS 26 elevates their capabilities by allowing users to perform actions like summarizing text and generating images using Apple Intelligence tools such as Writing Tools and Image Playground.

Previously limited to predefined automation tasks, Shortcuts now leverage on-device AI models powered by Apple Intelligence to carry out more complex operations. In essence, they can analyze data, extract insights, and act upon them accordingly.

8 Upgraded Files App

The updated Files app offers a new List view featuring resizable columns with detailed document information. Users can personalize folders with unique colors, icons, and emojis, visible across all devices linked to the same Apple ID.

Additionally, setting a default app for viewing downloaded files is now possible—a feature absent in iPadOS 18.

9 Preview Now Available on iPad

Previously exclusive to macOS, the Preview app makes its debut on iPads with iPadOS 26. It enables quick sketch creation and sharing, while also supporting PDF and image viewing, editing, and markup using an Apple Pencil—including handwritten notes, signatures, doodles, and more.

This addition is especially welcomed by professionals and students alike who rely on iPads for educational purposes. With Preview, users can review forms, fill them digitally via keyboard or Apple Pencil, and annotate or sign them without needing external apps or websites.

10 Background Tasks Functionality

Another notable iPadOS 26 feature is Background Tasks, which lets your iPad handle intensive computing tasks behind the scenes while showing progress in real-time through Live Activities. For example, if you begin exporting a video in Final Cut Pro and switch to another app like Messages, Background Tasks will show export progress with an option to halt it.

This feature is especially beneficial for content creators and professionals editing videos on iPads rather than iPhones. Using the Background Tasks API, developers can enable long-running background operations within their apps as well.

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