With iPadOS 15, iPad is even more versatile—so it’s easier to get things done and find and organize information. Multitasking is easier to use, easier to discover, and even more powerful. You can now place widgets among the apps on your Home Screen and get to all your apps right from the Dock with App Library. Jot down a comment or idea on any app or screen with Quick Note, then add a link that will easily take you back to the note. Better understand the people around you with new translation features and the Translate app for iPad. And use Swift Playgrounds 4 to build apps for iPad with SwiftUI, then submit them directly to the App Store.
iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 or later, iPad (5th generation or later), iPad mini 4 or later Public beta in July through the Apple Beta Software Program (beta.apple.com) Free software update in fall 2021
Multitasking Multitasking has been redesigned so it’s even easier to use and more powerful. Easily work with multiple apps at once with a new Multitasking menu. And be even more productive on iPad with enhancements to how you manage apps with App Switcher, an improved center window experience, and a new shelf for accessing several windows within apps.
Keyboard shortcuts It’s even easier to use external keyboards with iPad with a redesigned keyboard shortcuts view that arranges shortcuts into categories, so it’s simpler to find the one you want. And choose from a variety of new keyboard shortcuts, including ones for multitasking.
Widgets You can now place widgets among apps on the Home Screen. Find new widgets to help you stay connected with family and friends, and a new larger-sized widget just for iPad is perfect for discovering media content and showcasing information on the large display.
App Library App Library comes to iPad. And just like on iOS, App Library automatically organizes your iPad apps into categories like Productivity, Games, or Suggestions. It also brings an easy-to-navigate view of all your apps, and it’s accessible right from the Dock—so you can get to it from anywhere, even over an app.
Quick Note and Notes Get a fast and easy way to take notes anywhere with Quick Note—and you can even add links from apps and websites. Organize and categorize notes and find them quickly by adding tags. And in shared notes, you can mention collaborators by name to notify them, and easily see what others add in Activity view.
Translate Translate comes to iPadOS with new features for translating text and conversations—and you can translate text anywhere on your device. And in the app, Auto Translate and Face to Face view improve conversation flow, so it’s easier to follow along.
Swift Playgrounds 4 Swift Playgrounds 4 brings a new level of productivity to iPad, helping you create apps for iPad and iPhone and submit them to the App Store.Create apps with SwiftUI, the easy, fun, and interactive way to design your app’s user interface. Swift Playgrounds 4 also includes new tools for quickly adding code and displays a live version of your app that updates as you type. It will even guide you through the creation of your first app.
Universal Control Universal Control brings you an entirely new way to use a single mouse and keyboard with both Mac and iPad. Type on Mac or iPad using the same keyboard, move your cursor between devices, and even drag and drop files across Mac and iPad. Universal Control works with multiple Mac and iPad devices, so it’s easy to work on all of them at the same time.
FaceTime Connect with friends in new ways with SharePlay in FaceTime. Listen to music together, watch a movie or TV show in sync, or share your screen—all in FaceTime. Calls look and sound even better with video and audio enhancements like Portrait mode and Voice Isolation. Invite friends into a FaceTime call using a link you can share anywhere. And for the first time, invite friends from Android or Windows devices to join a FaceTime call from their browser—so you can include everyone who matters to you.
Messages iPadOS 15 reimagines the way you enjoy content in Messages. With Shared with You, articles, TV shows, photos, and other things that friends share with you in Messages are displayed right in corresponding apps—so they’re even easier to find and enjoy at a time that’s convenient for you. You can even continue the conversation right from the app you’re in. Shared with You works with Photos, News, Safari, Podcasts, Apple TV, and Apple Music. And multiple photos in Messages now appear as a collage or stacks that you can easily swipe through.
Focus Stay in the moment and focus on what matters most. Choose a Focus and your device will filter out notifications based on what you’re doing, and you can even organize pages on your Home Screen with apps and widgets that match your mindset. Carve out time in your day for work or your personal life, or create a Focus for an activity like gaming, reading, or fitness. Signal your status in Messages and third-party communication apps, so others know not to interrupt while you’re using Focus.
Notifications Notifications have been updated and redesigned to help you prioritize information and reduce distractions. Notifications now include contact photos for people and larger icons for apps, so they’re easier to identify at a glance. And a new notification summary helps you quickly catch up, delivering a collection of notifications each day on a schedule you set.
Live Text Live Text recognizes text in images, the internet, and in real time using the Camera app. And text is now completely interactive in all your photos, so you can use functions like copy and paste, Look Up, and translate on images containing text. You can even tap the image of a phone number to make a call or the image of a web address to open a page in Safari. Live Text works in Photos, Screenshot, Quick Look, and Safari and in live previews with Camera.
Safari iPadOS 15 includes a major update to Safari, including a new design that puts your content front and center. Organize your tabs with Tab Groups and enjoy personalization features like a customizable start page. And Safari now supports third-party web extensions on iPadOS that help make Safari your own.
Maps Enjoy the biggest and most exciting Maps update ever. Discover the natural beauty of Earth with a new interactive globe. Explore an amazing new city experience for San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and London with an unprecedented level of detail. And find major improvements to transit, place cards, and search—and much more.
Privacy Get even more control over your data with new privacy protections and transparency features. Check your email with more peace of mind with Mail Privacy Protection. See how apps are treating your privacy with App Privacy Report. And be even more sure about what you share with a set of new privacy controls.
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