iPadOS 26 Walkthrough: A Fresh Start for the iPad

About this video

• Video Title: iPadOS 26 Walkthrough: A Fresh Start for the iPad
• Channel: Christopher Lawley
• Speakers: Christopher Lawley
• Duration: 00:48:51

Overview

This video provides a comprehensive walkthrough of iPadOS 26, highlighting its significant updates and new features. The presenter discusses design changes, multitasking enhancements, new app functionalities, and improvements to existing applications, emphasizing how these changes aim to provide a "fresh start" for the iPad experience.

Key takeaways

• New Design Language (Liquid Glass): iPadOS 26 introduces a new design language called "Liquid Glass," which focuses on transparency and greater content focus, evident in updated lock screen and home screen elements.
• Enhanced Multitasking and Windowing: The update brings a robust window management system with freely resizable and placeable windows, improved tiling options, and more intuitive keyboard shortcuts. This system is available on all iPadOS 26-compatible devices.
• Menu Bar Introduction: A persistent menu bar is now available, providing quick access to app-specific actions and keyboard shortcuts, functioning similarly to macOS.
• Background Task Support: The new Background Tasks API allows apps to perform operations like file transfers in the background, enabling users to multitask more effectively without being tied to a specific app.
• Files App Improvements: Significant updates to the Files app include a new list view, resizable sidebars, and the crucial "Open With" option for better file management and app integration.
• Preview App Integration: The Preview app, previously exclusive to macOS, is now available on iPadOS, offering robust PDF and image editing capabilities.
• Shortcuts and AI Integration: Shortcuts gains new actions, particularly those leveraging on-device AI models for tasks like text rewriting, list/table creation, and data analysis.
• New and Updated Apps: Key app updates include the arrival of the Journal app with Apple Pencil support, a redesigned Safari, enhanced Reminders with suggested entries, a Games hub, and the new Phone app.
• External Monitor Support Enhancements: External monitor functionality is improved, allowing for more flexible window management and a more integrated experience with the iPad.