[WWDC 2025] iPadOS 26 Brings More Mac-Like Features To The iPads

iPads this year will be getting the new iPadOS 26 update as it is recently announced on Apple’s WWDC25, which debuts the new ‘Liquid Glass’ design, a redesigned windowing system, expanded AI features, along with tools aimed at improving file management and workflows.

What’s New In iPadOS 26

iPadOS 26 features a new interface design using a translucent material called Liquid Glass, offering dynamic visuals across the Lock Screen, Control Center, and app icons. The new design language also applies to system navigation and UI elements across built-in apps including Mail, Safari, Apple TV, and Apple Music; these UI elements are dynamic in nature and will respond to changes in the background, mimicking the real glass’s optical properties.

Visual changes aside, the update also introduces a redesigned windowing system that allows users to resize and position app windows more freely, use tiling for arrangement, and access all open windows through Exposé. A new menu bar similar to macOS can be revealed by a swipe from top or moving the pointer to the top – developers can customize the available options in menu bar within their apps. Per Apple, this system is designed work alongside Stage Manager and external displays for expanded multitasking.

Apple Intelligence sees broader integration across iPadOS 26, with features including Live Translation, Genmoji, Image Playground, and Shortcuts; the Files app gains a new list view, collapsible folders, and custom folder appearance with synchronized icons, colors, or emojis. Folders can be placed in the dock, and users can assign default apps for specific file types. The new Preview app offers editing and markup tools for PDFs and images, supporting Apple Pencil for form filling and sketching.

Also new is the Background Tasks API that supports long-running processes within apps, appearing as Live Activities for better visibility (for example, video rendering progress can now be viewed directly at the top of the screen while the user is working through emails). Both the Journal app and Apple Games app also debuts on iPadOS 26, with the latter acting as a gaming hub similar to the Xbox app on Windows.

Pokdepinion: It’s looking more like macOS as time goes on.