iPadOS 26 Will Make Your iPad WAY Better

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I just got back from my first ever WWDC event in California, and honestly, it was amazing. The atmosphere, the people, and most of all—the announcements. Apple unveiled a whole range of software updates, but the one I was most excited about? iPadOS 26.

This update genuinely makes the iPad feel like a more powerful, capable device. If you’ve ever wanted your iPad to behave more like a Mac without actually being a Mac, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for.

Let’s dive into the best features coming to your iPad.

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A Whole New Look: Liquid Glass Design

Apple is calling the new design language “Liquid Glass,” and wow—it lives up to the name. This isn’t your standard semi-transparent overlay. Light and content actually bend and reflect through different parts of the interface, making it feel like you’re interacting with a sheet of living glass.

It’s sleek, elegant, and immersive. Someone on Instagram even joked it’s training us for a future where we’ll be viewing everything through glasses or headsets—and honestly, they might be right.

The lock screen looks incredible, too. It dynamically adjusts based on your activity, and the overall UI feels lighter and more open. With menus no longer taking up huge portions of your screen, you’ll feel like your iPad is physically bigger.

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Real Multitasking—Like a Mac

The headline feature for many is the huge multitasking overhaul. Apple finally gave us the proper window management we’ve been asking for. Apps still open full-screen by default, but now, you can resize them freely—no more snapping to fixed zones.

You can drag, resize, and stack windows however you like. Think macOS, but still optimized for touch. The top-left of every app window now has familiar Mac-like buttons—close, minimize, and maximize—and there are great tiling options for organizing your workspace.

Stage Manager is also here and better than ever. And if you prefer the old-school iPad experience, no worries—you can turn the new system off and go back to the classic look and feel.

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Menu Bars in Apps

Another very Mac-like addition: apps now feature toolbars at the top. You’ll see options like File, Edit, View, and Window—making everyday tasks feel more familiar and accessible. It’s one of those “small” things that ends up making a huge difference in how productive you can be.

True Background Tasks

One major quality-of-life update is background tasks. For example, if you’re exporting a video in Final Cut, you no longer have to keep the app open. You can now switch to something else, and a little progress bar will appear at the top of the screen. Simple, effective, and long overdue.

This will be open to developers too, so we’ll likely see more apps taking advantage of it soon.

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Big Upgrade to the Files App

The Files app has gotten a much-needed refresh. Better folder management, new viewing options, and the ability to customize folders with emojis and colors make it much easier to stay organized.

One of my favorite additions? You can now pin a folder—like Downloads—directly to your dock for super quick access. It sounds small, but it really streamlines the workflow and brings iPadOS closer to macOS in function.

New Built-In Apps: Preview, Journal, and Phone

Preview is finally coming to iPad, and I couldn’t be happier. If you’ve used it on Mac, you know how great it is for viewing and annotating PDFs, marking up documents, and making quick edits. It’s something many iPad users didn’t even know they needed until now.

The Journal app is also making its way to iPad. It makes more sense on this larger screen, especially with Apple Pencil support.

And surprisingly, the Phone app is coming too. It works by linking to your iPhone, but technically, you can now make and receive calls directly from your iPad. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference for some users.

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Compatible With Older iPads Too

Perhaps the best part? All of these features are available on any iPad that supports iPadOS 26—including the iPad 8th Gen and iPad mini. Not everything (like Apple Intelligence and advanced external monitor features) will be unlocked on older devices, but the core improvements will still be there.

That means more people than ever will get to enjoy this dramatically improved iPad experience—no expensive upgrade required.

A Quick Personal Note on WWDC

This was my first time attending WWDC in person, and honestly, it was surreal. I never thought that making videos online—on what I consider a relatively small channel—would get me invited to Apple Park in California. But there I was, meeting creators I’ve followed for years and picking up some exclusive WWDC swag.

I even grabbed a beautiful Hami porcelain mug and a limited-edition Apple t-shirt. Oh—and the pin badges were a big hit. The “hello” and California ones were my personal favorites.

Seeing Apple Park in real life was inspiring. The architecture blends seamlessly with nature, yet feels futuristic. Just being there reminded me how far technology (and our creative journeys) can take us.

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