iPadOS 18: Features to look out for, compatible devices, and how to install the update

iOS 18 isn’t the only major update Apple has begun to roll out for its users. Alongside the smartphone operating system, it has also begun to roll out macOS Sequoia and iPadOS 18. The latter, again, happens to be one of the biggest updates to Apple’s operating system tailored to its iPad lineup, and brings with it several new upgrades.

In case you missed it, here’s everything you need to know about iPadOS 18 – Including its new features, eligible devices, and how to download and install the update. Read on.

iPadOS 18: What’s new?

1. New customisation options on the home screen and Control Center

On iPadOS 18, users can customise their home screen by placing icons anywhere they’d like, to create an ideal layout for them. Additionally, the operating system also allows you to customise app icons to appear light, dark, or with a tint.

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The control center has been redesigned to provide more options for customisation, including adding controls from supported third-party apps for quick and easy access.

2. Hidden apps

Users can now hide apps, and move it to a locked folder protected by a passcode or Face ID. When the app is hidden, messages, emails, and other notifications are also hidden from search results, the notifications bar, from other places across the operating system.

A redesigned tab bar also floats on top of apps, which allows for easier in-app navigation. It morphs into a sidebar when users scroll down.

3. Text formatting options and scheduling on Messages

The Messages app receives several new animated text effects, tapbacks to expand emojis or stickers, as well as the ability to format text in bold, underlined, and italics. What’s cool is, users can now also schedule messages, a handy feature for official work.

4. Redesigned Photos app

The Photos app allows you to browse photos by theme, different people and objects, specific days, and even documents and receipts, all of which are organised using on-device machine learning. The simplified interface makes it quicker and easier than ever to search for specific pictures and videos, as and when you need.

5. Native calculator app and Math Notes

iPadOS finally gets a native calculator app, with both basic and scientific calculators, as well as unit conversion functionalities. It also gets a cool feature called Math Notes, wherein users can type out mathematical equations, for the iPad to solve them in handwriting much like their own. Additionally, users can create variables within equations as well as add graphs.

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6. Smart Script

Speaking of handwritten notes, Smart Script allows users to edit and format handwritten text, and even copy text to paste it in their handwriting. What’s cool is that it even highlights typos, and cleans up your writing in real time to ensure it remains legible.

iPadOS 18: Models eligible for the update

iPadOS 18 is available for the following iPad models:

1. iPad Pro (M4)

2. 9-inch iPad Pro (Third-gen and later)

3. 11-inch iPad Pro (First-gen and later)

4. iPad Air (M2)

5. iPad Air (Third-gen and later)

6. iPad (Seventh-gen and later)

7. iPad Mini (Fifth-gen and later)

iPadOS 18: How to download and install the update

To check for and download iPadOS 18 on your device, do the following:

1. Head to the Settings app.

2. Tap on ‘General.’

3. Tap on the ‘Software Updates’ sub-menu.

4. Here, should iPadOS 18 be available for your device, it will show up on your screen Tap on it.

5. Tap on ‘Install now,’ and that’s about it!

Just ensure your iPad has sufficient battery while updating it, and is connected to a strong and stable Wi-Fi network while going about it. We can’t wait to take a closer look at iPadOS 18 for ourselves. Can you?