iPadOS 18
| Version of the iPadOS operating system | |
 | |
 iPadOS 18 home screen in Dark Mode | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| OS family | iPadOS |
| Source model | Closed with open-source components |
| Initial release | 18.0 / September 16, 2024 |
| Latest release | 18.2 / December 11, 2024 |
| Latest preview | 18.3 Beta 1 / December 16, 2024 |
| Marketing target | iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air, iPad Pro |
| Update method | OTA, software update through iTunes, Apple Configurator, or Finder |
| Preceded by | iPadOS 17 |
| Official website | www |
| Tagline | Totally. Rewrites. Rules. |
| Support status | |
| Supported | |
| Articles in the series | |
| iOS 18 (derivative for iPhone) | |
iPadOS 18 is the sixth and current major release of Apple's iPadOS operating system for the iPad. It was revealed at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).[1] It is the direct successor to iPadOS 17 and was announced alongside iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, visionOS 2, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18.[2]
iPadOS 18 is the first version of iPadOS to include Apple's Calculator application, as well as Apple Intelligence.[3]
System features
[edit]Stage manager
[edit]Stage manager is a new window management feature on the iPad. Full screen app windows may be resized to any predetermined size by dragging the app's corner markers.[4] Calculator, for example, may be resized to a smaller window having iPhone's tall aspect ratios.
Home screen
[edit]iPadOS 18 features many of the new home screen customization features introduced in iOS 18 such as icon tinting, dark themed icons, and the ability to move icons anywhere.
Calculator
[edit]iPadOS 18’s Calculator introduces Math Notes, a new feature that allows users to perform and track calculations on separate sheets, solve mathematical equations, and plot functions on graphs. With integrated handwriting recognition, Math Notes automatically evaluates user input and displays the results in their own handwriting. The redesigned Calculator app, now shared between iOS and iPadOS, marks the first time an official calculator has been available for iPad.[5]
Control Center
[edit]Similarly to iOS 18, the Control Center is now more customizable with resizable buttons, shortcuts, and functions.
Locking/hiding applications
[edit]In iPadOS 18, applications that are visible to the user can be locked, or hidden. Locked apps require passcode/biometric authentication to run. Hidden apps are moved to a designated 'Hidden' folder in the App Library; accessing that folder requires passcode/biometric authentication.[6]
Issues
[edit]iPad Pro (M4) bricking issues
[edit]Many users trying to install iPadOS 18.0 on iPad Pro devices with the M4 chip reported power issues during the update process, causing the iPad to become bricked. iPads with M4 chips would power off during the update, and would damage the device. Apple pulled the update and blocked installation and restoration to iPadOS 18.0 on M4 iPad Pros. [7] On October 3, 2024, Apple released iPadOS 18.0.1, which allowed iPad Pro with M4 chips to update to iPadOS 18 without potential bricking issues.[8]
Supported devices
[edit]iPadOS 18 drops support for the 2nd generation iPad Pro (2017, 12.9 and 10.5 inch) and the 6th generation iPad (2018), which include A10X and A10 chips, respectively. However, iPadOS 18 continues to support the 7th generation iPad, which also includes an A10 chip.[9] This marks the first time Apple has dropped support for an iPad while retaining support for another model featuring the same or a more powerful system-on-a-chip. The operating system also drops support for all iPads that use the original 9.7-inch display size.
The 7th generation iPad is the only supported iPad without Apple Neural Engine, while the 3rd generation iPad Air is the only supported iPad with a 10.5-inch display.
The new Apple Intelligence functions require iPads with an A17 Pro SoC, or M1 SoC or later, which are only available on the iPad Pro (5th generation and later), iPad Air (5th generation and later) and iPad Mini (7th generation or later).[10]
iPads with an A14 Bionic SoC and A15 Bionic SoC have partial support. iPads with an A12 Bionic SoC and A13 Bionic SoC have limited support.
The following models are supported:[10]
- iPad (7th generation)
- iPad (8th generation)
- iPad (9th generation)
- iPad (10th generation)
- iPad Mini (5th generation)
- iPad Mini (6th generation)
- iPad Mini (7th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Air (4th generation)
- iPad Air (5th generation)
- iPad Air (6th generation) 11-inch (M2)
- iPad Air (6th generation) 13-inch (M2)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (7th generation) (M4)
- iPad Pro 13-inch (7th generation) (M4)
Software Release history
[edit]The first developer beta of iPadOS 18 was released on June 10, 2024.[11]
| Previous release | Current release | Current beta release | Security response |
| Software Version | Build Number | Release date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18.0 | 22A3354 | September 16, 2024 | iOS & iPadOS 18.0 Developer Documentation |
| 22A8350 | October 23, 2024 | Initial release for iPad Mini (7th generation) | |
| 18.0.1 | 22A3370 | October 3, 2024 | iPadOS 18.0.1 Release Notes |
| 22A8380 | October 22, 2024 | iPad Mini (7th generation) only | |
| 18.1 | 22B83 | October 28, 2024 | iOS & iPadOS 18.1 Developer Documentation |
| 18.1.1 | 22B91 | November 19, 2024 | iPadOS 18.1.1 Release Notes |
| 18.2 | 22C152 | December 11, 2024 | iOS & iPadOS 18.2 Developer Documentation |
| 18.3 beta 1 | 22D5034e | December 16, 2024 | iOS & iPadOS 18.3 Beta 1 Developer Documentation |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Christoffel, Ryan (June 5, 2024). "When will iPadOS 18, visionOS 2, and macOS 15 be released?". 9to5Mac. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ Gibbs, Samuel (September 16, 2024). "iOS 18 release: everything you need to know about Apple's big updates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ "iPadOS 18 introduces powerful intelligence features and apps for Apple Pencil". Apple Newsroom (Canada). Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Move, resize, and organize windows with Stage Manager on iPad". Apple Support. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Solve math with Math Notes in Calculator on iPhone". Apple Support. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ Clover, Juli (June 10, 2024). "iOS 18 Lets You Lock and Hide Your Apps for Added Privacy". MacRumors.
- ^ "iPadOS 18 pulled for M4 iPad Pro as users complain about bricked devices". 9to5Mac. September 18, 2024.
- ^ "iPadOS 18.0.1 Now Available for M4 iPad Pro Models After Pulled Update". MacRumors. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ "iPadOS 18 Preview". Apple. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "iPadOS 18". apple.com. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ Clover, Juli (June 10, 2024). "Apple Releases First Betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2". MacRumors. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ "About iPadOS 18 Updates". Apple Support.
