Skip to main content

iPadOS 14

See All Stories

At WWDC 20, Apple announced iPadOS 14, building on the already announced iOS 14 features like home screen widgets. Apple is expanding stock apps with unique iPad design elements like sidebars in Photos and Apple Music. Interfaces like Siri and incoming phone calls are now modal experiences rather than full-screen overlays.

There is also a new search experience, system-wide handwriting recognition, and other changes designed to make the iPad experience work better with Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard.

With iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, Apple has overhauled the widget experience with new sizes and layouts. For the first time, you can drag widgets to place them in between your app icons.

Apple has improved Spotlight Search to mirror the Mac experience, with a non-modal search field that floats in the middle of the screen. You can use a connected keyboard to quickly launch apps or actions.

iPadOS 14 is available now as a developer beta and will be available this fall for all users. A public beta will be available in July. In even better news, all iPads that run iPadOS 13 will be able to update to the newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system.

What devices can run iPadOS 14?

  • iPad Air 2 and later
  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad 5th generation and later
  • iPad mini 4 and later

Comment: It’s time for a nano-texture iPad and MacBook option

As Apple continues its transition to Apple Silicon in the Mac, and introduces new iPad Pro models, I am once again here to ask for a nano-texture display option on more products. Apple last year debuted a 27-inch iMac with the nano-texture matte display option from the Pro Display XDR, and I’d like to see it come to the iPad and MacBook lineups next.

Expand Expanding Close

Some iOS 14 users now seeing Apple’s new tracking pop up, full rollout expected in early 2021

Apple is planning a major new privacy feature for iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, and it will require that companies request permission before tracking users across other apps and websites. While Apple has not provided details on when this feature will debut, it appears that the early groundwork is starting to roll out.

Expand Expanding Close

Apple releases iPadOS 14 with new widgets, Apple Pencil powerups, more

Apple releases iPadOS 14 for iPad

9to5Mac is brought to you by Concepts App. Sketch and design your ideas on an infinite canvas with flexible vector ink. Available on iPad and iPhone. Try it for free.

Apple has officially released iPadOS 14 to the public with the new software bringing a variety of changes and improvements. iPadOS 14 is compatible with the iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, iPad 5th gen and later, and all iPad Pro models.

Expand Expanding Close

Developers frustrated at just one day’s notice of iOS, iPadOS and watchOS rollout

Developers frustrated at Apple

There weren’t too many surprises in yesterday’s event, but there was one big one – and it was one which left developers frustrated. Apple gave just one day’s notice of the official rollout of iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and watchOS 7. This contrasts with the usual week or so developers get to prepare.

Not only did this leave them scrabbling to get updated versions of their apps completed, but some said that Apple’s developer tools were also not ready for the launch …

Expand Expanding Close

iPadOS 14 now lets you interact with Siri and apps at the same time

Interact with Siri and apps in iPadOS 14

One of the big improvements in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 is that Siri no longer takes over the whole screen. However, in the early betas you couldn’t interact with Siri and apps at the same time – doing anything with an app, even scrolling, would dismiss Siri.

A Redditor noticed that this is no longer the case on the iPad as of iPadOS 14 beta 5 …

Expand Expanding Close

Hands-on: iOS 14 beta 3 changes and features [Video]

Earlier today Apple released the third iOS 14 beta to developers, and as expected, it comes bundled with several new changes and features. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough as we explore what’s new in iOS 14 beta 3 and iPadOS 14 beta 3. After watching, leave a comment with your thoughts, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more videos related to all of the upcoming Apple software releases.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Hands-on with iPadOS 14 beta features and changes – Apple Pencil gains power [Video]

With iPadOS 14 the iPad gains access to additional refinements that help push it further as a do-it-all device. Alongside all of the changes that are shared with iOS 14, this update focuses heavily on transforming the Apple Pencil into a tool that’s useable in more ways throughout the OS.

The update also adds needed refinements to help take advantage of all of the extra screen real estate available on iPad. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough as we discuss noteworthy changes and features found in the iPadOS 14 beta.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple adds APFS encrypted drive support to iOS 14 and APFS Time Machine backups to macOS Big Sur

Apple didn’t say much about what’s new in the Files app with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 during the WWDC 2020 keynote — maybe because not much has changed. But there’s an important new feature that brings iPhone and iPad one step closer to the Mac when we talk about file management, and that’s APFS encrypted drive support.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Marques Brownlee podcast with Craig Federighi: new keynote format, widgets on iPad, Siri UI, iOS-ification of macOS

Marques Brownlee podcast

Following on from John Gruber’s video podcast with Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak, a Marques Brownlee podcast is next in line, talking through iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur with Federighi.

I’ve only had time to listen to parts of it so far, but it’s definitely an interesting discussion. Brownlee starts by sharing my view that the pre-recorded keynote format worked really well, and asking whether this might be a permanent change …


Expand
Expanding
Close

iOS 14: Apple details WidgetKit for developers with focus on glanceability not ‘mini-apps’

Apple details WidgetKit

One of the biggest changes to iOS 14 is the new home screen widgets and third-party integration with the new feature will unlock lots of great potential. In a WWDC talk today, Apple has detailed WidgetKit including sharing what the focus and experience should be like and that widgets should not be designed as “mini-apps.”


Expand
Expanding
Close

Feature Request: Let us have iPad widgets anywhere on any home screen

iPad widgets lack flexibility

I don’t think I’ve ever before written a feature request the moment a new operating system version has been announced, but one super-disappointing discovery prompts me to do so: iPad widgets in iPadOS 14 get less flexibility than iPhone ones.

I’ve been calling for iOS to evolve beyond a static grid for more than six years now


Expand
Expanding
Close

macOS 10.16 Big Sur compatible Macs

Apple adds developer option to share in-app purchases and subscriptions via Family Sharing

During the WWDC Keynote, Apple announced macOS Big Sur with several new changes to the UI, Control Center on macOS for the first time, revamped Safari, modern notifications, and widgets. They’ve also added a new developer option to enable the sharing of in-app purchases and subscriptions across Family Sharing.


Expand
Expanding
Close