iPadOS 26 has been revealed with new windowing, audio tools, background tasks

WWDC 2025 is underway, and Apple has revealed iPadOS 26 with a full redesign to go with its new name, in addition to incredible pro-focused tools and multitasking.

Apple has just shared the existence of the long-rumored iPadOS upgrade. Though the name may not be what you're expecting, as Apple has called it iPadOS 26 instead of iPadOS 19.

The new visionOS-inspired Liquid Glass design was first shared with the iOS 26 reveal, but of course, it's been carried over to iPadOS 26. Everything from the newly designed Home Screen icons to the various transparent menu items and buttons has been included in iPadOS 26.

For iPadOS 26, the redesign is much more than just a visual change. Apple rethought the entire multitasking and windowing system with a Menu Bar, traffic light buttons, and overlapping windows.

Stage Manager is still an option, but the base multitasking system has been replaced with a full windowing system similar to macOS. Windows can be tiled and placed anywhere, resized, and overlap.

A macOS-inspired multitasking system for iPadOS 26. Image source: Apple

Pro-focused upgrades don't stop with the windowing system. Apple has provided a long-requested feature by podcasters and audio engineers — audio intent control.

It means users can finally choose which audio goes where within an app interface. Apple also included the ability to save local audio for a podcast when on a call.

Preview is now an app on iPad, the Files app has been reworked to let users choose default apps for file types, and background processes have been opened up. All of these improvements will mean significant workflow improvements for pros.

Background tasks means big processes won't be interrupted by switching apps. Image source: Apple

Apps like Phone, FaceTime, and Messages have significant updates and layout changes that prioritize easy communication. Spam filtering with call screening and list management helps keep the right people up top and ringing your phone.

Live Translation is also a new system-wide feature for chats, calls, and anywhere text appears. Even Apple Music gets a feature that will translate lyrics.

Apple has expanded Apple Intelligence tools like Image Playground to include new themes and prompting via ChatGPT. It means users can generate all new images using the AI models they chose, bringing a whole new use case to Image Playground.

iPadOS 26 comes with a host of app updates. Image source: Apple

Apple Journal has finally arrived on iPad with handwriting options and all-new features. Users can create multiple journals and view entries based on location via a new map.

The iPad operating system has remained a somewhat controversial one due to its artificial limitations placed around how apps can operate. Apple seems to have taken on every user complaint with iPadOS 26, providing multitasking changes, audio tools, and background tasks.

The already-packed keynote may not include every detail about iPadOS 26. Expect Apple to share specific feature lists and more in press releases following the keynote.