IPadOS 18

Last updated

iPadOS 18
Version of the iPadOS operating system
IPadOS 18 Logo.png
IpadOS 18 Homescreen.png
iPadOS 18 home screen in Dark Mode
Developer Apple
OS family iPadOS
Source model Closed with open-source components
Initial releaseSeptember 16, 2024;5 months ago (2024-09-16)
Latest release 18.3.1 [1] (February 10, 2025;25 days ago (2025-02-10)) [±]
Latest preview 18.4 beta 2 [2] (March 3, 2025;4 days ago (2025-03-03)) [±]
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.apple.com/ipados/ipados-18/
TaglineTotally. Rewrites. Rules.
Support status
Supported. Drops support for the 2nd generation iPad Pro (2017, 12.9 and 10.5 inch) and the 6th generation iPad (2018).
Articles in the series
iOS 18 (derivative for iPhone)

iPadOS 18 [3] 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). [4] It is the direct successor to iPadOS 17 and was announced alongside iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, visionOS 2, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. [5]

Contents

iPadOS 18 is the first version of iPadOS to include Apple’s Calculator application for iPad, as well as Apple Intelligence. [6]

System features

Stage Manager

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. [7] Calculator, for example, may be resized to a smaller window having iPhone's tall aspect ratios.

Home screen

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

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. [8]

Control Center

Similarly to iOS 18, the Control Center is now more customizable with resizable buttons, shortcuts, and functions.

Locking/hiding applications

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. [9]

Issues

iPad Pro (M4) bricking issues [10]

Many users trying to upgrade iPad Pro models with M4 chips (iPad Pro (M4)) to iPadOS 18.0 reported that the device powered off during the update process, causing the iPad to become bricked. Apple pulled the update and blocked installation and restoration to iPadOS 18.0 on M4 iPad Pros. [10] 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. [11]

Supported devices

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. [3] 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). [12]

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: [12]

Release history [13]

The first developer beta of iPadOS 18 was released on June 10, 2024. [14]

Previous releaseCurrent releaseCurrent beta releaseSecurity response
iPadOS 18 releases [13]
VersionBuildRelease dateRemarks
18.022A3354September 16, 2024 iPadOS 18.0 Release Notes

iOS & iPadOS 18.0 Security Content

iOS & iPadOS 18.0 Developer Release Notes

22A8350October 23, 2024Initial release for iPad Mini (7th generation)
18.0.122A3370October 3, 2024 iPadOS 18.0.1 Release Notes

iOS & iPadOS 18.0.1 Security Content

22A8380October 22, 2024 iPad Mini (7th generation) only
18.122B83October 28, 2024 iPadOS 18.1 Release Notes

iOS & iPadOS 18.1 Security Content

iOS & iPadOS 18.1 Developer Release Notes

18.1.122B91November 19, 2024 iPadOS 18.1.1 Release Notes

iOS & iPadOS 18.1.1 Security Content

18.222C152December 11, 2024 iPadOS 18.2 Release Notes

iOS & iPadOS 18.2 Security Content

iOS & iPadOS 18.2 Developer Release Notes

18.2.122C161January 6, 2025 iPadOS 18.2.1 Release Notes

(This release has no security content because it has no published CVE entries.)

18.322D63January 27, 2025 iPadOS 18.3 Release notes

iOS & iPadOS 18.3 Security Content

iOS and iPadOS 18.3 Developer Release Notes

18.3.122D72February 10, 2025 iPadOS 18.3.1 Release notes

iOS & iPadOS 18.3.1 Security Content

18.4 Beta 222E5216hMarch 3, 2025 iOS & iPadOS 18.4 Beta 2 Developer release notes

See also

    References

    1. ↑ Clover, Juli (February 10, 2025). "Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.3.1 Includes Fix for Actively Exploited Vulnerability". MacRumors . Retrieved February 11, 2025.
    2. ↑ Clover, Juli (March 3, 2025). "Apple Seeds Second iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 Betas With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music and More". MacRumors . Retrieved March 7, 2025.
    3. 1 2 "iPadOS 18 Preview". Apple. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
    4. ↑ Christoffel, Ryan (June 5, 2024). "When will iPadOS 18, visionOS 2, and macOS 15 be released?". 9to5Mac. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
    5. ↑ 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.
    6. ↑ "iPadOS 18 introduces powerful intelligence features and apps for Apple Pencil". Apple Newsroom (Canada). Retrieved June 10, 2024.
    7. ↑ "Move, resize, and organize windows with Stage Manager on iPad". Apple Support. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
    8. ↑ "Solve math with Math Notes in Calculator on iPhone". Apple Support. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
    9. ↑ Clover, Juli (June 10, 2024). "iOS 18 Lets You Lock and Hide Your Apps for Added Privacy". MacRumors.
    10. 1 2 "iPadOS 18 pulled for M4 iPad Pro as users complain about bricked devices". 9to5Mac. September 18, 2024.
    11. ↑ "iPadOS 18.0.1 Now Available for M4 iPad Pro Models After Pulled Update". MacRumors. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
    12. 1 2 "iPadOS 18". apple.com. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
    13. 1 2 "About iPadOS 18 Updates". Apple Support.
    14. ↑ 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.
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