iPadOS 16 1 what you need to know about your next iPad update TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. iPadOS 16 1 what you need to know about your next iPad update By Tom Bedford Contributions from Daryl Baxter last updated 7 September 2022 Stage Manager is the main event for this update Apple's graphic showing new iPadOS features (Image credit: Future) Audio player loading… If you own a recent iPad, iPadOS 16.1 is something you're going to want to know about – it's the next version of Apple's iPad software, and it's coming to most iPads later in the year. This new version of iPadOS was launched at Apple's annual WWDC 2022 conference, which is where the company shows off its new operating systems – iOS 16 was the biggest upgrade showcased with a new lock screen and more. iPadOS 16.1 is the fourth generation of the tablet OS since Apple spun it off from its iOS smartphone operating system – although iPadOS 16 does share many features in common with iOS 16. Recently Apple announced that iPadOS 16.1 would instead launch later in 2022 instead, with more time needed to improve upon Stage Manager, its new take on multitasking on the tablet. Upgrades include improved collaboration tools, including a new joint mark-up app, and new features to make the iPad experience closer to that of working on a computer. The public beta is still available, but be aware - it's an early version so it may be prone to bugs. Below we've covered all the features Apple announced on-stage, as well as details on when iPadOS 16.1 will roll out, and who can get it. iPadOS 16 release date The iPadOS 16 developer beta and public betas are already available, but the full rollout will be later this year. According to Apple, iPadOS 16.1 will come to compatible iPads in the "fall", and we'd usually expect to see it around October. That said, a leak has suggested that in a rare move Apple will delay iPadOS 16 until October, in order to give it more polish - with the new Stage Manager feature in particular needing attention. The company will apparently still release iOS 16 in September though. But as this is just a rumor we'd take it with a pinch of salt. (Image credit: Apple) iPadOS 16 compatibility So which iPads will get iPadOS 16? Here's the official list that Apple has provided. If you need to check what iPad you have, go into the Settings app, select the About option then find Model Name.iPad (fifth generation) and neweriPad Mini (fifth generation) and neweriPad Air (third generation) and newerEvery iPad Pro model It should come as no surprise that Apple's current iPad portfolio makes up some of the best tablets in the business but thanks to entries like the 2021 iPad 10.2, even some of the best cheap tablets benefit from the latest and greatest features iPadOS 16 has to offer. iPadOS 16 features Here's what you need to know about the iPadOS 16 update: iPadOS 16 borrowed features Lots of iPadOS 16 features are ones that are primarily iOS 16 features. These include lock screen changes that give you more control over notifications and other customization options. Another comes from Apple Maps: you'll be able to create a route in the app on your iPad and then send it to your iPhone – so you'll be able to plan a journey more easily on a big screen before viewing it on the smaller one. There are certain macOS features coming, and like a change to the Mail app. Now you'll be able to schedule emails to be sent at a certain time, retract emails you've just sent, and set reminders for emails you don't want to deal with straight away. Apple's new Weather app is also coming to iPad, if that's something you care about. Another new app coming to iPad is Reference Mode, which is designed to keep your iPad's screen colors in sync with those of monitors and other displays, which would be useful for color graders – though Apple didn't go into much detail. (Image credit: Future) iPadOS 16 collaboration Improved collaboration features are a big focus for the next iPad update. Now, when you share a document (from certain apps) with your friends or co-workers, you'll shared the actual document, rather than a copy of it – this makes it easier for collaborators to make edits together. You can also use FaceTime to work on these documents with other people, by sharing links and files across the video calling platform. Among other things this should make it super0convenient to use Freeform, another feature which we'll get to later. iPadOS 16 desktop focus Apple is finally making a point of differentiating iPadOS from iOS, so hopefully iPads won't just feel like oversized iPhones anymore. To that end, a key macOS mode coming to iPadOS is Stage Manager, which gives you desktop-like functionality – you can have overlapping windows, you can move all your background apps to the side to see them in one list, and you can resize windows. However, this feature is only available on iPad models with the M1 chip, so if you have an iPad Pro earlier than 2020, you're out of luck. Apple has also pledged to upgrade more first-party apps to make them 'Desktop-class', although this seems to involve hundreds of tiny little tweaks, for example different ways to list files or view folders, rather than one big change. (Image credit: Future) Thanks to Stage Manager, you can finally hook up your iPad to an external monitor. This will allow you to use Ulysses on your iPad for example, while viewing the Photos app on a connected monitor. (Image credit: Apple) iPadOS 16 Freeform An upcoming app called FreeForm was announced, which is coming to iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura later in the year. It's basically a joint digital message board, or a shared version of the Notes app, so multiple users can sketch and jot down ideas. In its presentation, Apple showed lots of people drawing loads of different mind maps with sticky notes, colored lines and annotations – the Apple Pencil was shown as a useful tool for contributing to this kind of document. If you've used Google Jamboard, this feels like Apple's equivalent, although since it works on a stylus-toting tablet it should be a little more convenient to use. iPadOS 16 gaming After detailing the Mac's gaming prowess earlier in the presentation, Apple revealed that the iPad will get many of those features too. This includes a feature called Metal 3, which automatically upscales gaming footage (basically boosting the framerate and resolution), and it should make iPadOS games feel a little bit more like console alternatives. Now we just need Fortnite back! However, this also means that other games previously exclusive to the PC and Steam Deck are coming over to Apple's platforms, with No Mans Sky coming to iPad and macOS later in 2022. Game Center is now getting an activity list, so you can see what your friends are doing – it's similar to the features that exist in many other game networks like Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, so you can see, for example, if someone gets an achievement in a game, or has spent 20 hours playing a certain title. Finally, it's now easier to instantly share links with your friends so they can join you in a multiplayer game.50 iPad tips and tricks: how to make the most of your Apple tablet Tom BedfordDeputy Editor - PhonesTom's role in the TechRadar team is to specialize in phones and tablets, but he also takes on other tech like electric scooters, smartwatches, fitness, mobile gaming and more. He is based in London, UK. He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working in TechRadar freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist. Outside of TechRadar he works in film as a screenwriter, director and producer.With contributions fromDaryl BaxterSoftware & Downloads Writer See more Tablets news TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1You may not have to sell a body part to afford the Nvidia RTX 4090 after all2It looks like Fallout's spiritual successor is getting a PS5 remaster3My days as a helpful meat shield are over, thanks to the Killer Klown horror game4One of the world's most popular programming languages is coming to Linux5The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me1We finally know what 'Wi-Fi' stands for - and it's not what you think2Best laptops for designers and coders 3The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me4Miofive 4K Dash Cam review5Logitech's latest webcam and headset want to relieve your work day frustrations Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)● (opens in new tab)The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviewsFrom$12.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab) Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions:España