Apple has released iPadOS 26.1, the latest noteworthy software update for iPad. Here’s everything new.
iPadOS 26.1’s new features include Slide Over’s return
iPadOS 26.1 brings the return of a key multitasking feature that had been removed from iPadOS 26.0.
Slide Over is back. Now available alongside the existing windowing system, you can designate an app’s window as your ‘Slide Over’ window. Just use the ‘Enter Slide Over’ option hiding behind the green traffic light window control.
Your Slide Over window can be easily hidden out of sight and brought back in when needed. Hitting the shortcut ‘Globe key + \’ on a hardware keyboard quickly reveals or hides it.
The biggest advantage of Slide Over is that it floats above all other windows, so you can work inside any other app and still keep Slide Over on-screen.
In iPadOS 18, Slide Over let you add multiple apps in a single stack for easy switching. That’s no longer available, as the feature now limits users to a single app at a time. But on the plus side, the Slide Over window can now be resized to your exact preferences—that wasn’t possible before.
Beyond Slide Over’s return, iPadOS 26.1 includes these new features:
- Liquid Glass debuts an optional new ‘Tinted’ setting to increase opacity
- Music lets you swipe on the MiniPlayer to change tracks
- Apple Intelligence expands to eight new languages
- Local Capture now offers a couple settings for audio/video recordings
- Photos uses an updated playback scrubber for videos
- plus some smaller UI and feature changes
Based on my beta experience, iPadOS 26.1 also runs smoother than 26.0 thanks to a variety of bug fixes and performance improvements.
You can download and install iPadOS 26.1 from Settings ⇾ General ⇾ Software Update on any iPad that supports iPadOS 26. A full list of compatible iPad hardware is available here.
Which new iPadOS 26.1 features are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.
Best iPad accessories
- Apple Pencil Pro (now only $99, down from $129)
- 100W USB-C power adapter for fast charging
- AirPods Pro 3
- tomtoc Tablet sleeve bag for protection and style
- Baseus 10ft USB-C cable for extended reach
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