iPadOS 18 is the sixth major release of Apple's iPadOS operating system for the iPad. It was revealed at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). It is the direct successor to iPadOS 17 and was announced alongside iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, visionOS 2, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. It was released on September 16, 2024, and succeeded by iPadOS 26 on September 15, 2025.

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

iPadOS 18 is the final version of iPadOS that supports the seventh-generation iPad.

System features

Apple Intelligence

The Apple Intelligence platform is available in iPadOS 18.1 and beyond on iPads that have an M1 SoC or later. Apple Intelligence also adds artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and large language models, a new version of Siri, and other features, such as image creation tools.

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.

Control Center

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

Notes

iPadOS's Notes app includes Smart Script which uses machine learning to model and straighten a user's handwriting. It can also generate additional handwritten text in the user's style.

The newly introduced Math Notes feature can be performed inside the Notes app and Smart Script can be used to write the answer of the calculation in the user's handwriting style.

Locking and hiding applications In iPadOS 18, applications that are visible to the user can be locked, or hidden. Locked apps require passcode or biometric authentication to run. Hidden apps are moved to a designated "Hidden" folder in the App Library; accessing that folder requires passcode or biometric authentication.

Issues

iPad Pro (M4) bricking issues Many users trying to upgrade iPad Pro models with M4 chips 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. 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.

In-app purchasing blockage During the iPadOS 18.2 update on December 11, 2024, many users were unable to make in-app purchases, gaining much of its notoriety. This issue was fixed after the release of iPadOS 18.3 in late January 2025.

Supported devices iPadOS 18 drops support for the sixth-generation iPad and the second-generation iPad Pro, which feature an A10 SoC and an A10X SoC, respectively. However, iPadOS 18 continues to support the seventh-generation iPad, which also features an A10 SoC. This marks the first time Apple has dropped support for an iPad while retaining support for another model featuring the same or a less powerful system on a chip. The version also drops support for all iPads that use the original 9.7-inch display size.

The seventh-generation iPad is the only supported iPad without Apple's Neural Engine, while the third-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 an M1 SoC or later, which are only available on the iPad Mini (seventh generation or later), iPad Air (fifth generation or later), and iPad Pro (fifth generation or later).

iPads with an A10 SoC have limited support.

iPads with an A12, A13, A14, A15, or A16 SoC have features that are not supported on older iPads.

iPads with an A12X, A12Z, or A17 Pro SoC have partial support.

iPads with an M-series SoC have full support.

iPads that support iPadOS 18 are:

+DeviceSupportedApple Intelligence supportiPad (7th generation)iPad (8th generation)iPad (9th generation)iPad (10th generation)iPad (A16)iPad Mini (5th generation)iPad Mini (6th generation)iPad Mini (A17 Pro)iPad Air (3rd generation)iPad Air (4th generation)iPad Air (5th generation)iPad Air (M2)iPad Air (M3)iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen) and 12.9-inch (3rd gen)iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd gen) and 12.9-inch (4th gen)iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd gen) and 12.9-inch (5th gen)iPad Pro 11-inch (4th gen) and 12.9-inch (6th gen)iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) and 13-inch (M4)

Version history The first developer beta of iPadOS 18 was released on June 10, 2024.

+ iPadOS 18 releases Version Build Release date Release notes rowspan="2" 22A3354September 16, 2024Developer release notes22A8350October 23, 2024Initial release for iPad Mini (A17 Pro) rowspan="2" 22A3370October 3, 202422A8380October 22, 2024iPad Mini (A17 Pro) only22B83October 28, 2024Developer release notes22B91November 19, 202422C152December 11, 2024Developer release notes22C161January 6, 202522D63January 27, 2025Developer release notes22D72February 10, 202522D82March 11, 202522E240March 31, 2025Developer release notes22E252April 16, 202522F76May 12, 2025Developer release notes22G86July 29, 2025Developer release notes22G90August 14, 2025Available as an IPSW only.22G100August 20, 202522H20September 15, 2025Over-the-air only for newer devices.22H31September 29, 202522H124November 5, 202522H217December 12, 2025Release candidate was released over-the-air for all devices but final build for iPad (7th generation) only.22H218January 26, 2026iPad (7th and 8th generations) only.22H311February 11, 2026 iPad (7th generation) only. rowspan="2" 22H333March 24, 202622H340April 1, 2026OTA only for newer devices, IPSW released for iPad (7th generation) and iPad (9th generation).22H352April 22, 2026OTA only for newer devices, IPSW released for iPad (7th generation) and iPad (8th generation).22H355May 11, 2026iPad (7th generation) only, IPSW released for iPad (8th generation).https://appledb.dev/firmware/iPadOS/22H355.html22H374August 17, 2026iPad (7th generation) only for final build. Release Candidate IPSW was released for iPad (8th generation).https://appledb.dev/firmware/iPadOS/22H373.html

See Apple's official release notes and official security update contents.

Reception Reception of iPadOS 18 was mixed, with critics praising the new Math Notes feature in the Calculator app, the addition of Smart Script, and even more customization, but criticizing for its launch issues, support inconsistency, the anti-climax multitasking, and the gradual rollout of AI features.

See also iOS 18 macOS Sequoia tvOS 18 watchOS 11 visionOS 2 Apple Intelligence

References