Apple released iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 in September last year after releasing the iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. These updates share many of the same features, but not all. For example, the iPad’s lock screen got a major upgrade, and the stage manager was improved for better multitasking.
Since the release of iPadOS 17 last fall, Apple has continued to release updates to its iPad lineup (the latest being iPadOS 17.4), adding new features and other improvements. Below we’ll take you through iPadOS 17 and what the update brings to Apple’s tablet lineup.
iOS 17.4 brings big changes to the App Store, new emojis, and more
Apple’s latest iPhone update has a ton of new features, some big, some small, but all worth knowing about.
What does iPadOS 17 bring to iPad?
Many new features are available
We have in-depth coverage of some of the new features in iPadOS 17:
We’ve also reviewed early versions of iPadOS 17 if you want a deeper look at what it’s like to actually use these features. But that’s not all iPadOS 17 has to offer.
Lock screen, Health app, FaceTime, PDF editing in Notes, and Safari profiles
You can now interact directly with widgets on the Home or Lock screen to do things like turn off the lights or change the music without having to open the Home or Apple Music apps respectively. Launching for the first time on iPad, the Health app lets you monitor health data and metrics, set medication reminders, or log symptoms.
Like the iPhone, the FaceTime app for iPad now supports video messages for missed calls, as well as animated reactions when you’re in a video call and make a corresponding gesture, such as a thumbs up or a floating heart.
Apple has also improved how iPadOS handles PDFs, including importing PDFs into the Notes app for editing. Safari now supports profiles such as work and personal.
Best Apple iPad Tips and Tricks: A Masterclass in Managing Your Tablet
We’ve rounded up the best iPad and iPad Pro tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your Apple tablet.
Update your iPad
Compatibility, preparation and installation methods
If you haven’t updated to iPadOS 17 yet, that’s okay, you can still update and take advantage of all the new features. If you have an older iPad and aren’t quite sure if it’s capable of receiving the latest update, we have a full list of iPads that Apple has released iPadOS 17 for.
After checking the list, make sure to create a new backup of your iPad in case something goes wrong during the update process. Granted, these instructions are for iPhone, but they’re the same for iPad. Finally, when you’re ready to take the plunge, here’s how to update your iPad to iPadOS 17.