Apple is gearing up for another major iPad update — and it’s nearly ready for everyone. The company has officially released the iPadOS 26.1 RC (Release Candidate) to beta testers, marking the final stage before the public rollout expected within the next week.
What’s new in iPadOS 26.1
This update may not be a total overhaul, but it brings a mix of thoughtful features and welcome returns:
- Liquid Glass gets a ‘Tinted’ mode — letting you tweak opacity for a subtler, cleaner look.
- Slide Over makes a comeback — Apple’s floating multitasking tool is back, now limited to one app at a time instead of stacked apps.
- Apple Intelligence expands to 8 new languages, continuing its slow but steady global rollout.
- Music app gains swipe controls on the MiniPlayer to skip tracks more naturally.
Beyond the visible changes, Apple has clearly focused on bug fixes and stability throughout the iPadOS 26.1 beta cycle. Performance feels smoother, app transitions are quicker, and the system generally feels more refined.
The return of Slide Over
For multitasking fans, the big story here is Slide Over’s return. Even though it no longer allows stacking multiple apps, the feature’s reappearance is still a big win. It’s a simpler, cleaner way to multitask — and one that feels at home on modern iPads with more screen real estate.
When can everyone get it?
If history is any guide, the public version of iPadOS 26.1 should land within days, likely alongside iOS 26.1. So, if you’ve been holding off on beta testing, your wait is almost over.
It’s a small but solid update — one that fine-tunes iPadOS into a more fluid, balanced experience before the next big leap.
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