iPadOS 13.1 is the latest stable software version available

Sep 24, 2019 17:00 GMT  ·  By

Apple officially released today the new iPadOS operating system for iPad devices, which brings a whole new experience to iPad users around the world.

Coming just a week after the release of the iOS 13 mobile operating system for iPhone and iPod devices, iPadOS 13 is now available for iPad users, adding a new Home screen and new productivity features, including the ability to use multiple apps in Slide Over and work with the same app across multiple spaces, and expose all the spaces where the app is used.

The first major change you'll see after updating to iPadOS is the new Home screen, which has been redesigned by Apple to take advantage of the large display with a layout that lets you see more apps on the same space and to pin your favorite widgets on the first screen. Along with the new Home screen, there's now a gorgeous Dark Mode that's also available to iPhone users.

Another major change in iPadOS is the Safari web browser, which now offers iPad users a desktop-class browsing experience instead of a mobile one. Safari now features a download manager as well. iPadOS also comes with a greatly improved Files app that now supports importing files from USB thumb drives, external SSDs, and SD cards, folder sharing, and SMB (Samba) file shares.

Support for Apple Pencil was enhanced as well to make it easier to mark up and send entire web pages, emails, and documents with ease, and new Quick Actions help you more easily mark up, rotate and create PDFs. Moreover, iPadOS brings new privacy and security features like Sign in with Apple and HomeKit Secure Video, as well as immersive Photos experience.

Just like iOS 13, iPadOS 13 features the same performance improvements to make apps launch up to two times faster than on iOS 13 and be smaller in download size. Also, Face ID now unlocks up to 30 percent faster on supports iPad models. Support for fonts, which you can download from the App Store, is present as well in iPadOS 13.

Other noteworthy feature in iPadOS include support for zipping and unzipping archives, local storage support, new keyboard shortcuts and a floating mode, audio sharing with AirPods, new and improved Notes, text formatting tools in the Mail app, a totally revamped Reminders app, support for custom Memoji in the Messages app, a new Maps viewing experience, and a new Siri voice.

How to update your iPad to iPadOS 13

iPadOS 13.1 is supported on iPad mini 4, iPad mini 5th generation, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3rd generation, iPad 9.7 inch 5th generation, iPad 9.7 inch 6th generation, iPad 10.2 inch 7th generation, iPad Pro 9.7‑inch, iPad Pro 10.5 inch, iPad Pro 11 inch, and iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (including 2nd and 3rd generation).

If you have one of the iPad models above, you can update it right now to iPadOS 13.1 by opening the Settings app and then tapping on the Software Update section under the General category. But first, make sure you have a recent backup of your iPad's files and that the devices has more than 50 percent battery or that it's connected to its charger. Enjoy!