Release record

iPadOS 18.0

Full article
Public release
Recorded milestones
12
Beta cycle
98d
Average interval
9d
Public release
Sep 16, 2024

Release notes

Overview

Editorial synthesis with inline references and a source ledger when citations are available.

iPadOS 18 paired wider Home Screen and Control Center customization with iPad-specific creative and productivity work. Calculator arrived on iPad with Math Notes, and handwriting tools in Notes could refine Smart Script while preserving a person’s writing style.[1]

The release also revised navigation patterns inside apps, introduced the Passwords app, expanded privacy controls for apps and contacts, and added richer route planning in Maps. Apple documented security corrections separately from the consumer feature list.[2][3]

Source ledger

References

Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.

  1. About iPadOS 18 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iPadOS 18 — Calculator, Math Notes, Handwriting, Home Screen, and Control Center

    Back to text ↑
  2. About the Security Content of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 18 and iPadOS 18; released September 16, 2024

    Back to text ↑
  3. About iPadOS 18 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iPadOS 18 — Apps, Passwords, Privacy, and Maps

    Back to text ↑
  4. About iPadOS 18 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iPadOS 18

  5. About the Security Content of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · Released September 16, 2024

  6. iOS & iPadOS 18 Release Notes

    Apple Developer · 2026-07-29

Documented & observed

Changes in this version

Source-linked features, fixes, known issues, removals, and community-observed behavior recorded across this version’s appearances and verified builds.

Release changes

Changed in this release

Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.

developerApi · introduced

Swift Charts function and vectorized plots

documentedconfirmed

The first state introduces LinePlot and AreaPlot for math functions plus vectorized PointPlot and RectanglePlot APIs.

Recorded at Beta 1

  1. [1] iOS & iPadOS 18 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Swift Charts — New Features; 117186178 and 117469419

developerApi · introduced

MapKit place identity and place cards

documentedconfirmed

The initial notes group three related MapKit additions: Place IDs, expanded search result types, and place-card presentation.

Recorded at Beta 1

  1. [1] iOS & iPadOS 18 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Maps — New Features; 129071038, 129073725, and 129073922

developerApi · introduced

RealityKit subdivision and Display P3 rendering

documentedconfirmed

The initial state adds subdivision rendering with documented resource costs and expands virtual-object rendering to Display P3.

Recorded at Beta 1

  1. [1] iOS & iPadOS 18 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · RealityKit — New Features; 129016034 and 129017592

developerApi · changed

SwiftUI default MainActor isolation

documentedconfirmed

The SDK applies default MainActor isolation to View and related protocol conformances while leaving runtime evaluation behavior unchanged.

Recorded at Beta 1

  1. [1] iOS & iPadOS 18 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · SwiftUI — New Features; 120815051

behavior · changed

System memory allocator implementation

documentedconfirmed

Apple warned developers that a new allocator implementation could reveal existing memory defects and change allocation behavior.

Recorded at Beta 1

  1. [1] iOS & iPadOS 18 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Memory Allocation — New Features; 127493322

enhancement · changed

Revised in-app navigation

documentedconfirmed

Supported apps gained a floating tab bar that could become a sidebar, alongside document-browser and animation refinements intended to make deeper app hierarchies easier to navigate.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18 — Apps

security · introduced

Locked apps and narrower data access

documentedconfirmed

Users could require authentication to open an app, hide selected apps, share only chosen contacts, and more deliberately authorize Bluetooth accessory access.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18 — Privacy

feature · introduced

Home Screen and Control Center customization

documentedconfirmed

Users could place icons and widgets with more open space, tint or darken icons, and reorganize or resize controls across Control Center groups.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18 — Home Screen and Control Center

feature · introduced

Passwords app

documentedconfirmed

Passwords brought synced passwords, passkeys, verification codes, Wi-Fi credentials, and warnings about weak or compromised credentials into one app.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18 — Passwords

feature · introduced

Calculator and Math Notes

documentedconfirmed

The first iPad Calculator included basic and scientific modes plus Math Notes, where expressions, variables, graphs, and results could be developed with Apple Pencil or a keyboard.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18 — Calculator and Math Notes

feature · introduced

Smart Script handwriting refinement

documentedconfirmed

Smart Script refined handwritten text in real time and supported editing operations such as inserting typed text, pasting handwriting, and reflowing a paragraph.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18 — Handwriting and Notes

Milestones

Release history

Every recorded channel appearance in chronological order. Open an appearance for any available build, scope, notes, and sources.

  1. Developer beta

    Beta 1

    Full articleEditorially verified

    iPadOS 18 Beta 1 is represented by 12 source-supported changes selected from Apple’s preserved 196-record initial state; no build number or unsupported milestone payload is inferred.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    17 linked
    Open this appearance
  2. +14 days

    Developer beta

    Beta 2

    Full articleEditorially verified

    iPadOS 18 Beta 2 is represented by 13 source-supported changes selected from Apple’s preserved 219-record state; no build number or unsupported milestone payload is inferred.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    20 linked
    Open this appearance
  3. +14 days

    Developer beta

    Beta 3

    Full articleEditorially verified

    iPadOS 18 Beta 3 is represented by 13 source-supported changes selected from Apple’s preserved 227-record state; no build number or unsupported milestone payload is inferred.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    20 linked
    Open this appearance
  4. +7 days

    Developer beta

    Beta 3 v2

    Full articleEditorially verified

    iPadOS 18 Beta 3 v2 is represented by 1 source-supported changes selected from Apple’s preserved 229-record July 15 state; no build number or unsupported milestone payload is inferred.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    8 linked
    Open this appearance
  5. +8 days
  6. +3 days
  7. +10 days
  8. +7 days
  9. +8 days
  10. +8 days
  11. +12 days
  12. +7 days

    Public release

    Public

    Source-linked recordEditorially verified

    The public iPadOS 18 release combined iPad-first Calculator and handwriting work with broader customization, navigation, privacy, and credential-management changes.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    8 linked
    Open this appearance

Historical context

Cycle comparison

Pace, intervals, and duration compared with earlier releases on the same platform.

Historical avg for major releases

99 days, 12.3 milestones

Based on 4 previous iPadOS .0 releases

Cycle vs. platform average

98d (avg: 49d)

49 days longer than the iPadOS average

Duration ranking

#3 of 46

One of the longest iPadOS beta cycles

Longest gap in this cycle

14 days

Between Beta 1 and Beta 2

Previous .0 releases (iPadOS)

Previous comparable iPadOS releases
VersionYearCycleMilestonesAvg. Interval
iPadOS 26.0202598d148d
iPadOS 17.02023105d139d
iPadOS 15.02021105d1211d
iPadOS 14.0202086d1010d

Scroll horizontally to compare every historical field.

Official release notes