Version RecordIndependent release archive
Menu

Release record

iPadOS 18.5

Full article
Public release
Recorded milestones
6
Beta cycle
40d
Average interval
8d
Public release
May 12, 2025

Release notes

Overview

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

iPadOS 18.5 was a modest feature and maintenance update. It added a Pride Harmony wallpaper and notified parents when a Screen Time passcode was used on a child’s device.[1]

Buy with iPad could authorize Apple TV app purchases made on a third-party device. Apple also documented bug fixes and a separate body of security corrections without attributing iPhone-only additions to iPad.[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 18.5 — enhancements

    Back to text ↑
  2. About the Security Content of iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 security content

    Back to text ↑
  3. About iPadOS 18 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iPadOS 18.5 — Buy with iPad

    Back to text ↑
  4. About iPadOS 18 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iPadOS 18.5

  5. About the Security Content of iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5

    Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · Released May 12, 2025

  6. iOS & iPadOS 18.5 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.

feature · introduced

Pride Harmony wallpaper

documentedconfirmed

The update added Apple’s Pride Harmony wallpaper as a new appearance on iPad.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18.5 — Pride Harmony wallpaper

feature · introduced

Buy with iPad for Apple TV purchases

documentedconfirmed

Buy with iPad enabled purchase authorization on the iPad when content was selected in the Apple TV app running on a supported third-party device.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18.5 — Buy with iPad

security · introduced

Screen Time passcode-use notification

documentedconfirmed

Family safety visibility increased by notifying a parent when someone entered the Screen Time passcode on a child’s iPad.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About iPadOS 18 Updates · iPadOS 18.5 — Screen Time

Milestones

Release history

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

  2. +12 days
  3. +7 days
  4. +7 days
  5. +8 days
  6. +6 days

    Public release

    Public

    Source-linked recordEditorially verified

    The public iPadOS 18.5 release added a Pride wallpaper, family Screen Time visibility, and purchase authorization for Apple TV content on third-party devices.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    5 linked
    Open this appearance

Historical context

Cycle comparison

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

Historical avg for .5 releases

52 days, 7.5 milestones

Based on 6 previous iPadOS .5 releases

Cycle vs. platform average

40d (avg: 51d)

11 days shorter than the iPadOS average

Duration ranking

#32 of 46

Middle of the pack iPadOS beta cycles

Longest gap in this cycle

12 days

Between Beta 1 and Beta 2

Previous .5 releases (iPadOS)

Previous comparable iPadOS releases
VersionYearCycleMilestonesAvg. Interval
iPadOS 26.5202642d86d
iPadOS 17.5202441d68d
iPadOS 16.5202351d79d
iPadOS 15.5202241d68d
iPadOS 14.5202184d128d
iPadOS 13.5202050d610d

Scroll horizontally to compare every historical field.

Official release notes