iPadOS 17 is available, that’s why you need to download it now. iPadOs 17 was also released together with iOS 17. Apple’s operating system for the tablet, as has (almost) always arrived with that of the smartphone. To download it, using caution and precaution, it is easy: simply choose Settings > General > Software Update. At this point the device will check the available updates and, starting from 7 pm, will show the possibility of updating to iPadOS.
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But why update? Because it presents innovations that in some aspects are even more relevant than those we have seen for iOS
For example, iPadOs 17 allows you to customize the lock screen and interact with widgets, working with PDFs is easier, messages receives significant updates, including a new experience with stickers. The Health app arrives on iPad and introduces interactive graphs, and so on. But let’s start from the beginning
iPadOS 17, the name
What is called iPadOs 17 is actually not the seventeenth version. It was in fact launched in June 2019 when iOS 13 was introduced. But subsequently Apple unified the numbers (including that of TvOs while watchOs has its own separate numbering) and therefore here is iPadOS 17, successor to iPadOS 16.
iPadOS 17, the most important news
New lock screen
The most interesting new feature certainly concerns the lock screen. With iPadOS 17 the gap with iOS 16 closes, which last year brought a breath of fresh air to the lock screen. Basically, iPadOS 17 also has a fully customizable Lockscreen.
First of all, there is a particular effect whereby the background photo can appear in the foreground of the time, so as to give greater prominence to the wallpaper (the same effect is found on the iOS 16 lock screen). Furthermore, it will be possible to add widgets to the screen, which are becoming increasingly important in the Apple ecosystem. Furthermore, these are interactive as in iOS 17, to be able to carry out operations with a tap, without the need to open the relevant app.
Furthermore, Real-time Activities will arrive on the lock screen, so you can stay updated, for example, on the result of a sporting event, or on a flight, or on an order at your favorite restaurant.
Live Photos are motion-active even on the home screen. Then when you activate the Home wallpaper they become static.
The iPadOS 17 lock screen can also be customized from a graphic point of view, being able to change the style, fonts and colors of the writing, including the clock numbers. It is also possible to opt for lock screens with particular motifs, such as kaleidoscope, emoji and others, which users have already appreciated since iOS 16.
Widgets
Widgets were the protagonists of Apple’s WWDC23 opening keynote, re-proposed on Apple Watch, but also renewed on macOS 14 Sonoma. Also on iPadOS 17 the widgets are improved, now interactive, so you can carry out some activities with a simple tap, without having to open the relevant applications.
For example, the user can turn on the lights, play a song or instantly mark a reminder as completed, directly from the widget. Thanks to their adaptive color tone, they harmonize with the background of the lock screen to always guarantee optimal readability.
Note that thanks to WidgetKit, third-party widgets can also be interactive. It remains to be understood how this could negatively affect the autonomy of the devices.
Health App
Apple’s Health app appears on the iPad for the first time. This is an application well known to iPhone users, which will now also allow you to view your health data in quite detail on the iPad. The app stands out for its design optimized for the large iPad screen, with highlighted data and interactive graphs.
Favorites in particular have a specific look: the user receives information on their health with trends, highlighted data and detailed interactive graphs. Now, on iPad you can also monitor and manage the medications you take, use Cycle Tracking, record momentary emotions and daily moods, view health records from multiple institutions and much more, all in a secure and private central location.
Health and fitness app developers can now use HealthKit on iPad, so they can create innovative experiences in their apps that integrate the information the user chooses to share, adhering to the same rigorous protocols as the Health app on this subject of privacy and data security.
iPadOS 17, new and notable
- Fillable and more annotatable PDFs
With iPadOs 17, inserting information into PDF files is easier; the operating system uses machine learning to identify text fields in PDFs and quickly fill them in by adding information such as name, address and email directly from Contacts.
If you want you can underline or comment on a PDF. Just import it into Notes where they are presented as entire pages, so that the user will already have the entire document on which to take notes at first glance, while also being able to use Apple Pencil.
Furthermore, thanks to real-time collaboration, iPad allows you to see updates instantly as soon as the note is shared with other people.
Messages App
The messages app becomes more fun, thanks to the possibility of creating Live Stickers starting from your own photos: with a single tap you can extrapolate the outline of the main subject and transform it into an animated sticker. The system is the same that will be introduced with iOS 16.
- Among other features of Messages for iPadOs 17
- expandable menu that opens with a tap for quick access to all the most often used iMessage apps.
- improved search experience with filters by people, keywords and content types,
- you can jump directly to the last message read in a group chat and reply on the fly
- Audio messages are automatically transcribed
- When a person shares their location in Messages, it appears in real time during the conversation until the sharing session ends.
FaceTime
FaceTime also brings reactions to the iPad, thanks to iPadOS 17, such as hearts, balloons, laser beams, fireworks and more. All these effects can be activated simply with hand gestures (the operating system will take care of recalling the corresponding one) and are also available for third-party conference apps.
Furthermore, considering the arrival of FaceTime on the big screen via Apple TV 4K, iPad will be able to act as a wireless webcam. The basic idea is always to take advantage of the Continuity Camera function already available for macOS: when you start FaceTime on Apple TV, the iPad connected to the same account and to the same WiFi network will transform into an excellent quality wireless webcam.
As in iOS 17 it is possible to leave a message recorded on video when the person is not available for immediate response.
iPadOS 17, other functions
in iPadOs there are several other new functions, some of which mirror those we saw appear in iOS 17
- iPadOS 17 integrates support for the built-in camera of the Studio Display and those of monitors from other brands, allowing you to use them with FaceTime calls and other apps that allow the use of the camera, a convenient feature for those who use iPad with a secondary screen.
- Safari improves user productivity with the introduction of profiles, to keep personal browsing activity separate from work activity;
- Stage Manager now allows you to change the position and size of windows;
- Freeform adds new drawing tools;
- Spotlight has been improved, now allowing you to search for information and initiate actions even faster with better visual results and extended search to videos;
- Visual search can now identify food, storefronts, signs and symbols on things like clothing care labels;
- Improved autocorrect features for the keyboard; more accurate Dictation speech recognition model;
- Possibility of calling up Siri without “Hey” and making multiple requests without having to reactivate the assistant each time;
- Easier AirPlay sharing extended to supported TVs in hotels;
- Reminder offers a new smart shopping list template that makes shopping easier;
- Maps allows you to download maps and use them offline;
- Improved privacy protection with the addition of protections for boys and girls, and a “Sensitive Content Warning” feature for adults;
- New accessibility tools such as Assistive Access which helps users with cognitive disabilities to use iPad with greater simplicity and independence. Furthermore, Live Speech allows those who cannot speak to express their thoughts through writing and have them spoken aloud during phone calls, FaceTime calls and in-person meetings. Finally, Point and Speak in Magnifier helps blind and visually impaired people interact with electronic devices and other physical objects with small text labels.
Compatibility and release date
iPadOS 17 is available to everyone as a free software update for iPad (6th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation and later), iPad Pro 10.5-inch and iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later).
Compared to last year, the fifth generation of iPad remains out, which therefore will not be upgradeable, just as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro will not be upgradeable to iPadOS 17.