X

iPadOS 14: These are all the features and enhancements coming soon to your iPad

Apple's iPad operating system software gets new enhancements like Universal Search and a redesigned home screen.

Alison DeNisco Rayome Managing Editor
Managing Editor Alison DeNisco Rayome joined CNET in 2019, and is a member of the Home team. She is a co-lead of the CNET Tips and We Do the Math series, and manages the Home Tips series, testing out new hacks for cooking, cleaning and tinkering with all of the gadgets and appliances in your house. Alison was previously an editor at TechRepublic.
Expertise Home Tips, including cooking, cleaning and appliances hacks Credentials
  • National Silver Azbee Award for Impact/Investigative Journalism; National Gold Azbee Award for Online Single Topic Coverage by a Team; National Bronze Azbee Award for Web Feature Series
See full bio
Shelby Brown Editor II
Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET's services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.
Credentials
  • She received the Renau Writing Scholarship in 2016 from the University of Louisville's communication department.
See full bio
Alison DeNisco Rayome
Shelby Brown
screen-shot-2020-06-22-at-1-32-08-pm.png
Screenshot by Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple  announced a new version of iPadOS, its software operating system for iPads, at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. iPadOS 14 is similar to iOS 14 for phones, but tweaked to showcase tablet capabilities like use of the Apple Pencil. Like iOS 14, iPadOS will feature Android-style widgets on its redesigned home screen.

This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.

iPadOS 14 includes better photo organization and consolidated navigation. Toolbars have been streamlined, with new drop-down menus that help you access apps and tools more quickly.

It also includes a Universal Search feature, where you can launch apps, search within apps, find contacts or documents and start web searches.

The iPad also has new enhancements for the Apple Pencil such as Scribble, a built-in handwriting recognition feature. Scribble lets you write by hand in any text field and it'll turn into text. With the Pencil app, you can make smoother shapes. 

WWDC is being held virtually for the first time this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Watch this: Apple updates iPad with new music UI

See also

Mobile Guides

Phones
Foldable Phones
Headphones
Mobile Accessories
Smartwatches
Wireless Plans
Mobile coupons