Apple to Delay iPadOS 16 Launch Until October

Apple is planning to delay the launch of iPadOS 16 until October, which means the iPad software will not launch alongside iOS 16 in September as it typically does, reports Bloomberg.

iPadOS 16 Header
Apple has been developing a new multitasking feature for the ‌iPad‌ called Stage Manager, with the option designed to offer a more Mac-like multi-window multitasking experience. The delayed launch of iPadOS 16 is said to be partly due to the implementation of ‌Stage Manager‌ as Apple is still working out bugs. A delayed launch will allow Apple to devote more time to finishing iOS 16, and then the company will be able to shift to working on iPadOS 16.


‌Stage Manager‌ is limited to the M1 iPad Pro and iPad Air models, and it is not available on older iPads, which has caused some controversy. Apple maintains that it is not possible to offer an acceptable multitasking experience on older iPads, hence the limitation.

Since Apple split iPadOS into its own operating system in 2019, iPadOS releases have largely been tied to iOS releases, with software updates for the iPhone and the ‌iPad‌ launching at the same time. The delayed launch of iPadOS 16 will mark a departure from Apple's standard release plans.

Introducing iPadOS 16 in October means the software will be timed to launch closer to new iPads. Apple is developing a new M2 version of the ‌iPad Pro‌ with an ‌M2‌ chip, and an entry-level ‌iPad‌ that features a USB-C port, both of which are expected to debut later this year.

Related Forum: iOS 16

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Top Rated Comments

tagsaid Avatar
40 months ago
Rather a little later more polished, than on time with larger bugs. No OS is perfect, but if Apple themselves are delaying it, it is for good reason.
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
40 months ago
Continuity!

Is it really delayed tho since new iPads will be introduced in Fall October's event?

It would make sense to release the new iPad OS with the launch of new iPads on the lineup.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
40 months ago
Not surprised. It's hard to perfect Stage Manager from home.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fbr$ Avatar
40 months ago
Tried Stage Manager on my M1 iPad Pro 11", didn't like it, turned it off.

I just want to use windows on my iPad the same way I always used windows on macOS and Windows:

- Let's supose I have Safari already opened, then I click on Mail to open it. The way I expect it to work is Mail to be opened alongside Safari. But this is not what happens with Stage Manager: it opens Mail on another app group, then I need to drag Mail to the Safari group, kind of merging the two app groups. That's a huge waste of time

- macOS and Windows remember the size and the position of each app/program, so every time I open the same app I know it will be opened with that same size and at that same place. But Stage Manager doesn't remember windows' sizes and positions, in fact it resizes and repositions each app depending on how much windows are opened at the same time. That really sucks.

Really, this is just a gimmick with small practical usage, at least for me. I don't want to resize and reposition the same app every time I open it.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DMG35 Avatar
40 months ago
Surprising since iPadOS 16 is pretty much iPadOS 15. Kind of a weak update.

Weather app though!

Not hating, but after being on the latest beta there really isn’t much to it.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
siddavis Avatar
40 months ago
The forced yearly release is wearing thin
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)