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

Popular Stories

iOS 18

Here Are Apple's Full iOS 18.5 Release Notes

Tuesday May 6, 2025 2:17 pm PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of iOS 18.5 to developers and public beta testers, giving us a look at the final version of the update that will be provided to the public next week. With the release candidate, Apple provided release notes, so we have a more complete look at the new features that are included in the update, including those that weren't found during the beta...
siri glow

iPhone Users Now Able to Submit Claims in $95 Million Siri Spying Lawsuit

Wednesday May 7, 2025 11:40 am PDT by
If you owned a Siri-compatible device and had an accidental Siri activation between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024, you could be eligible for a payment from Apple as part of a class action lawsuit settlement. Apple in January agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit involving Siri spying accusations, and a website to distribute the funds has now been set up and...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17: What's New With the Cameras

Friday May 2, 2025 3:52 pm PDT by
We've still got months to go before the new iPhone 17 models come out, but a combination of dummy models and leaks have given us some insight into what we can expect in terms of camera changes. Apple is adding new camera features, and changing the design of the camera bump for some models. You might be skeptical of dummy models, but over the years, they've proven to be a highly accurate...
iOS 18

Apple Says iOS 18.5 Coming Soon, Here is What's New

Monday May 5, 2025 8:19 am PDT by
In its press release for the new Pride Band today, Apple said that iOS 18.5 is "upcoming," following more than a month of beta testing. We expect the iOS 18.5 Release Candidate to be released this week, and this should be the final beta version, barring any last-minute bugs or changes. The software update should then be released to the general public next week. iOS 18.5 is a relatively...
Nineth iOS 19 Feature

iOS 19 Beta is a Month Away With These New Features for Your iPhone

Thursday May 8, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is just one month away, and there are already many new features and changes that are expected with it. Apple should seed the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Foldable iPhone Said to Have Two Key Advantages

Monday May 5, 2025 6:41 am PDT by
Apple plans to release its first foldable iPhone next year, according to several reporters and analysts who cover the company. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the foldable iPhone will offer two key advantages over other foldable smartphones. First, he said the foldable iPhone will have a "nearly invisible" crease when unfolded. This means the device's...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Apple's Foldable iPhone Display Tech May Set New Industry Standard

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:29 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will feature a new type of display panel developed by Samsung that has never been used in a foldable product, claims a source with links to Apple's supply chain. According to the account yeux1122 on the Korean Naver blog, the foldable iPhone will use a custom display process for which Apple will hold branding trademark rights, and that meets Apple's stringent ...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...

Top Rated Comments

tagsaid Avatar
36 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
36 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
36 months ago
Not surprised. It's hard to perfect Stage Manager from home.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fbr$ Avatar
36 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
36 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
36 months ago
The forced yearly release is wearing thin
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)