iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 Betas Introduce Freeform App

With the macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 16.2, and iPadOS 16.2 betas provided to developers today, Apple has introduced the first version of the Freeform app that was first introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

freeform 1
Freeform is a digital canvas app that is designed to let iPhone, iPad, and Mac users work together collaboratively in realtime. Multiple people can contribute images, notes, scribbles, documents, web links, PDFs, and more, with content added visible to everyone.

Apple's Freeform app is designed to work with the Apple Pencil on ‌iPad‌, and it can be used with FaceTime for visual feedback between Freeform participants.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
imac video apple feature

Apple Makes Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever

Tuesday February 3, 2026 12:45 pm PST by
Apple recently acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to Financial Times sources. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019....
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...

Top Rated Comments

dantracht Avatar
43 months ago
More interested in giving this a try than stage manager.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sorgo † Avatar
43 months ago
Who needs the Metaverse when we get a virtual bathroom stall, for free?! ?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazyrighteye Avatar
43 months ago
Of all the features of iOS 16, this, for me, holds the most interest.
I leverage Notes, daily, on my iPad mini 6 (with Pencil 2). It's proven a really powerful aspect of my current workflow. I'm curious to see how/if Freeform might fit within, or replace, that Notes-based workflow.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarAnalogy Avatar
43 months ago
It’s always interesting to see the sample data Apple puts in their promotional images. Apparently everyone that uses an iPad for work is a community organizer or other nonprofit.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
43 months ago
I wonder if it keeps track of who contributed what to the board, because I might want to prank people with ding dongs and such.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chrjy Avatar
43 months ago
Freeform - essentially Apple’s answer to Miro or similar. They have probably seen all their UXers using Miro and thought they should develop their own version.

Miro is awesome for fast collaboration and I don’t know of any UXers who don’t use it. Probably be a few iterations before Apple can compete with Miro though. Our design team uses Miro everyday…be lost without it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)