Skip to main content

How to download iPadOS 16 right now

An iPad using Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.
Apple

After being delayed for over a month, Apple has finally released iPadOS 16, the next-generation operating system for its tablets. This major iPadOS update introduces some cool and exciting new features, including a new stage manager that promises a more productive multitasking experience, improved collaboration, and a renewed focus on gaming.

Apple's first significant iPadOS release for 2022 comes as iPadOS 16.1 to keep it aligned with Apple's iOS 16.1 update for the iPhone. Much like iPadOS 13.1, when Apple first split iPadOS off from iOS three years ago to become its own operating system, there is no iPadOS 16.0.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

30 minutes

What You Need

  • A compatible iPad

When Apple unveiled iPadOS 16 at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, it was likely aiming to release iPadOS 16.0 in September alongside iOS 16. However, by last August Apple had apparently decided that iPadOS 16 needed a little more time in the oven, confirming that it would be releasing it as iPadOS 16.1 in October.

Nevertheless, it's here now, and the good news is that with the extra delays you can be more confident that you won't be jumping into a hot mess by upgrading as Apple has taken the additional time necessary to ensure that it will deliver a more polished experience to its customers. Here's how to get ready for and install the latest major iPadOS update.

Ensure your iPad is compatible with iPadOS 16

The first thing you'll want to check before you begin is whether your iPad model is compatible with iPadOS 16. While Apple does its best to support its older tablet models, one or two still usually drop off the list each year due to the more demanding requirements of each major iPadOS update.

Note that you won't be offered the iPadOS 16 update at all if your iPad isn't compatible with it, so you don't need to worry about installing it by mistake. Still, there's no point in proceeding if your iPad can't run iPadOS 16 in the first place.

This year, it's the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 that have been left out of the party. Considering that these models were released in 2014 and 2015, respectively, that shouldn't be much of a surprise; if anything it's a testament to the longevity of Apple's support that an eight-year-old tablet could even run iPadOS 15.

Apple hasn't drawn the line based solely on the age of its tablets. If you have an original 2015 12.9-inch iPad Pro, you'll still be able to update it to iPadOS 16. Beyond that, any iPad released since 2016 supports iPadOS 16.

Apple announces iPad OS 16.
Apple

Back up your iPad

It's always a good idea to have a current backup of your iPad before installing a new iPadOS release, especially when it's a whole new generation of Apple's operating system rather than a smaller maintenance release. While Apple's iPadOS updates usually go smoothly, there are never any guarantees, so a backup ensures you have something to fall back to in the unlikely event that you run into a problem.

You can find the instructions on how to do this in our article on How to back up an iPad.

We also recommend making an additional backup to your Mac or PC in case you need to return to iPadOS 15 later on. You can't restore a backup made from a newer version of iPadOS onto an iPad running an older version, and iPadOS backs up your iPad to iCloud automatically every 24 hours. Only the three most recent iCloud Backups are retained, so it won't take long for your iPadOS 15 backups to be pushed out of the rotation. Backing up to your computer will ensure you have a backup available in case you have to restore to iPadOS 15.

iPadOS 16.1 Software Update Screen on iPad.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends

Install iPadOS 16

Once you've backed up your iPad, you're ready to jump in and install iPadOS 16.1.

Step 1: Open your iPad Settings app.

Step 2: Select General.

Step 3: Choose Software update. After a few seconds, iPadOS 16.1 should appear.

Step 4: If you haven't already updated to the latest version of iPadOS 15, such as iPadOS 15.7, you'll be offered that instead. In that case, select Upgrade to iPadOS 16 at the bottom of the Software Update screen to choose to install iPadOS 16.

iPad Software Update Screen offering iPadOS 15.7 or iPadOS 16.1.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends

Step 5: Select Download and install to begin the process.

Step 6: Tap Agree when the Terms and Conditions window appears.

iPad Software Update Terms and Conditions screen.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends

It may take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more to download iPadOS 16, prepare it, and then install it on your iPad. After that process completes, your iPad will restart and take you through a series of welcome and setup screens, similar to those you'll see when first updating to a public release.

Jesse Hollington
Jesse has been a Mobile Writer for Digital Trends since 2021 and a technology enthusiast for his entire life — he was…
Best Buy is having an Apple Sale — this iPad mini is the best deal
Watching Netflix on Apple iPad mini with A17 Pro.

There's a big Apple Shopping Event going on right now at Best Buy. As you may know, Apple is a big brand. They don't need deals to drive sales. So, while there are always great Apple deals going on, it always feels like there aren't too many of them at any given time. At least that's my experience with the category. This time around, there are a few deals that stick out. Examples include the Apple Watch SE 2 at $169 and this Apple iPad at just $299. But there's one huge winner, and that's the Apple iPad Mini with an A17 Pro chip and 128GB of storage marked down to just $399. That's a $100 discount off of the $499 regular price. It's all yours if you tap the button below. As always, keep reading for our take.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Mini

Read more
There’s finally a WhatsApp app on iPad, and it’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for
Plus, we show you how to get the WhatsApp app on your iPad
The official WhatsApp app running on an iPad Air

iPad-owning WhatsApp fans rejoice, the popular messaging app used by over two billion people worldwide has arrived properly on Apple's famed tablet. Yes, you can download WhatsApp from the App Store on your iPad right now.

For years iPad owners - even those with the best iPads around - have been left to struggling with the WhatsApp Web browser system for communicating with pals on their tablet, but now Meta - which owns WhatsApp - has released a dedicated app.

Read more
How to keep your Apple devices safe from AirPlay attacks
Apple AirPlay streaming to another device.

Apple’s approach to building new features has always been rooted in safety and seamless convenience. Take, for example, AirPlay, a wireless standard created by the company that allows users to stream audio and video from one device to another.

AirPlay works not just across Apple devices, but also on TVs and speakers cleared by the company to offer the wireless streaming facility. That also makes it a ripe target for attacks, and it seems there are, in fact, vulnerabilities in the wireless lanes that could allow bad actors to seed malware and infect more connected devices. 

Read more