Apple announced iPadOS 27 at Worldwide Developers Conference, bringing performance improvements, expanded Siri AI features, stronger parental controls, and refinements to the iPad’s design and productivity tools. The update is aimed at making iPads faster, more capable, and more flexible for both everyday users and families.
One of the headline changes is a performance boost that Apple says will make apps launch up to 30 percent faster by preloading needed information more intelligently. App switching across multiple open apps is also expected to feel more responsive. File transfers over USB-C are set to improve as well, with external drive browsing and copying reportedly up to five times faster. Apple says AirDrop transfers and app launches will also be quicker.
A major part of iPadOS 27 is the new Siri AI experience, which will be integrated across the system. Siri will be available from Spotlight search, which will automatically determine whether the user is searching for content or invoking the assistant. Apple is also adding a dedicated Siri app, designed for back-and-forth conversations and for revisiting previous chats. Apple Intelligence and Siri AI will be supported on iPad models with an M1 chip or later, plus the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip.
Apple is also expanding Siri’s role in Shortcuts. Users will still be able to build automations manually, but they will also be able to describe what they want in natural language and have the Shortcuts app generate the automation for them.
Screen Time is getting a significant overhaul in iPadOS 27, with new tools for parents and caregivers. These include the ability to schedule access to specific apps and services, limit who children can contact in iMessage, and control access to websites. Apple is also introducing new parental-control APIs and a Declared Age Range API, allowing apps to tailor experiences based on a child’s age. For children under 13, web approval prompts will be enabled automatically.
Safari is receiving new organization and shopping-related features. Organize Tabs will sort open tabs into groups based on website content, while Safari Notify Me will track pages and send alerts for events such as price drops or restocks.
Apple is continuing to refine its Liquid Glass design language introduced in iPadOS 26. The company says iPadOS 27 will improve readability through more uniform refraction and better contrast. App icons will appear sharper and more detailed, and users will get a slider to adjust Liquid Glass styling from ultraclear to fully tinted.
Accessibility changes include better VoiceOver image descriptions, automatic captions for videos, and caption translation into other languages. Photos also gains new tools, including Apple Intelligence-powered editing to fill empty areas after straightening an image and improved slideshow features, including saving slideshows as video. Shared Albums will also be easier to join through iCloud.com, with full-resolution photo viewing added.
iPadOS 27 will be available to developers starting today, with a public beta expected next month and a full release scheduled for this fall.
