Apple today released the first beta of its upcoming iPadOS 16.1 update to developers for testing. The software is now available alongside the seventh beta of iOS 16, also released today.
Apple has decided to delay the launch of iPadOS 16 to continue its work on bugs and other issues with the Stage Manager feature for M1 iPad models.
Beta builds of iOS 16 are available to registered developers to download through the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, updates will be available over the air.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple said that there will be no iPadOS 16.0 version at launch, with the company instead planning to ship iPadOS 16.1 following the launch of iOS 16.
This is an especially big year for iPadOS. As its own platform with features specifically designed for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule. This Fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS, as version 16.1 in a free software update.
iPadOS 16.1 also introduces new Stage Manager features.
The big update this time out is the ability to resurface the Stage Manager side rail with a gesture while the feature is full screen. The other updates with 16.1 are the standard spate of beta bug updates
It is a bit unusual for Apple to split iOS and iPadOS launches, but beta testers have complained of multiple bugs in the latest version of iPadOS, especially the multitasking Stage Manager option.