iPadOS 26 beta 5 is available now, here’s what to expect

iPadOS 26 developer beta 5 is rolling out now, bringing the latest changes ahead of the software’s public launch next month. Here’s what to expect.

Beta 5 could bring shift to new iPadOS 26 betas every week

Apple has a new wave of beta software releases ready. About two weeks after developer beta 4 and the first public beta debuted, today iPadOS 26 beta 5 is available to install.

There are a couple especially noteworthy things related to this latest update:

1. Historically, August is when Apple switches to weekly beta releases
2. And beta 5 often includes some of the last major changes before a shift to stabilization

Now that August has arrived, we’re a little over a month away from iPadOS 26 shipping to the public.

Thus, the current schedule of biweekly beta updates is likely to switch to more frequent weekly releases.

However, these weekly betas will also start including fewer noticeable changes.

Last year, iOS 18 beta 5 was when Apple made some big revisions to its Photos app design. But from then on, future betas focused on eliminating bugs and stabilizing the update for public launch.

In other words, today’s beta might include some especially noteworthy changes. And if it does, that’s likely because Apple is preparing for a month ahead of smaller refinements and improvements where performance is the priority.

We’ll keep you posted on any discovered changes in iPadOS 26 beta 5.

If you’re running the public beta, there’s no update available for you yet. But most likely, new public betas will ship in the next day or two.

Have you found anything new in iPadOS 26 beta 5? Let us know in the comments.

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