What's new for enterprise in iPadOS 26

Learn about the enterprise content that Apple has released for iPadOS 26.

iPadOS updates improve the stability, performance, or compatibility of your device and are recommended for all users. Device administrators can manage software updates using a device management service.

For information about general improvements, learn about iPadOS 26 updates.

For details about the security content of these updates, see Apple security releases.

iPadOS 26

iPadOS 26 includes new features such as device management migration, declarative app management, and enhancements to Return to Service.

Device management

  • Apple School Manager and Apple Business Manager now support migrating a device with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 to a new device management service as well as enforcing enrollment deadlines on eligible devices.

  • Organizations can deploy App Store apps, Custom Apps, and packages using declarative device management. In iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, organizations can restrict app downloads over cellular networks.

  • New configurations for Safari allow organizations to customize the browsing experience for their users including bookmarks, start page, content summarization, and private browsing.

  • The allowedCameraRestrictionBundleIDs key allows organizations to control camera access on a per-app basis.

  • “Ready for Apple Intelligence” notifications and badges are not shown on devices where any Apple Intelligence features are restricted by device management.

  • Software update management using mobile device management commands, restrictions, the com.apple.SoftwareUpdate payload, and queries is deprecated and will be removed next year. Going forward, software updates can be managed and enforced using only declarative software update management.

  • On devices with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and visionOS 26, Return to Service can also preserve Managed Apps. It securely erases user data, but app binaries remain to make the process even faster.

  • On supervised devices with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 (including Shared iPad), the new com.apple.configuration.audio-accessory.settings configuration can enable temporary pairing of AirPods and Beats audio accessories without the pairing information being synced with iCloud.

  • On an iPhone with iOS 26 and an iPad with iPadOS 26, organizations can set the default calling and messaging apps using the Calling and Messaging keys in the Settings command. They can apply the command even when setting the corresponding restriction.

Bug fixes and other improvements

  • Organizations can use a new Network Extension URL filtering API to provide a comprehensive and privacy-preserving URL filtering solution across the entire system.

  • iPhone and iPad devices now display the friendly name of AirPods and Beats with the H1 (or later) chip directly on the setup screen. This friendly name helps users easily identify their own AirPods if other users’ AirPods are in range. Also, with the latest update, if multiple AirPods in pairing mode are detected, a link takes the user directly to the Bluetooth settings, where all available devices are listed so they can manually select and pair with their AirPods.

  • Apps deployed via MDM can still be used after choosing "Later on Wi-Fi" when prompted to update.

  • Compressing managed folders in the Files app will not bypass Managed Open-In Restrictions.

  • Share Sheet now only shows managed options when sharing from managed apps.

  • Users will not see a "FaceTIme App Required" prompt when restricting FaceTime with the allowVideoConferencing key set to false.

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