It doesn’t matter if you have an iPad, iPad Pro or iPad Airthere’s no denying the excitement that comes with using a new iPad, or even discovering what’s new in a major software update on your old one. Once you get all your settings in orderthere are many cool features that you want to discover on your iPad.
A good place to start is the Tips collection. You should be able to find the Tips Information Hub in your default widget configuration, but you can also find it in your app library under Information and Reading.
There’s a lot to see and do, but here are our favorite fun features on the iPad to get you started.
Organize your home screen widgets
When you finally reach your iPad’s home screen, you’ll notice the widget layout. By default, your iPad includes the clock, notes, calendar, weather, and news. You can customize this layout to suit your needs. Even if you’re happy with the default apps, you can long-press the app to see additional customization options, or hold and drag to rearrange the widgets.
To edit the widgets, swipe right on the screen and tap edit. Here you can remove or add widgets, giving you faster access to the eBook you are reading or your favorite games or streaming service.
Apple Arcade offers a free trial with the purchase of a new device.
CNET
Check out Apple’s free trials
A new iOS device includes a free trial for Apple TV Plus and apple arcade — a Choice of CNET Editors’ Choice award. So besides downloading your favorite TV streaming apps, games and linking accounts, you can try something new.
Apple Arcade is Apple’s mobile game service for $5 per month. It contains hundreds of games you can play offline and more are added every week. With a new iOS device, you can try Apple Arcade with a three-month free trial and a one-month free trial for new subscribers. Apple TV Plus is Apple’s subscription video service featuring original TV shows and movies such as Ted Lasso, schmigadoon and The morning show.
Turn to the dark side
Apple will ask you if you want your device in light or dark mode during the initial setup, but you can always make changes to the Settings app. Tap Display and brightness to switch modes, set custom schedules (such as dimming your screen at sunset), and use True Tone, the feature that automatically adjusts your screen’s brightness based on the current ambient lighting.
Split screen
I like to use split screen to keep a reference image handy when working on a drawing in the . work Procreate Digital Illustration App – Another CNET Editors’ Choice Prize Pick. But you can use split screen with just about any combination of apps. A common use could be opening your calendar app while writing a to-do list in the reminders app. To start a split view, open an app, tap the small horizontal trio of dots at the top of your screen, and choose your preferred layout.
Scribble for iPad provides a smoother iPad experience when using an Apple Pencil.
Apple / Screenshot by Shelby Brown / CNET
Doodle for Apple Pencil
If you use an Apple Pencil with your iPad, scribble function, introduced in iOS 14, lets you do more without putting down your pencil. The feature converts your handwriting so you can write in text fields that you previously typed. It’s a great way to quickly take notes or add a personal touch to things. For example, if you’re sketching in Procreate and need a reference image, you can open Google, jot down what you’re looking for (just as you type it), and get the result — all without putting down your Apple Pencil.
Save time with Touch ID
If your iPad has a fingerprint sensor, it is possible to enable Touch ID during your initial device setup. It’s not a requirement, but it can make logging in and confirming purchases and downloads a bit faster. If you want Touch ID on your iPad, open the Settings app and choose Tap ID & Passcode. The device passcode is one of the first things to set up after you turn on your iPad, but you can also change or disable the passcode here.
Until Set up Touch IDtap Add a fingerprint and follow the directions. Then you can customize what your Touch ID can be used for, such as unlocking your device and auto-filling passwords.
Use Sign in with Apple
Log in with Apple is a feature you should know and use, rather than a setting you need to adjust on your device. The tool is an extra layer of defense for your security, such as adjusting your device’s privacy settings or using privacy tools such as a virtual private network or DuckDuckGo.
Add an extra layer of security by using Sign in with Apple.
Erika Garcia/CNET
When you create a new account for an app or website, you can choose Sign in with Apple instead of signing in with Facebook, Google or email. The tool creates a random email address that can only be used for one specific app. The app or website will use the email generated, but Apple will forward all correspondence to your real email, protecting your identity. You can reply to any email you want without revealing your personal email address.
There is also the Hide my email option. Apple creates a random email address that you can use when you sign up for a service — identified by the unique alphanumeric string followed by @privaterelay.appleid.com.
Speech to text
If your ideas are flowing faster than you can type them, iPad has dictation that works for email, text messages, and notes. For example, you can open the Notes app and tap the microphone icon on the keyboard. Apple will ask if you want that enable dictation; tap Yes. Now when you tap the microphone when it is available on the keyboard, you can use speech to text. If you use speech-to-text in third-party apps, you may need to grant additional permissions.
To disable speech to text, open the Settings app and tap Keyboards. Scroll down and turn off Enable dictation.
By tapping the information icon, you can learn more about your photos.
Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Learn more about your photos
The iPad photo app has a handy tool that works a bit like Google Lens. Open the photo app, choose an image and tap the little “i” in the top right corner. A panel opens and you can see details such as information about the camera specifications, as well as when the photo was taken. You can also add a caption and the location of the image.
You can also learn more about what’s in your photo. Tap the Lookup option in the info panel and your iPad will provide information from Siri, the web, and maps (if applicable).
For more information, check out the CNET listing of the best iPads of 2022how compare all iPads and tips for your device.
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