iPadOS 17 to support interactive widgets, bring customizable lock screen

iPadOS will be getting interactive widgets, a new lock screen, and smarter PDF support in the newest iPadOS 17 update unveiled by Apple at their 2023 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

In a preview shown at WWDC, we got a chance to see the new update in action. Of note here is the more powerful widget support. Users will now be able to tap and interact with both widgets found on the home screen and lock screen. Before the update, tapping on widgets on the iPad would merely open the main app itself.

Now, widgets such as to-do lists can now be interacted with while still staying on the same screen.

iPadOS 17 will also bring customizable lock screens, similar to the ones that have been in iPhones for a while now.

Like the iPhone version, users can change the font face and color and will be able to move the clock and date behind or in front of their chosen lock screen photo.

iPadOS 17 will also include smarter PDF support, with the iPad now having the capability of identifying fields in a PDF so that users can quickly add names, addresses, and emails from Contacts.

The Notes app on the iPad will also be updated to have PDFs appear in full width, making it easier to flip through content and mark the PDF. Users will also be able to review and mark up PDFs right in their note, with updates from users who share the same note also appearing in real-time.

Other iPadOS 17 updates include the ability to leave audio or video messages when someone doesn’t pick up a call in FaceTime, an updated Safari app that now allows users to use different ‘Profiles’, and the addition of the Apple Health app to the iPad.

The developer beta of iPadOS 17 is now available for Apple Developer Program members, with the public beta to be available in July.

iPadOS 17 is expected to be available for iPad (6th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation and later), 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later) at around September 2023.