Numbers appearing next to app icons on iPad screen
why is there a number beside each icon on my ipad screen?
iPad Air, iPadOS 26
Sounds like you may have Voice control active.
If so you can say something like "Tap #" and specify a number to top on the app and open it.
You can turn it off by going to Settings ➜ Accessibility ➜ Voice Control.
If that's not it, then maybe a screen shot would help us see what you see.