iOS 26.4 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.4

[bosanceros]

Because that's what is needed -- Video content to take the drivers eyes off of the road ahead or the cars around them.

It would obviously be limited to when you're parked

 

[svish]

Will try out Playlist playground. Changes to purchase sharing is great. Will update my devices soon.

 

[teaneedz]

"Concerts Near Me" is really cool. I like it. Of course the keyboard fix is wonderful (and much needed) too. Looking forward to iOS 27!

the keyboard only feels slightly improved. i still see a random letter inserted between words and incorrect words being auto-inserted even though i have autocomplete disabled.

 

[shinkansenwarrior]

Means nothing to pre iOS26 users. Nice try but wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Doing fine on iOS18.7.3.
Show us what Snow Leopard tricks you've got for iOS27. Convince us to convert!

 

[lfaa]

Has this actually been confirmed or has Apple made an official announcement somewhere? It's not in the release notes. I upgraded four iPhones, and none of them had SDP turned on even though all requirements needed for it are met...

Wait for 26.4.1 🙂

 

[freezelighter]

New skin tone modifiers for dancers with bunny ears is the most significant update since Snow Leopard.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Supposedly that was in error? Hopefully fix coming.

It doesn’t work so a fix would be great.

 

[Lapidus]

Wishlist Apple Music features for years: Playlist album view + add to playlist, put the song on top of the playlist vs. on the bottom. Can't believe I'm the only one.

 

[Imperial926]

No mention of age verification changes in UK and Australia?

After the update I had a page that said my Apple ID had existed long enough to confirm I was over 18. Glad about that as I’m 70!

 

[mrmxts]

Wow, for a UK Apple account it asked to confirm my age.

 

[Downundermac]

I’am good and will stay on iOS 18.

I listened to all the iOS trolls and started thinking damn Apple have wrecked everything - I’ll have to ditch them after 30 years for a Google phone. Then thought well if I’m gonna do that I might as well try out iOS 26. Installed 26.2 on my 14PM, lo and behold it performed better for me than 18, haha. Still with Apple.

 

[steve62388]

You need to edit this post and add a warning on the top line about the age verification. This is screwing over some people’s devices.

 

[shogunswb]

New emoji's, amazing, but I don't see the most relevant ones for the 2 newest terrorist nations.

 

[JaydenA]

People's comments about being asked for ID when they likely have a credit card and decades old accounts is weird.

So I went a little deeper and looked at the new policy

Interesting and worrying as the sharp end of the operating system attestation wedge is shoved in.

United Kingdom
[I][B]1. Illegal Content[/B][/I]
[I][/I]
[I][/I]
[I]Apple has developed various systems and processes designed to protect users from illegal content which may be applied to the Apple Software or Services as Apple considers appropriate depending on the nature of the Apple Software feature or Service and the associated risks to users. These systems and processes might include, for example, blocking functions, human moderation, or the ability for users to disable certain functionalities. In some cases,[B] proactive technology [/B]may be used to protect users from illegal content, such as image detection technology.[/I]

So they are scanning phones now? I thought that was put to bed? reactive sure, proactive nah.

Australia
If you are using FaceTime or iMessage in Australia, these additional terms apply to your use of these services. You agree not to use FaceTime or iMessage to send, generate, distribute, store, solicit, or access categories of content as prohibited under the Australian Online Safety Act and related eSafety implementing standards and requirements. Such categories include, to the extent prohibited, content that contains child sexual abuse or exploitation material; promotes, urges, or facilitates terrorist acts; plans or facilitates illegal activity; contains criminal or violent material; contains harmful or illegal drug-related material which describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matter of drug misuse or addiction, or provides detailed instructions for the misuse of or promotion of the same, without justification. Apple reserves the right to prevent your use of FaceTime and iMessage if you send, generate, distribute, store, solicit, or access such content (including by suspending or terminating you from FaceTime and iMessage, imposing restrictions on your use of these services, or removing, deleting or limiting access to material on these services as relevant). You also agree that you are responsible for ensuring that all use of FaceTime and iMessage through your account or on your Device does not breach the terms of this License.

Some of these, like discussing drug addiction aren't actually codified in Australia law as far as I can know. The way that's written "says, "If you want to talk to your doctor about addiction, you will lose your account?".

Maybe I have it wrong. Concerning though. I hit disagree and will let the dust settle. My stuff can stay on point 3, although I seriously wish I could step back to 18.

 

[uacd]

When I see “speed improvements up to 70% on all supporting devices” in the release notes - I will actually want to update.

Currently this update looks to me like “oh, great. There is Bigfoot”. They should have codenamed it “Bigfoot” because there is not so many other great or fun features for most people, except maybe disabling flashes (why no system-wide “disable HDR setting instead? These flashing elements use HDR for their capability)

 

[xaanaax]

Who needs Siri to be working, we've got new emojis and wallpapers guys! What a time to be alive!

 

[podycust]

Hey Macrumors it would be nice for use only features you put that in bold in the title not in the smallest font at the bottom of paragraph

 

[Deine Mudda]

The latest version of iOS 26, iOS 26.4, is now available for download. The update doesn't have the Siri feature set we were hoping for, but there are quite a few new additions like new emoji and an AI music feature.

Playlist Playground

Apple Music has a new Playlist Playground feature that lets users create a playlist with a text-based prompt.

In the Apple Music app, there's an option to type in an idea and get automatic song suggestions for a playlist. Apple has some pre-set suggestions that include "morning coffee music," "hip-hop party songs," and "disco songs that defined the 1970s," but you can type in any idea, mood, or feeling.

From there, the Playlist Playground feature will automatically generate a list of 25 songs, along with a custom title. Playlists that you create can be customized further with additional text prompts, and you can select a cover and a description.

Playlist Playground is limited to the United States.

New Emoji

iOS 26.4 adds eight new emoji characters, including trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature (Sasquatch), fight cloud, orca, landslide, and ballet dancer.

There are also new skin tone modifiers for people wrestling and dancers with bunny ears.

Apple Music

Apple Music features a "Concerts Near You" feature that helps you find shows in your area and tour dates for artists that you're a fan of. Apple is partnering with companies like Ticketmaster to provide local concert info.

Apple has redesigned albums and playlists, adding full-page artwork.

A song can be added to multiple playlists at the same time in the Apple Music app. In the add to playlist interface, there is a list button, and tapping it allows you to select multiple playlists at the same time.

Offline Music Recognition

In Control Center, the song recognition feature is now able to identify songs without an internet connection, providing results when you're back online.

Purchase Sharing Changes

Adult members in a Family Sharing group can now use separate payment methods for purchases, rather than having to share a single payment method.

Apple Podcasts

With iOS 26.4, Apple added video podcast capabilities to the Apple Podcasts app. The feature uses HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) to provide podcast creators with "unprecedented control and monetization opportunities" while also providing a high-quality viewing experience.

The iOS 26.4 Podcasts app will let users switch between watching and listening to shows, with videos able to be downloaded for offline viewing. HLS ensures smooth playback regardless of network connection, so videos will work on Wi-Fi or cellular. Apple says that the new video episodes will integrate with existing Apple Podcasts features, including personalized recommendations and editorial suggestions in the New and Category sections.

Stolen Device Protection

Stolen Device Protection is now enabled by default for all iPhone users, rather than being an opt-in feature.

Apple implemented Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3 after reports about a new iPhone theft method. Thieves would spy on an intended victim to learn their passcode, then steal the target's iPhone. With the passcode, criminals were able to empty bank accounts, access passwords, and turn off Find My.

Stolen Device Protection requires additional authentication through Face ID or Touch ID to access certain iPhone features like the Passwords app, Lost mode in Find My, Safari purchases, and more. Some features are disabled entirely without authentication, while others have a one-hour security delay.

Messages App

There are new animations in the Messages app for actions like launching a new conversation.

Apple Account Unified Design

In the App Store, Apple Music, and other apps that have user settings, there is a new unified Apple Account hub that replaces the existing profile feature.

It offers largely the same functionality as the prior profile settings for each app, but there is a new unified design.

The App Store merges apps and purchase history, and has a dedicated section for app updates. It now takes two taps to get to app updates rather than having them available at the bottom of the profile page.

The App Store's navigation bar also no longer features Search as a separate button, and the search bar itself is at the top when tapped rather than the bottom.

Ambient Music Widget

There is a new Ambient Music widget for the Home and Lock Screen. It supports playing different built-in ambient music options for sleep, productivity, wellbeing, and more.

Wallpaper and Watch Face Gallery

The Wallpaper Gallery has an updated design that allows Wallpapers from each category like Weather, Astronomy, Emoji, Colors and More to be downloaded to the iPhone... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: iOS 26.4 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.4

Revamped Siri now in for WWDC and iOS 27.

 

[polyphenol]

At last! We can refer to the post-exercise rush using just a letter and an emoji:

N🐬

 

[cybercommand]

I’m in the US and playlist Playground doesn’t even work for me. I can’t create an AI playlist.

 

[jonnysods]

That typing bug... it was driving me nuts I thought I was getting old and losing my ability to type on the phone I was having all sorts of frustrating issues. I'll install this update today to see if it was software or senility!

 

[amartinez1660]

On the note about security updates, that being now publicized and patched might be used by bad actors, so it’s better to update…
Why are they publicizing these then?

They should maybe keep it almost a state secret, just communicate within the entities involved (if they are working together, like Google, Intel, AMD, Apple, security scientists, etc) to patch software and hardware instruction set loopholes and at most the bad actors would get limited knowledge due to pieces of information leaking from that.

Not finding that useful to publicly expose: “hey all, iOS 18.3.2 had this crazy gift your bank account security bug, but it’s patched, we good, nobody seems to have exploited it” when there are still tons of people on that.

I just experienced what is a possibly serious bug with the Stolen Device Protection feature. Before turning on Stolen Device Protection a couple of days ago, under iOS 26.3.1 (a), I updated my FaceID to show my face as it is with a beard. I had a pretty full beard. I then turned on Stolen Device Protection and it was really transparent to me. I had not really tested it. On March 23, I went for a haircut and had my beard shaved off. The result is that I can no longer get FaceID to work, since it does not “recognize” me when I am cleanshaven. So I thought to myself…no problem, I will simply update my FaceID to show my new appearance. However I updated my device to 26.4 before going to Settings —> Face ID & Passcode. Stolen Device Protection was turned on (as it has been for a few days.) I tapped “Set Up an Alternate Appearance”. Apparently, Face ID will try to authenticate you first. If you don’t look like you did before, then Face ID will fail, and you will NOT be allowed to set up an alternate appearance. I am unable to update my FaceID, in other words. Even worse, I cannot turn off Stolen Device Protection, because it tries to authenticate me with Face ID, and that fails because I am now cleanshaven. So I get stuck in an authentication loop that I won’t be able to break unless I grow a beard again. As a result, it might not be such a good idea to turn on Stolen Device Protection if you change your face significantly after doing that. If FaceID fails, as it will in this circumstance (lots of people change their appearance), the user should be provided with an alternate method to authenticate. For example, with a security key.

Good god, ok, this is scary… even any accident or face harm situation would become doubly problematic when now not only you went through it but also now potentially can’t access bank accounts nor anything critical.

I don’t dislike stolen device protection idea, but this is bad, didn’t think of this… there’s a stalemate here, even if the “Away from familiar locations” that’s only for the change of settings timer right?

Australia
If you are using FaceTime or iMessage in Australia, these additional terms apply to your use of these services. You agree not to use FaceTime or iMessage to send (…) harmful or illegal drug-related material which describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matter of drug misuse or addiction, or provides detailed instructions for the misuse of or promotion of the same, without justification. (…)

This is quite something and can be exaggerated like anything substance abuse… going on a party drinking binge may have higher consequences, even just texting about it and not participating in any of it.

Looks like device surveillance going on now.

 

[polyphenol]

This is quite something and can be exaggerated like anything substance abuse… going on a party drinking binge may have higher consequences, even just texting about it and not participating in any of it.

Looks like device surveillance going on now.

They say so much and then potentially nullify it all by including: without justification

I also don't understand why something that they are saying is illegal needs to also be against T&C. I'd maybe understand if the total Apple T&C said you are not allowed to do anything illegal at all, but not why specific bits have to be separately identified.

 

[PixelPanics]

Finally, more emoji. Apple is finally innovating with courage again. I can’t wait to see the exciting, new magical bugs that have been introduced from the ground up for Apple Intelligence. They are reimagined new bugs in more exciting colors and textures than ever before. Combined with Liquid Gass Pro, they are light years ahead of the competition. We are going to love them. And the music, it is more musical than ever seen before, packing more notes into a single song than in the audible spectrum. YOur ears will enjoy an experience never, heard, felt or seen - yes our music transcends the audio/visual interface - before. We call it EarVision pro. 26.4 is the most breathtakingly innovative iOS since we introduced the original iPhone.

Very dated joke, and I am hoping that you are aware that Apple is not the one that comes up with new emojis

 

[AppleMatt]

This is also new: there was a banner in Settings saying “Confirm You Are 18+”. It was the same as those free trial of Apple Music banners. Clicked on it and went through these two screens.