Apple releases iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 to the public

Apple has just released iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 to the public. The new update includes a handful of improvements to Apple Music, 8 new emojis, support for AirPods Max 2, and much more. Most of the new features are available for both iPhones and iPads, with a few specific differences.

Here's the official changelog for iOS 26.4:

Apple Music

• Concerts helps you discover nearby shows from artists in your library and recommends new artists based on what you listen to
• Offline Music Recognition in Control Centre identifies songs without an internet connection and delivers results automatically when you're back online
• Ambient Music widget for Sleep, Chill, Productivity and Wellbeing brings curated playlists to the Home Screen
• Full-screen backgrounds give album and playlist pages a more immersive look

Accessibility

• Reduce bright effects setting minimises bright flashes when tapping on elements like buttons
• Subtitle and caption settings are available from the captions icon while viewing media, making them easier to find, customise and preview
• Reduce Motion setting more reliably reduces the animations of Liquid Glass for users sensitive to onscreen motion

This update also includes the following enhancements:

• Support for AirPods Max 2
• 8 new emoji including an orca, trombone, landslide, ballet dancer and distorted face are available in the emoji keyboard
• Freeform gains advanced image creation and editing tools, and a premium content library, joining Apple Creator Studio
• Mark reminders as urgent from the Quick Toolbar or by touching and holding, and filter for urgent reminders in your Smart Lists
• Purchase Sharing lets adult members in Family Sharing groups use their own payment method when making purchases, without relying on the family organiser
• Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly"

These are iPadOS 26.4-specific changes:

• "Compact tab bar option in Safari gives you more space to browse and lets you search directly from the active tab
• Open window indicator appears when you switch to an app with hidden or minimized windows"

Despite earlier reports that iOS 26.4 might bring a major Siri upgrade, Apple still hasn't introduced any meaningful changes to its assistant. Hopefully, we'll have more info by this June's WWDC 2026 conference.

To update your iPhone/iPad to iOS 26.4/iPadOS 26.4, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone/iPad.