Apple has officially released iOS 26.4 to the public, and unlike previous updates that some may find tedious, this version comes packed with a host of tangible, long-awaited features. While we're still waiting for the full AI-powered Siri, Apple has decided to give us a substantial boost, including improvements to Apple Music and the Podcasts app, new emojis, and a long-awaited fix for the keyboard issue that recently plagued many users.
Apple Music: A playground for playlists and artificial intelligence
The most notable feature in this update for Apple Music subscribers is Playlist Playground, a smart way to create playlists using artificial intelligence. Simply describe your mood or the type of music you want, and the system will generate a personalized playlist for you. It can even modify your existing playlists based on your text commands. This feature is currently available in the US and works on all iPhones running iOS 26.4, even those that don't fully support Apple Intelligence.
Podcast app and user-friendly interface
The podcast app has also received its share of development, especially regarding video programs. The new update supports HLS (Hypertext Leaving Layout over HTTP), a smart technology that automatically adjusts video quality based on your internet connection speed, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted playback. It also allows you to switch between audio and video with a single tap without losing your place in the episode.
On the accessibility front, Apple has added a new option called “Reduce Bright Effects” to minimize bright flashes in the system interface, which is very helpful for those sensitive to bright light. The “Reduced Motion” option has also been improved for greater consistency across the entire system, especially with the new Liquid Glass interface, and text translation is now easier to customize while viewing content.
New emojis and productivity apps
For emoji lovers, iOS 26.4 adds eight new emojis to your everyday expressions, including an orca, a trombone, a distorted face, a ballerina, and more. Just remember that the other person must also have their device updated to see these new emojis in conversations.
As for the Freeform app, Creator Studio subscribers received exclusive features including access to Content Hub, a vast repository of free images and illustrations that can be used in your projects. The app icon was also redesigned to align with Apple's new visual identity for its cloud services.
In the Reminders app, it is now easy to mark tasks as “Urgent” directly from the quick toolbar or by long-pressing, so they appear as full-screen alerts at their scheduled time, with the ability to easily filter them through smart lists.
Family sharing and keyboard repair
It's great news for families that Apple has finally started allowing adult family members in Family Sharing to use their own payment methods instead of relying solely on the family organizer. The new Purchase Sharing feature gives each member more independence in purchasing what they want from the App Store or services without having to worry about the group manager.
As for the keyboard, if you've been experiencing a surge in typos lately, you're not alone. Apple implicitly acknowledged the issue by mentioning "improving keyboard accuracy when typing quickly" in the release notes. It seems engineers have been making behind-the-scenes adjustments to rectify the situation following numerous user complaints in previous versions.
Age and security verification
The update also included new age verification requirements in certain regions to comply with local laws, where Apple developed a new API that tells apps whether a user meets the required legal age without sharing their actual date of birth or any personal data, in order to protect privacy.
iOS 26.4 is now available for iPhone 11 and later models. As always, we recommend backing up your data before updating to ensure its safety, and then going directly to Settings > General > Software Update to enjoy the new features.
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