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Here Are Apple's Release Notes for iOS 26.4

Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, which means we're going to see a public launch as soon as next week. The RC versions of the software include Apple's official release notes, giving us final details on what's included in the update.

ios 26 4 yellow

Apple Music
- Playlist Playground (beta) generates a playlist from your description, complete with a title, description, and tracklist
- 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 Center 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 minimizes 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, customize, and preview
- Reduce Motion setting more reliably reduces the animations of Liquid Glass for users sensitive to on screen motion

This update also includes the following enhancements:
- 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 organizer
- Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/100100

Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models. To learn more, please visit: https://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/.

Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/125039

iOS 26.4 is likely to see a launch next Monday or Tuesday, ahead of when Apple begins accepting orders for the AirPods Max.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

capamac Avatar
9 months ago
"8 new emoji"

Oh thank god.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnyb098 Avatar
9 months ago
So this is where we are now folks:

- Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly

We can all rest easy knowing Apple figured out how to make the latest chips keep up with….typing.

iOS has become what iTunes became. So bloated and buggy it needs to be blown up and rewritten.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago

this is a total nothingburger update
Disagree. Fixing the awful keyboard bug is a big deal to me.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
9 months ago

No one wants the device protection turn on by default.
You sure are speaking for a lot of people. I turn it on, and advise other to turn it on.

What do you have against it for everyone else?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago
Already at post 14 and nobody made a comment on the delayed Siri?
Oh, MacRumors Forum people... come on.... 😂
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Starfia Avatar
9 months ago
The iPhone's speaker can't produce premium coffee after a dot-four update? Apple has lost its way…
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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