Apple today released iOS 26.4, an update that brings a wide range of new features, interface updates, and smaller improvements across the system. The upcoming update introduces changes to apps like Apple Music, Safari, Reminders, and Health, along with new widgets, redesigned menus, and several quality-of-life enhancements.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up everything new in iOS 26.4 based on features discovered throughout the beta testing period.
New Emojis
iOS 26.4 adds eight new emojis, including Distorted Face, Trombone, Hairy Creature, Treasure Chest, Fight Cloud, Orca, Ballet Dancer, and Landslide.
Apple Music
Redesigns Albums and Playlists
iOS 26.4 redesigns the Albums and Playlists interface in Apple Music. Artwork now appears full-page, with colors that adapt based on the artwork itself.
This change also applies to user-created playlists.
You can also now add a song to multiple playlists at the same time, making playlist management much easier.
Playlist Playground
Apple Music now lets you create AI-generated playlists from a simple prompt. Just type in your idea, and Playlist Playground will generate 25 songs along with a customizable title.
To try it out, head to the Library tab and tap the “+” button to start a new playlist.
Playlist Playground is supported on all devices compatible with iOS 26 and does not require a device with Apple Intelligence support.
Note that this feature is currently only available to Apple Music subscribers in the United States.
Concerts
The update adds a new feature that shows concerts near you, as well as upcoming concerts from artists.
If an artist’s page includes an “Upcoming Concerts” label, scrolling down will display the dates and locations of their shows, along with options to purchase tickets through third-party services such as Bandsintown and Ticketmaster.
SharePlay
Apple Music also brings a refreshed look to SharePlay listening sessions.
The QR code generated for a shared session is now significantly larger and easier to scan.
Previously, tapping the QR code would expand it to full screen and automatically increase display brightness so others could scan it more easily.
Offline Music Recognition
Recognize Music in Control Center now supports offline song recognition, with results automatically showing up as a notification once you’re back online.
Here’s a comparison between iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 below 
Apple Podcasts
Apple has announced that iOS 26.4 will add support for video podcasts in the Podcasts app via HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), ensuring smooth playback over both Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
There’s a toggle in the podcast interface to turn video on or off, along with an option to download videos for offline viewing.
Apple TV
The update refreshes the Subtitles menu in the Apple TV player, adding a Subtitle Styles option directly within the player.
In previous versions, you had to go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Style to change the subtitle style.
Thanks to @majcojh.bsky.social
Freeform App
The Freeform app icon has been updated to better match the icon from the Apple Creator Studio.
Several interface changes have also been introduced. A new Content Hub option replaces Shapes and now appears separately in the bottom-left corner, while options like Markup, Text, and Attachments remain centered.
The Shapes interface has also been redesigned with the Liquid Glass style. You can now scroll vertically to browse all available shapes instead of selecting categories individually.
The Attachments menu has also been rearranged, with the order of items reversed. A new Browse Content Hub option now opens the shapes selection page directly.
Safari
iOS 26.4 adds a search button to the All Tabs page in Safari , allowing you to quickly search through open tabs.
Additionally, when a Screen Time passcode is set, you can no longer clear your browsing history (via @KingDando).
Safari Compact Tab Bar on iPad
iPadOS 26.4 and macOS 26.4 have finally restored the Compact Tab Bar option in Safari.
Phone
Buttons for Message, Phone, FaceTime, and Email in the Phone app have been updated with the new Liquid Glass design.
Details such as phone numbers, email addresses, and directions now include icons on the right side.
Reminders
A new Urgent section has been added in the Reminders app. This is where reminders marked as Urgent (a feature introduced in iOS 26.2) will appear.
App Store
Search in the App Store is now integrated directly into the tab bar instead of being a separate button.
The search bar has also been moved to the top of the screen instead of the bottom.
Games App
iOS 26.4 also moves the Search button into the Games app’s tab bar, following the same change made to the App Store.
Strangely, double-tapping the Search button in the App Store brings up the keyboard, but double-tapping the Search button in the Games app does nothing. I’m guessing it’s just a bug.
Health App
The Health app now adds an average bedtime metric to Sleep Highlights. This shows both your actual bedtime and your typical bedtime based on a two-week average.
The update also restores blood oxygen data in the daily overview chart for users in the United States. This information had previously been removed due to Apple’s patent dispute with Masimo.
Camera
There’s a new Audio Zoom toggle in Settings > Camera > Record Sound, enabled by default. When turned on, it focuses the recorded audio on the subject as you zoom in while filming video.
Fixes Keyboard Bug
Apple says iOS 26.4 brings “improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly.”
Many users have reported that the iOS 26 keyboard became significantly worse, often missing certain keystrokes when typing fast. Even though a key appears to be pressed, it sometimes doesn’t get registered in the final input.
Wallpaper Gallery and Face Gallery
The update also refreshes the Wallpaper Gallery, allowing you to download wallpaper collections instead of having them preloaded on your device.
You can also remove any collections you’ve added.
This change also applies to the Apple Watch Face Gallery.
Apple Account
The Apple Account page has been redesigned when you tap your avatar in the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts.
New Widgets
This update adds brand new Ambient Music widgets, available in 2×2 and 4×2 sizes. Both can be customized to play the playlist or Ambient music category you prefer.
Reduce Bright Effects Toggle
There is a new Reduce Bright Effects option in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. When enabled, it reduces highlighting and flashing when interacting with Liquid Glass elements.
Stolen Device Protection
Starting with iOS 26.4, Stolen Device Protection is enabled by default. Previously, you had to turn it on manually in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection, then authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
Outlook Logo
The Outlook app has been updated with its new logo.
Passcode Screen
The passcode entry screen is now centered, instead of being oddly left-aligned as in previous versions.
iCloud Web Settings
The update replaces the “Access iCloud Data on the Web” toggle in iCloud settings with a new iCloud.com option.
There is also a new “Allow Search” toggle that lets trusted Apple devices provide search results for iCloud.com.
New Shortcuts
A new “Set Battery Charge Limit” action has been added to Shortcuts.
Build Number Visibility
The build number is no longer shown by default in Settings > General > About > iOS Version. You now have to tap on the version number to reveal the build number.
Additionally, tapping the update name shown in Settings > Software Update will also reveal the build number.
Hotspot Data Usage
iOS 26.4 adds a new Data Usage option under Settings > Personal Hotspot, allowing you to see how much data has been used. This isn’t an entirely new feature, as a similar option was previously available in the Cellular settings.
Family Sharing Changes
Family Sharing gets a small but notable update in iOS 26.4. Adult members can now use their own payment methods for purchases, instead of being required to share a single payment method.
Contact Poster
You can now delete a contact poster or avatar using a new (–) button when editing a contact.
Shazam History
When browsing songs you’ve Shazamed, the “Your Song” section has been removed.
Only the “About This Song” section remains, which shows where and when you identified the track and now also includes the total number of recognitions.
To view your Shazam history, press and hold the Music Recognition control in Control Center and select History.
CarPlay
Code in iOS 26.4 Beta includes support for watching Apple TV through CarPlay and playing videos via AirPlay. However, these features are not yet available to beta users at this time.
Developer Thomas Dye simulated CarPlay in a development environment to give us a first look at Apple TV on CarPlay. He also noted that video playback will only work while the vehicle is parked and will immediately stop once you start driving.
If you try to play video from an app that doesn’t support CarPlay, there’s an interface that lets you move the video between your iPhone and the connected CarPlay display.
Even more interesting, @tizian.ruck reports that Apple has reached out to CarPlay app developers to prepare for a new capability called Voice-Based Conversational, which is intended to allow apps like ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and others to make their voice modes accessible through CarPlay.
Bonus: Hidden Windows Indicator
iPadOS 26.4 adds a “X Hidden Windows” indicator on the Dock when you tap an app that has multiple windows open. Tapping this indicator will show all the windows currently open for that app.
You can try it by opening multiple windows in Safari or Mail, then switching to another app. When you tap the app’s icon on the Dock again, the “Hidden Windows” indicator will appear.
That’s it! Those are all the new features and changes in iOS 26.4 that I’ve discovered so far. Have you updated to iOS 26.4 yet? Which feature are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments
