Apple has released iOS 26.4 as a release candidate, with updates focused on enhancing Apple Music, accessibility, and everyday iPhone features. This build usually signals that the public rollout is close, and users can expect a stable release within days if no major issues appear.
At the same time, this update sets the stage for what comes next, as Apple prepares iOS 26.5 with early Apple Intelligence features and a new Siri experience, which are already expected to enter the beta cycle soon after this release.
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Apple has also shared detailed release notes that clearly outline all the new changes, giving a complete look at what users will get once iOS 26.4 rolls out to everyone.
What’s new in iOS 26.4
The update adds a mix of user-facing features and system-level improvements, with Apple Music getting the biggest set of changes, followed by accessibility upgrades and practical tools across the system.
Here are the official release notes:
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 lookAccessibility
– 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 motionThis 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
Release Date
iOS 26.4 is now available as a release candidate for beta testers, and Apple will likely push the final version to all users next week if testing continues without issues, so users who have been waiting for these changes will not have to wait long.
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