Apple has rolled out its newest iOS update, delivering a long list of fresh features and refinements for iPhone and iPad users worldwide.
iOS 26.4 is now available for iPhone 11 models and newer, as well as most iPads released after 2018. The update introduces a range of changes across Apple Music, Podcasts, and TV, alongside eight new emojis.
Several additions lean on artificial intelligence to make everyday tasks smoother, including a new offline music-identification tool that works similarly to Shazam.
And while the emojis may be the most visible part of the release, iOS 26.4 also includes updates designed to improve accessibility, customization, and overall usability.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s arriving with iOS 26.4.
One of the biggest areas of change is Apple Music. A standout addition is Playlist Underground, an AI-powered tool that creates an entire playlist from a short description you provide.
Apple Music is also getting a more immersive look, with albums and playlists adopting fullscreen background visuals to enhance the overall browsing and listening experience.
For people who like quick access to mood-based listening, Apple is adding an Ambient Music widget, allowing curated sleep, exercise, and wellbeing playlists to sit directly on the home screen.
Music discovery is also being expanded. Alongside the new ‘Concerts’ feature that notifies you about live shows from artists you listen to, recommendations are being improved to better surface new musicians.
And when a song is playing but the title is nowhere to be found, users can now rely on the new offline Shazam-like tool to identify the track.
Podcast listeners are also getting a notable upgrade, with Apple Podcasts introducing a capability that many Spotify users will recognize.
Apple Podcasts will now support video playback for shows that film their episodes, while previously users were limited to audio-only listening in the app.
For supported shows, viewers can switch the feature on and rotate their device horizontally to watch in fullscreen.
For anyone who uses emojis in place of words—or whole sentences—iOS 26.4 also introduces eight new emoji options.
They are:
In addition to the new set, Apple is expanding customization for existing emojis too, with more skin tone options being added for older icons like People Wrestling and People With Bunny Ears.
Altogether, the combination of new emojis and additional variations adds 163 new ways to tailor emoji use.
Two other major apps are also being updated. Apple TV is gaining ‘Genius Browse’, a new recommendation tool that suggests shows based on your viewing habits.
Apple News is also expanding its lifestyle coverage. Its food feed is being upgraded with easier unit conversions and added nutritional details aimed at helping users make more informed choices.
On top of that, the app will include more local reporting from across the US, plus expanded F1 coverage spanning race updates and driver statistics.
For users who prioritize personalization and ease of use, iOS 26.4 also introduces three key accessibility updates.
People watching YouTube, TV series, or films will see new subtitle controls, allowing them to preview captions and adjust how they look on screen.
Another setting provides the ability to reduce ‘flashes’ and other intense lighting effects triggered by certain interface elements, while those sensitive to motion can also lower the impact of Liquid Glass animation.
Beyond the headline features, Apple has included a collection of smaller improvements many users will notice quickly—including a long-requested boost to keyboard accuracy.
Additional changes include Freeform being added to Apple Creator Studio with a new set of “advanced image creation and editing tools”, plus the option to mark reminders as ‘urgent’ via the quick toolbar. Smart Lists for reminders also gain a new filter option.
Families are getting a payments-related upgrade too: ‘Purchase Sharing’ will allow each adult in a family group to use their own payment method when buying items.
Other minor additions include improved typing accuracy at high speed, a new hold assist that alerts you when a live agent joins a call, and Live Translation in Messages expanding to support 17 additional languages.
You can read the full iOS 26.4 patch notes on the Apple website.