There are updates for all major system platforms this evening. Around half a year has passed since the last major releases were published in September 2025; as usual, the x.4 update will be available after this period. This is accompanied by all sorts of detailed improvements, but Apple is also implementing some functional innovations. As is well known, there is no new generation of Siri on board; this is only expected for iOS 26.5. iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 have build number 23E246. The update description of iOS 26.4
In addition to the standard text regarding important security improvements and bug fixes, Apple also mentions many other specific points in the surprisingly detailed release notes. The update description is significantly longer than in the case of macOS 26.4, and Apple addresses many specific bug fixes.
- The Reduce Bright Effects setting reduces bright flashes of light when you tap elements such as buttons
- Subtitle and caption settings are accessible directly from the subtitle icon when viewing media, making them easier to find, adjust and preview
- The Reduce Motion setting now reduces Liquid Glass animations more reliably for users sensitive to screen motion
This update also includes the following improvements:
- 8 new emojis are available in the emoji keyboard, including an orca, a trombone, a landslide, a ballet dancer and a distorted face.
- Freeform receives expanded image creation and editing tools as well as a premium content library and becomes part of Apple Creator Studio.
- Reminders can be marked as urgent using the quick bar or by holding down, and you can also filter for urgent reminders in smart lists.
- Purchase Sharing allows adult members of Family Sharing groups to use their own payment method when shopping without relying on Family Organizer.
- Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly.
Undocumented innovations
Not all of the changes Apple implemented can be found in the update description. For example, the features “Notification Forwarding” for sending notifications to third-party smartwatches and “Proximity Pairing” for easier pairing of Bluetooth accessories are only available in the EU. The “Stolen Device Protection” mode will now be switched on by default on newly set up iPhones. Furthermore, Apple is introducing HTTP Live Streaming for video podcasts – and for the first time allows AI assistants as a new app type for CarPlay.” data-parttwo />Apple Music
- With Playlist Playground (Beta) you can automatically create a playlist including title, description and track list from a description
- Concerts helps discover nearby concerts from artists in your library and recommends new artists based on listening behavior
- The offline music recognition in the control center identifies songs even without an internet connection and delivers the results automatically as soon as the user is online again
- The ambient music widget for sleep, relaxation, productivity and well-being brings curated playlists to the home screen
- Full-screen backgrounds give album and playlist pages a more immersive look.
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Update for iOS 18
There are also updates for the previous version of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7 have been available as release candidates in the developer area since last week and are now also available. Updates of this type only serve to improve security; there are no revised functions. An important restriction: If the iPhone actually supported iOS 26, Apple would refuse to update to 18.7.7 – a tactic that also caused a lot of criticism with previous updates.
watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4
Of course, the operating systems of the Apple Watch, Apple TV and Vision Pro should not be missing from the mix. As is so often the case, there are no visible innovations in one of the interim updates; Apple usually only releases these every year.
