iOS 18.4 is the fourth major update to the iOS 18 operating system, introduced in September. This update adds a variety of features, some exclusive to newer iPhone models, while others are available to all iOS 18 users. Below is a summary of the key updates in iOS 18.4.
Apple Intelligence Features
- Priority NotificationsiOS 18.4 introduces the Priority Notifications feature, which helps you see your most important notifications first. By default, it’s disabled, but you can enable it via Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications. You can customize this per app as well.
- Control Center and Action ButtonA new Apple Intelligence section has been added to the Control Center, where you can access Siri and Visual Intelligence settings. The iPhone 15 Pro models now support Visual Intelligence, and the Action Button can be used for this feature instead of the Camera Control button available on the iPhone 16 models.
- New LanguagesApple Intelligence now supports additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese, with localized English options for Singapore and India.
Multimedia and Creative Features
- Image Playground Sketch StyleThe Image Playground app adds a new Sketch style, joining the Animation and Illustration styles. This provides more creative flexibility for users.
- New EmojiiOS 18.4 introduces new emoji, including bags under eyes, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, and splatter.
- Vision Pro AppFor Vision Pro headset owners, the update adds a new app to the iPhone to help discover and download content for the device. It includes sections for immersive video, 3D movies, and more.
Apple News and Content
- Apple News+ Food SectionApple News+ introduces a dedicated Food section, offering thousands of recipes and food-related stories. Curated content from top food publishers is available, along with a Recipe Catalog and cook mode for easy navigation.
- Ambient MusiciOS 18.4 includes an Ambient Music feature in Control Center, offering music for different categories: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.
Privacy and Security
- Privacy Indication DotsThe small privacy dots that indicate camera or microphone use now have a black background for increased visibility.
- Siri VoicesTwo new Australian voices are now available for Siri.
- Safari Connection SecurityiOS 18.4 introduces a new security feature in Safari, allowing users to view the certificate details of websites, ensuring a secure browsing experience.
Device and App Enhancements
- App Store EnhancementsiOS 18.4 introduces the ability to pause app downloads directly from the update list. App review summaries are also now available to help users quickly gauge the quality of apps.
- Photos App ImprovementsNew filtering options are available in the Photos app, including separating images shared with you from those in albums. The Recently Deleted section now allows users to recover or delete all photos with a single tap.
- Shortcuts ActionsNew Shortcuts actions have been added for various Apple apps, such as Maps, Safari, and Voice Memos, allowing more customization and automation.
- Mac SetupiOS 18.4 introduces the ability to use a nearby iPhone or iPad to set up a new Mac, streamlining the process when using macOS Sequoia 15.4.
Mail and iPadOS 18.4
- Mail Categorization for iPadOSiPadOS 18.4 introduces an updated Mail app with email categorization. Incoming emails are now organized into sections like Primary, Product Orders, Newsletters, and more, making it easier to manage.
Additional Updates
- Control Center and CarPlayThe Control Center toggles for cellular and Wi-Fi now display signal strength. Additionally, CarPlay users may now access a third row of icons on the Home Screen.
- Robot Vacuum HomeKit SupportiOS 18.4 expands HomeKit’s compatibility, now supporting robot vacuums with Matter support.
- Find MyFind My service is now available in South Korea.