Apple releases iOS, iPadOS, macOS 26.4 with a long list of medium-size tweaks

Apple today released updates 26.4 for all of its major software platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and HomePod. The most important reason to install each update is the large stack of security fixes included (you can see which ones Apple discloses for iOS/iPadOS and macOS on its security website), but the updates also include a few important new features, a change from last month’s mostly silent 26.3 release.

We covered many of the most notable features when the first versions of these updates were released through Apple’s beta testing channels. These include charging limits for MacBooks, for those who don’t want to allow their batteries to charge to full capacity; the return of the “compact” tab for Safari running on macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26; and stolen device protection enabled by default.

Other features include Unicode 17.0’s handful of new emoji (see Emojipedia for more); AI-generated Apple Music playlists; new Creator Studio features for the built-in Freeform app; and the ability for adults in a Family Sharing group to use different payment methods from each other when shopping.

One feature that Apple is publicly testing but not in the final 26.4 release is end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging. For now, texting with Android users will continue to use the unencrypted version of RCS that Apple began rolling out in 2024 (or, in some cases, depending on carrier compatibility, texting). The version of the RCS standard that supports end-to-end encryption (version 3.0, for the record) also supports things like inline replies and changing or unsending texts. Apple supports these features in iMessage, but it’s unclear whether the RCS update will add them for green bubble threads.