Apple Music Upgrades, Keyboard Fixes, and More New Features Apple Just Released in iOS 26.4

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iOS 26.3 was a decidedly small update. It introduced a new tool to transfer data to Android, and gave some iPhones the ability to hide precise location data from cellular networks. But beyond some other small changes and security patches, that's all there was to write home about. iOS 26.4 is a different story. The update, which Apple dropped on Tuesday, adds a number of interesting new features to compatible iPhones, especially if you're an Apple Music user. Here's what's new:

iOS 26.4 comes with eight new emojis

While this isn't a "major feature," new emojis are always fun when we can get them. In this case, Apple is taking iOS 26.4 as an opportunity to roll out its take on the Unicode 17 standard, which includes eight new emoji. That includes "Distorted Face," "Fight Cloud," "Ballet Dancer," "Orca," "Hairy Creature," "Trombone," "Landslide," and "Treasure Chest."

Playlist Playground lets you generate playlists with AI

The latest trend in streaming services seems to be AI-generated playlists. YouTube Music recently rolled out the option, while Spotify offers a couple different takes on the feature. The idea is to tell the AI what type of music you want to listen to, whether that be a specific artist or genre, or just a concept or mood (e.g., "Make me a playlist for drinking coffee on a lazy Sunday morning").

Now Apple Music is the latest service to introduce such a feature. iOS 26.4 comes with "Playlist Playground," which works about how you'd expect. You tell Apple Music's AI what you want to hear, and it generates a playlist with 25 different songs. You can adjust the playlist if you don't like the result, as well as edit the title, cover image, and description.

Apple Music gets a visual overhaul

In addition to Playlist Playground, Apple Music's UI is also changing in iOS 26.4. You'll see new full-page artwork when listening to music, as well as redesigned albums and playlists that adjust their colors based on the artwork. Plus, there's now a "Concerts Near You" feature that helps you find shows in your area, based on the music you like to listen to.

You can start to identify songs without an internet connection

You can now use Offline Music Recognition in Control Center to identify songs you hear out and about, even when you don't have an internet connection. You'll get the results when your iPhone connects back to cellular or wifi. You'll have to wait for your answer, but at least you'll get one.

Once you update your iPhone to iOS 26.4, you can add the new Ambient Music widget to your Home Screen. It comes with options for Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing playlists you can launch without opening the Music app.

Apple is finally fixing your buggy iPhone keyboard

If you've been having trouble typing on your iPhone's keyboard recently, you're not alone. Many users have been complaining online about inaccurate typing since iOS 26 dropped in the fall. Apple's latest update might just fix that: In the release notes for iOS 26.4, Apple says it has "improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly." Hopefully, that's the end of everyone’s issues with the iPhone’s keyboard, though somehow I doubt it—users have been complaining about it for years at this point.

Apple changed how you choose wallpaper packs on iPhone

With iOS 26.4, Apple changed the Wallpapers settings menu. Before, you could select from pre-downloaded wallpaper packs on your iPhone; now, you can choose which packs you want to download instead. It's a small change, but an interesting one. It seems Apple doesn't want to assume you're interested in all of its wallpaper options anymore, and instead would rather pick and choose the ones you want to try. Apple also made similar changes to picking watch faces in the Apple Watch app.

Your iPhone's Reminders now has an "Urgent" section

If you ever label reminders as "urgent" on your iPhone, you'll find them in a new location. Now, when you open Reminders, you'll find an Urgent section, alongside other options like Today, All, and Scheduled.

"Reduce Highlight Effects Accessibility" is now "Reduce Bright Effects"

Apple changed the name of its "Reduce Highlight Effects Accessibility" setting to "Reduce Bright Effects." Now, it comes with a description: "Minimize highlighting and flashing when interacting with onscreen elements, such as buttons or the keyboard." The is particularly an "issue" with iOS 26, which includes more lighting effects with its Liquid Glass design.

Reduce Motion reduces Liquid Glass animations

iOS 26.4 also gives "Reduce Motion" an update: Now, the Accessibility feature "more reliably" reduces Liquid Glass animations, according to Apple. This builds on some of the other ways Apple has allowed users to tone-down iOS 26's visual overhaul, while stopping short of letting users turn it off entirely.

Apple is now letting all adults choose their payment method in Family Sharing groups

Here's a small but meaningful change for families: All adults in a Family Sharing group can now choose their own payment method for Purchase Sharing. Previously, you needed to go through the payment option set up by the family organizer. This frees up members to make their own purchases to share with the group, without only going through one card.

Freeform is now a part of Apple Creator Studio

Freeform, Apple's "whiteboard" app, is getting an Apple Creator Studio upgrade with iOS 26.4. The app is still free for all users, but if you subscribe to Apple Creator Studio, you get "advanced image creation and editing tools," as well as access to Apple's "premium content library."

iOS 26.4 adds AirPods Max 2 support

This is a small but necessary addition to iOS: The latest update supports Apple's AirPods Max 2, which will be available to preorder starting Wednesday, March 25. The newest AirPods Max look the same as always, but come with some key features that Apple's earbuds have had for years. They still cost $549 though, which means if you want a pair of AirPods Max for less than the cost of a MacBook Neo, consider picking up the previous generation at a discount.