Apple has just released the much-anticipated iOS 18.4 update along with iPadOS 18.4, marking the fourth major enhancement to the iOS 18 series. Arriving roughly two months after the iOS 18.3 release, this update offers a range of new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes that elevate your Apple experience.
How to Update Your iPhone and iPad
The update is available for all supported iPhone and iPad models. Simply go to Settings > General > Software Update to download iOS 18.4 over the air. Additionally, Apple has released iOS and iPadOS updates (versions 16.7.11 and 15.8.4) for older devices that aren’t compatible with the latest OS.
Smarter Notifications for Apple Devices
Users with Apple Intelligence-enabled devices, including the entire iPhone 16 lineup and iPhone 15 Pro models, will notice the introduction of Priority Notifications. This feature ensures that critical alerts are highlighted at the top of your notification list, so you never miss an important update.
The Image Playground feature has also been updated with a new “Sketch” style, allowing users to create stylized illustrations with ease.
New App for Apple Vision Pro Users
Apple Vision Pro users will benefit from a new app that automatically installs on their devices. Designed to simplify the discovery of spatial content, this app provides quick access to all the information you need about the Vision Pro headset.
Apple News+ Now Features a Food Section
Apple News+ subscribers have something new to explore with the introduction of a dedicated Food section. This addition includes:
- A comprehensive Recipe Catalog with search and save features.
- A specialized Cooking Mode for following step-by-step recipes.
- Engaging stories on restaurants, food culture, and cooking tips from top culinary publishers.
Enhanced Photos App Experience
The Photos app now offers several quality-of-life improvements:
- Filter out photos not included in albums or synced from your Mac or PC.
- Sort albums by the date they were last modified.
- Hide sections like “Recently Viewed” from the main view.
- Ensure hidden photos do not appear during imports when Face ID is enabled for photo privacy.
Additional Changes and Bug Fixes
Other notable improvements in iOS 18.4 include:
- Safari Enhancements: Enjoy recent search suggestions that help you quickly resume your browsing sessions.
- Refined Setup Assistant: Especially useful for parents setting up child accounts, with enhanced safety default settings.
- Improved Screen Time: App limits will now persist even if a child deletes and reinstalls the Screen Time app.
- App Store Updates: Benefit from brief review summaries and the ability to pause and resume app downloads without losing progress.
- New Podcast Widgets: Easily track followed shows and jump into recent episodes or downloads with updated podcast widgets.
The iOS 18.4 update is a significant step forward in delivering a smoother, more intuitive Apple experience. With enhanced notifications, innovative features for Vision Pro users, a new culinary section in Apple News+, and comprehensive improvements across key apps, this update is set to make your iPhone and iPad even more powerful.
