Apple (xip, downloads):
Xcode 26.4 includes Swift 6.3 and SDKs for iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, macOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4. Xcode 26.4 supports on-device debugging in iOS 15 and later, tvOS 15 and later, watchOS 8 and later, and visionOS. Xcode 26.4 requires a Mac running macOS Tahoe 26.2 or later.
There are lots of improvements for C++. With no more support for Sequoia, I won’t be updating for a while.
New Run Comparison feature allows to compare call trees with other runs using View → Detail Area → Compare With… or the ⇆ button in the jump bar. After selecting which run you want to compare with, the comparison view allows you to view which functions took more or less time between the runs. Call tree filtering operations like “Charge to callers” allow you to focus in on the functions that are faster or slower.
Top Functions is a new, top-level mode of a Call Tree view allowing to quickly identify the most expensive functions in the trace, no matter where they’re called from. To access Top Functions, select rightmost button in the Call Tree navigation bar.
[…]
Swift Testing adds support for specifying a Severity when recording an Issue.
Previously:
C++ Programming Language Instruments Mac macOS Tahoe 26 Programming Swift Testing Xcode
Juli Clover (release notes, security, enterprise, developer, full installer, IPSW):
macOS Tahoe 26.4 returns the compact tab bar option to Safari for those who prefer the slimmed down look, along with a new Charge Limit feature for the Mac so you can set a maximum charge level from 80 to 100 percent. It also adds new eight emoji characters, and it displays warnings for apps that will stop working in the future. Apple is ending support for Rosetta 2 after macOS 27, so app that are still using Rosetta will display a popup letting users know that the app won't work starting with macOS 28.
macOS 26.4 also includes Apple Creator Studio for the Freeform app and it has the same Family Sharing change as iOS 26.4.
Dangerous-Coat-9174:
They fixed so many things, my appreciation for the developers has been restored. I am so happy that compact tabs, many bugs that I was experiencing have been fixed, the battery limit is nice and I uninstalled aldente but i am wondering if i will need something for temperature limits because I use it in the Summer mostly. Did you notice any other fix or added feature that has not been posted yet? Also the shadow in the mission control thing has been removed thank god.
See also Mr. Macintosh and Howard Oakley.
Previously:
Family Sharing Mac macOS Release macOS Tahoe 26 Rosetta Safari
macOS 15.7.5 (security, full installer):
This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.
macOS 14.8.5 (security, full installer):
This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.
See also Howard Oakley.
Previously:
Mac macOS 14 Sonoma macOS 15 Sequoia macOS Release
Juli Clover (iOS/iPadOS release notes, security, enterprise, developer):
iOS 26.4 adds a new Apple Music feature called Playlist Playground, which uses AI to generate playlists for you based on text-based prompts. You can ask for moods, feelings, occasions, and more when making a request.
Joe Rossignol:
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps.
Ryan Christoffel:
Apple Music gets several updates in iOS 26.4, including a new fullscreen design for albums and playlists.
Benjamin Mayo:
The iOS 26.4 attempt is a much nicer interpretation of this idea. First and foremost, it doesn’t try too hard; the foreground text colour is only ever white or black. The background is colour-matched, which injects a splash of personality and helps make the full-bleed album art blend more seamlessly with the rest of the UI. The Liquid Glass toolbars and tab bars also neatly blend in with their colourful surroundings. The design is impactful, yet refined.
Ryan Christoffel:
iOS 26.4 expands customization tools with two settings:
- Reduce Bright Effects, which is brand new in iOS 26.4
- Reduce Motion, which has been updated in iOS 26.4
Nick Heer:
In my testing, this does exactly what you would expect. In places like toolbar buttons — or the buttons in the area of what is left of a toolbar, anyhow — the passcode entry screen, and Control Centre, the glowing tap effects are minimized or removed.
Juli Clover:
Apple has made a small but useful change to the way that Family Sharing works. Each adult member of the family can now use their own payment method for purchases, rather than being forced to share a payment method.
Juli Clover:
Apple has removed the RCS end-to-end encryption beta in the fourth beta of iOS 26.4 after testing it in the prior three betas. Apple already said that end-to-end encryption for RCS would not launch in the iOS 26.4 update, and would instead be introduced in the future.
Juli Clover:
The iOS 26.4 update […] includes improvements for the built-in iOS keyboard. In its notes for the software, Apple says iOS 26.4 offers “improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly.”
Previously:
Apple Music Auto-Correction CarPlay Design Emoji Family Sharing iOS iOS 26 iOS Release iPadOS iPadOS 26 iPadOS Release Liquid Glass Music.app Rich Communication Services (RCS)
Juli Clover (release notes, security, developer):
The update makes it quicker to start a workout in the Workout app by tapping on a Workout type icon, plus it has eight new emoji characters that include orca, trombone, treasure chest, fight cloud, hairy creature, landslide, ballet dancer, and distorted face.
Previously:
watchOS watchOS 26 watchOS Release Workout
Juli Clover (release notes, security, developer):
Apple added a new Genius Browse section to the Apple TV app in tvOS 26.4. Genius Browse is a content discovery feature that provides recommendations for TV shows and movies across multiple suggested categories. Suggestions vary based on content preferences, and the options are updated regularly.
[…]
tvOS 26.4 also adds more easily accessible customization options for subtitles, and it improves Apple TV Audio Format settings with an option for Continuous Audio Connection for HDMI output.
Previously:
tvOS tvOS 26 tvOS Release
Juli Clover (no release notes, security, enterprise, developer):
visionOS 26.4 includes bug fixes and security improvements, along with improved Spatial Audio and eight new emoji characters. New additions include distorted face, fight cloud, landslide, ballet dancer, treasure chest, trombone, orca, and hairy creature.
Previously:
visionOS visionOS 26 visionOS Release
Juli Clover (release notes):
According to Apple’s release notes, HomePod Software 26.4 includes performance and stability improvements.
Previously:
audioOS audioOS 26 audioOS Release
