iOS 26.4 & iPadOS 26.4 Update Released with New Emoji, Keyboard Accuracy Fix, & More

Mar 24, 2026 - Leave a Comment

iOS 26.4 update

iOS 26.4 for iPhone and iPadOS 26.4 for iPad have been released by Apple as software updates. The new versions of system software include a few minor new features and changes, a handful of new Emoji icons like Bigfoot, along with various bug fixes and security enhancements. One specific bug that is mentioned in the release notes, which are included in full below, aims to address some of the iOS 26 keyboard complaints that have been raised by users.

Additionally, Apple has also released software updates for basically every other Apple device including MacOS Tahoe 26.4, macOS Sequoia 15.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.8.5, tvOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, iOS 18.7.7, iPadOS 18.7.7, and updates to older Apple Watch models as well.

How to Download & Install iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.34 Update

Be sure you first backup iPhone or iPad to iCloud prior to starting the software update process.

  1. Open the “Settings” app on the iPhone or iPad
  2. Go to “General” and then choose “Software Update”
  3. Select to “Update Now” to download and install iOS 26.4 for iPhone or iPadOS 26.4 for iPad

iOS 26.4 update

The update is several gigabytes in size, depending on your device and current iOS/iPadOS version, and may take a little while to install. Many users are noticing the iPadOS 26.4 and iOS 26.4 update stalls for quite a while on the “preparing update…” phase of the download and installation process, just plug the device in and let it complete successfully, which will require the device to restart.

Users can also choose to install the iOS 26.4 update through a computer, or with IPSW files.

iOS 26.4 IPSW Firmware Download Links

Advanced users can also decide to update manually by using IPSW files, which are available via the Apple CDN server links below:

iPadOS 26.4 IPSW Firmware Files

iOS 26.4 Release Notes

Interestingly, Apple notes that performance and battery life might be impacted by installing the software update. Release notes for iOS 26.4 for iPhone are as follows:

Apple Music
– Playlist Playground (beta) generates a playlist from your description, complete with a title, description, and tracklist
– Concerts helps you discover nearby shows from artists in your library and recommends new artists based on what you listen to
– Offline Music Recognition in Control Center identifies songs without an internet connection and delivers results automatically when you’re back online
– Ambient Music widget for Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing brings curated playlists to the Home Screen
– Full screen backgrounds give album and playlist pages a more immersive look

Accessibility
– Reduce bright effects setting minimizes bright flashes when tapping on elements like buttons
– Subtitle and caption settings are available from the captions icon while viewing media, making them easier to find, customize, and preview
– Reduce Motion setting more reliably reduces the animations of Liquid Glass for users sensitive to on screen motion

This update also includes the following enhancements:
– 8 new emoji including an orca, trombone, landslide, ballet dancer, and distorted face are available in the emoji keyboard
– Freeform gains advanced image creation and editing tools, and a premium content library, joining Apple Creator Studio
– Mark reminders as urgent from the Quick Toolbar or by touching and holding, and filter for urgent reminders in your Smart Lists
– Purchase Sharing lets adult members in Family Sharing groups use their own payment method when making purchases, without relying on the family organizer
– Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/100100

Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models. To learn more, please visit: https://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/.

Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/125039

iPadOS 26.4 Release Notes

Release notes for iPadOS 26.4 for iPad are:

Apple Music
– Playlist Playground (beta) generates a playlist from your description, complete with a title, description, and tracklist
– Concerts helps you discover nearby shows from artists in your library and recommends new artists based on what you listen to
– Offline Music Recognition in Control Center identifies songs without an internet connection and delivers results automatically when you’re back online
– Ambient Music widget for Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing brings curated playlists to the Home Screen
– Full screen backgrounds give album and playlist pages a more immersive look

Accessibility
– Reduce bright effects setting minimizes bright flashes when tapping on elements like buttons
– Subtitle and caption settings are available from the captions icon while viewing media, making them easier to find, customize, and preview
– Reduce Motion setting more reliably reduces the animations of Liquid Glass for users sensitive to on screen motion

This update also includes the following enhancements:
– 8 new emoji including an orca, trombone, landslide, ballet dancer, and distorted face are available in the emoji keyboard
– Freeform gains advanced image creation and editing tools, and a premium content library, joining Apple Creator Studio
– Mark reminders as urgent from the Quick Toolbar or by touching and holding, and filter for urgent reminders in your Smart Lists
– Purchase Sharing lets adult members in Family Sharing groups use their own payment method when making purchases, without relying on the family organizer
– Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/100100

Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPad models. To learn more, please visit: https://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/.

Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/125039

Be sure to update all of your other Apple devices as well, since basically everything received a software update today.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in iPad, iPhone, News

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