Apple has issued version 26.4 updates across its core operating systems, covering iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and HomePod software. The primary driver for installation is a substantial set of security patches, detailed on Apple’s security pages for iOS/iPadOS and macOS. This release marks a shift from the more subdued 26.3 update last month, introducing several notable functional additions alongside the critical fixes.
Key features, previously highlighted during beta testing, include charging limits for MacBooks, allowing users to restrict battery charging to less than full capacity. Safari on macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26 reintroduces a compact tab view, while Stolen Device Protection is now enabled by default. Other additions encompass new emoji from Unicode 17.0, AI-generated Apple Music playlists, enhanced Creator Studio tools in the Freeform app, and separate payment methods for adults in Family Sharing groups.
One anticipated feature, end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging, remains absent from the final 26.4 build. Apple is currently testing this publicly, but for now, texting with Android users relies on the unencrypted RCS version launched in 2024 or, in some cases, SMS. The RCS 3.0 standard, which supports this encryption, also includes capabilities like inline replies and message editing or unsending—features already present in iMessage, though their inclusion in future RCS updates is uncertain.
