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iOS 26.4 release date: Here’s when new iPhone features are coming

Avatar for Ryan Christoffel  | Mar 18 2026 - 11:45 am PT
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iOS 26.4 is a big update with lots of new features across Apple Music, Podcasts, CarPlay, and more. Here’s when to expect its public launch.

iOS 26.4 expected to launch next week for all users

The next big iPhone update is iOS 26.4, and it’s coming very soon.

Here are release dates for recent years’ x.4 updates:

  • iOS 18.4: Monday, March 31
  • iOS 17.4: Tuesday, March 5
  • iOS 16.4: Monday, March 27

Based on this pattern, we’ve been expecting a debut in mid-to-late March.

But today brought an exciting development: the RC (release candidate) of iOS 26.4 arrived.

iOS 26.4’s RC is available for beta testers, but it’s expected to offer the exact software build that ships to all users in the public launch.

Since the iOS 26.4 RC is here, we’re expecting iOS 26.4 to launch for all users next week, as early as March 23.

It’s pretty typical for a public launch to happen the week after the RC build ships.

If Apple doesn’t need to test additional RC builds, we might see iOS 26.4 ship on Monday, March 23. But if bugs are discovered that require a new RC first, the release could get pushed later in the week.

Either way, iOS 26.4 should launch to all users within the next week or so.

New features coming in iOS 26.4

Apple’s last software update, iOS 26.3, was light on new features. But iOS 26.4 offers a lot more for iPhone users to enjoy.

New features include:

  • Apple Music has five new features, like the AI Playlist Playground tool, new design for albums and playlists, concert info, and more
  • Apple Podcasts gains an enhanced, modernized video experience
  • CarPlay introduces support for AI chatbot apps and video playback
  • Health app adds new Sleep and Vitals data
  • Freeform gets Apple Creator Studio-exclusive features
  • Reminders has a new ‘Urgent’ smart list
  • Wallpaper gallery has been revamped

The iOS 26.4 beta also let users test end-to-end encryption for RCS, but Apple says that feature isn’t shipping to all users until a future iOS update.

Which new iOS 26.4 features are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.

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Author

Avatar for Ryan Christoffel Ryan Christoffel

Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.