iOS 26.4 Beta 4 Now Available With New Emoji and Security Enhancements

Explore with AI:

Apple has seeded iOS 26.4 beta 4 to developers and public beta testers as the company continues refining the upcoming update before its public release.

Although the latest beta does not introduce major headline features, it brings a few notable changes along with security improvements, new emojis, and refinements to features introduced earlier in the iOS 26.4 beta cycle. Here’s everything new in iOS 26.4 beta 4.

New Emoji Characters

Apple has added a new set of emojis that will arrive with the final iOS 26.4 update. The new characters follow the latest Unicode recommendations and expand the emoji library available on iPhone.

Emoji updates are usually rolled out in .4 releases and become available across Apple platforms once the final release goes live.

New Sleep Metric in the Health App

Apple has added an average bedtime metric in the Sleep section of the Health app. This new data point helps users better understand their sleep habits by showing when they typically go to bed over time. The feature complements Apple’s existing sleep-tracking tools on iPhone and Apple Watch.

RCS Encrypted Messaging

Apple has removed the RCS end-to-end encryption testing that appeared in the first three betas of iOS 26.4. The feature was originally being tested as part of Apple’s efforts to improve security for messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users via RCS.

However, Apple has already confirmed that end-to-end encryption for RCS will not launch with iOS 26.4. Instead, the company plans to introduce the feature in a future software update.

Reduce Bright Effects

In iOS 26.4 beta 4, Apple has renamed the existing “Reduce Highlighting Effects” Accessibility setting to “Reduce Bright Effects.” The functionality remains the same, but Apple has updated the name and description to better explain what the setting does.

Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements

As expected for a later beta release, iOS 26.4 beta 4 also includes several bug fixes and performance improvements to stabilize the update before the public rollout.

Public Rollout Expected Soon

With the fourth beta now available, Apple is likely nearing the end of the iOS 26.4 testing cycle. The company typically releases a Release Candidate build shortly after the final developer beta, followed by the public rollout.

If Apple follows its usual schedule, iOS 26.4 could be released to all users in the coming weeks once testing is complete.

Share your thoughts on the latest iOS 26.4 beta changes in the comments below.

Explore with AI: