Apple released the latest iPhone software update, iOS 26.4, on Tuesday, March 24, with new features and bug fixes. If you’ve only just installed iOS 26.3.1 (a), you may be surprised to have another update so soon.

Apple's iOS 26.4 update adds AI-generated Apple Music playlists, early testing for encrypted RCS messaging and a new setting to tone down brighter visual effects.

Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, which means we're going to see a public launch as soon as next week. The RC versions of the software include Apple's official release notes,

The latest iPhone update has arrived and it’s different from previous updates. Here’s why and what to do about it.

OS 26.4 is a big update with new features for Apple Music, Podcasts, CarPlay, and more, here’s when to expect its public launch.

Apple released iOS 26.3.1 (a), its first Background Security Improvement, on Tuesday, March 17. The tech giant wrote online that the update fixes an issue in WebKit, the engine that powers Safari and other third-party browsers in iOS.