Apple Rolls Out 26.4 Beta 4 for iOS, watchOS, macOS

Arnas J.

Updates

Mar 12, 2026

Apple’s latest iOS update beta cycle keeps an unusual pace with the release of Beta 4 for iPadOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4 and other platforms. The company has extended its recent streak of weekly beta updates, a departure from normal development patterns. Many beta cycles include two-week gaps between updates. Apple has shipped new 26.4 betas every single week since the first pre-release version debuted last month.

Breaking Down Apple’s Beta 4 Release Schedule

The fourth beta arrived one week after the third beta release across all major platforms. Apple gave developers Beta 4 for iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, macOS Tahoe 26.4, watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 on March 9. The company kept the consistent weekly cadence that was several weeks old since the original pre-release version launched.

Last week saw an unusual development pattern. iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and watchOS 26.4 received two distinct versions of Beta 3. Bugs appeared in the first releases. Apple issued corrected versions and showed the company’s steadfast dedication to addressing critical issues rather than waiting for the next scheduled beta.

macOS Tahoe 26.4 will reach the public in spring after several weeks of beta testing.

Key Platforms and Features in the New iOS Update Wave

Multiple platforms received most important feature additions in this new iOS update cycle. Apple Music introduced Playlist Playground, which generates complete playlists from text prompts using Apple Intelligence. You can type descriptions like “sad songs from the 1990s for a rainy day” and receive a ready-to-play playlist. You can refine results through follow-up prompts. The update also added Concerts Near You to find local shows and tour dates for artists in your library.

Beta 4 brought seven new emoji characters. These include trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature, fight cloud and orca. Apple renamed the Reduce Highlighting Effects accessibility setting to “Reduce Bright Effects” and clarified that it minimizes highlighting and flashing when you interact with onscreen elements.

Stolen Device Protection now turns on after you install the newest iOS update. It requires Face ID authentication for sensitive actions when your device is away from trusted locations. Apple removed RCS end-to-end encryption from Beta 4 after testing it in prior betas and confirmed the feature will not ship with the ios 26 update stable release.

How Developers and Users Can Access Beta 4

Registered developers can download the newest iOS update through the Software Update menu in Settings. Apple eliminated the need for configuration profiles with iOS 16.4 and now lets developers enable beta access from their devices. You sign in with your Apple Account at developer.apple.com/account, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates, and select iOS 26 Developer Beta. Developer account access requires no payment.

FAQs

Q1. What new features are included in iOS 26.4 Beta 4?

Beta 4 introduces seven new emoji characters (trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature, fight cloud, orca, and landslide), along with skin tone modifiers for people wrestling and dancers with bunny ears. Apple Music now includes Playlist Playground, which generates playlists from text prompts, and a Concerts Near You feature for discovering local shows.

Q2. How can developers and public beta testers access iOS 26.4 Beta 4?

Developers can download Beta 4 directly through Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates after signing in with their Apple Account at developer.apple.com/account. Public beta testers follow a similar process after enrolling at beta.apple.com.

Q3. Which devices are compatible with iOS 26.4?

iOS 26.4 requires iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, or later models.