Apple has recently unveiled iOS 16.4 RC build number 20E246 for both Developers and Public Beta testers. This pre-release version is now available for iPhone 8 and newer models and includes new emojis, enhancements, bug fixes, security updates, and more!
The highlights of the iOS 16.4 update are as follows:
- 21 new emojis
- Web App Notifications now available for Home Screen apps
- Voice Isolation for cellular calls
- Duplicates album in Photos now detects duplicates in iCloud Shared Photo Library
- VoiceOver support for maps in Weather
- Video is automatically dimmed when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
- Improved Crash Detection for iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models
- Autocorrect for Korean keyboard turned on by default for testing and feedback
- Ukrainian keyboard supports predictive text
- Support for transliteration layouts in Gujarati, Punjabi, and Urdu keyboards
- Choctaw and Chickasaw get new keyboard layouts
- Manual and automatic software update support for Matter Accessories
Before you update to this beta version, it’s important to take note of the issues reported by users who have already tested it out. Among the problems reported are notification center animations not working correctly, a glitch in the Spotlight search keyboard, and an ID card error in Wallet when adding or presenting the document.
Additionally, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote require collaborative documents to be closed when Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is enabled, while iCloud Drive may not work when opened from Files. Fortunately, most of these issues have workarounds.
Everything about iOS 16.4
On the other hand, iOS 16.4 also boasts several bug fixes, including Ask to Buy requests from children not appearing on the parent’s device and Matter-compatible thermostats being unresponsive when paired with Apple Home. Moreover, the update log mentions several issues addressed in this release, including Passkeys and Authentication Services, Safari Web Extensions, SwiftUi, and MapKit.
In terms of features, iOS 16.4 has a lot to offer. The release notes highlight six new features and enhancements, such as 21 new emojis, the availability of Web App Notifications for those added to the Home Screen, and Voice Isolation for cellular calls, which prioritizes your voice and filters out ambient noise.
Moreover, the album in Photos can now detect duplicate media in an iCloud Shared Photo Library, while VoiceOver support is available for maps in Weather. Lastly, video is automatically dimmed when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected, and Crash Detection has been enhanced for iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models.
Other notable enhancements include keyboard improvements, such as the addition of new layouts for Choctaw and Chickasaw, predictive text support for the Ukrainian keyboard, and transliteration layouts for the Gujarati, Punjabi, and Urdu keyboards. Additionally, manual and automatic Software Update support is now available for Matter Accessories in Home, while Apple Developer Program members can enable/disable beta updates on their iPhone or iPad directly from Settings -> Software Update.
While the security fixes of this version haven’t been shared yet, we will update this section as soon as they become available.
How to update to iOS 16.4?
To update to iOS 16.4 RC, simply go to Settings -> General -> Software Update on your iPhone 8 or newer models that run the iOS 16 Beta Profile. Remember that you have to be an Apple Developer Program member to get beta updates such as iOS 16.4. Use this link to become an Apple Developer Program member.
What iPhones will get iOS 16.4?
These iPhone models support iOS 16.4:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
