Following the release of iOS 26.3 to the public last week, Apple has seeded the first developer beta of iOS 26.4. Unlike iOS 26.3, the upcoming iOS 26 update will pack several new features and changes.
Here’s everything new in iOS 26.4 beta 1 coming to your iPhone in March or April 2026.
iOS 26.4 beta 1: What’s new and changed
Playlist Playground
iOS 26.4 beta adds a Playlist Playground feature to Apple Music. It uses AI to help you create a playlist. You can either enter a prompt describing the kind of songs you want to hear, select one of the available prompts, or directly add songs or albums.
The feature only appears to be available to Apple ID accounts with the region set to the US. This may change once iOS 26.4 is ready for public release.
The beta adds a full-page artwork for albums and playlists in the Apple Music app. It is also possible to add a song to multiple playlists simultaneously.
New in iOS 26.4:
Playlist Playground – AI generated playlists based on a prompt
See the video below for an example pic.twitter.com/6wVK5ulhOT
— Aaron (@aaronp613) February 16, 2026
Concerts Near You
Apple Music will show upcoming concerts and shows in your area by your favorite artists.
E2EE for Messages
With iOS 26.4’s public release, Apple will enable End-to-End Encryption in the Messages app for RCS conversations. While iMessage already supports E2EE, cross-platform RCS messaging missed out on this. This could allow hackers to intercept and read the message contents before it’s delivered.
E2EE will change this, ensuring no one other than the sender and receiver can see the text’s content.
For now, E2EE in the Messages app only works for iPhone-to-iPhone RCS conversations. Cross-platform support will arrive later.
As Apple notes, E2EE in the Messages app is only available on select carriers and devices. Based on Reddit feedback, it does not seem to be available in the EU and the UK.
Video support coming to Apple Podcasts
Apple will upgrade the podcasts experience in iOS 26.4’s Podcasts app by adding support for video podcasts. Users will be able to switch between video and audio versions of shows. Plus, they can download videos for offline viewing.
Apple will use HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology to give creators greater control over their content. This includes the ability to dynamically insert video ads while retaining full creative oversight.
“Creators distribute through participating hosting providers and ad networks, maintaining complete control of their content and monetization. Acast, Amazon’s ART19, iHeartMedia’s Triton Digital, and SiriusXM, inclusive of SiriusXM Media, AdsWizz, and Simplecast, are supporting HLS video at launch, with additional providers to join in the future,” says Apple.
Video podcasts will come to the Apple Podcasts app across all platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, visionOS and the web.
Redesigned Wallpaper gallery
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
iOS 26.4 beta revamps the Wallpaper gallery by listing each wallpaper category separately. It also lets you download an entire category directly to your iPhone. The new design is cleaner and easier to understand.
The watch face gallery for Apple Watch also gets a similar revamp.
Stolen Device Protection
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 26.4 will enable Stolen Device Protection by default on all iPhones.
Currently, this is an opt-in feature. It adds another layer of security when your iPhone is stolen by requiring a biometric verification for accessing critical features. There’s also a one-hour delay for more sensitive actions when away from trusted home and work places.
You can turn it off from Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection.
Creator Studio in Freeform
Apple announced several features for the Freeform app as part of the Creator Studio bundle. The premium features will go live in the app as part of iOS 26.4, giving subscribers access to a new Content Hub that includes graphics, photos, and AI-powered tools.
Freeform also gets a new icon as part of the beta.
Shortcut action for charge limit
iOS 26.4 beta 1 adds a new Shortcuts action for setting a charge limit. It lets you create automations that adjust the iPhone’s charging limit based on specific triggers.
If beta 1 is any indication, iOS 26.4 will pack more features than its predecessor. With a public release likely to land in March or April, expect the second beta to include even more changes.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
