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5 New iOS 18.4 Features You Need to Know
- Notifications getting overwhelming? iOS 18.4 has a neat fix you didn’t know you needed.
- Your Action button just learned a clever new trick.
- Vision Pro fans, you're about to spend way less time in your headset (and that's a good thing).
Apple's iOS 18.4 update is almost here, readying the stage to deliver several notable enhancements aimed at making your iPhone experience smoother, smarter, and a touch more intuitive. While this latest update doesn't radically change the core iOS experience, it does introduce valuable refinements worth exploring. Here are the standout additions in iOS 18.4, neatly summarized and ready for your exploration.
Photo via 9to5Mac // iOS 18.4 is here.
1. Apple Intelligence now conveniently placed in Control Center
Navigating Apple’s AI-powered features just got simpler. With the arrival of iOS 18.4, there's a dedicated Apple Intelligence area in your Control Center, housing tools like Type to Siri, Visual Intelligence, and voice-based Siri interactions.
Setting it up is straightforward: simply open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner on newer iPhones, then long-press the area to edit your controls. Next, tap the plus sign and scroll until you see "Apple Intelligence & Siri." From here, you can easily add Visual Intelligence or other helpful AI tools for quick access.
2. Priority Notifications help cut through the noise
We've all experienced notification fatigue. Apple attempts to ease this with the new Priority Notifications feature in iOS 18.4. This option lets users choose specific apps whose notifications they'll see first, clearly separated at the top of the Lock Screen.
Photo via Lifehacker // Priority Notifications on Apple's latest operating system update, iOS 18.4.
Activating this feature is straightforward: Go into Settings → Notifications → Prioritize notifications, and then pick your essential apps. It's a practical update, genuinely helping you keep your sanity amidst a barrage of notifications.
3. Visual Intelligence gets Action button integration
Owners of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models now enjoy deeper integration of Visual Intelligence. The Action button—a neat shortcut button previously reserved for other actions—can now launch Visual Intelligence immediately. This tool uses your camera to recognize objects, text, and scenes in real-time.
Photo via Lifehacker // Apple Intelligence is now available via Control Center.
Setting up the Action button is easy: Go to Settings → Action Button, then select Visual Intelligence from the available shortcuts. Once configured, point your camera, press the Action button, and choose from "Search," which initiates a web lookup, or "Ask," which leverages ChatGPT to answer specific questions about your surroundings.
4. Finally: Pause App Downloads directly from App Store
In a welcome quality-of-life tweak, iOS 18.4 introduces the ability to pause app downloads straight from the App Store’s update list. Before this update, pausing downloads required either cancelling completely or holding down app icons on your Home Screen—both slightly cumbersome methods.
Now, pausing or resuming an update is as simple as tapping the pause icon within the App Store's update section. It's a minor addition, sure, but a meaningful one if you've ever found yourself battling a slow internet connection while juggling multiple app downloads.
5. Dedicated Vision Pro Companion App
Apple Vision Pro headset owners gain a streamlined companion app with iOS 18.4. Once you update, this app automatically appears on your iPhone, allowing seamless browsing and downloading of mixed-reality content without the headset strapped on.
Photo via Lifehacker // The Vision Pro app is here, and it's giving major Apple Watch app vibes.
This intuitive companion app includes sections tailored specifically for immersive 3D movies and VR-compatible content, as well as practical resources under the "My Vision Pro" category. You can organize, prep, and remotely install apps directly to your headset, simplifying the VR content experience.
Other noteworthy enhancements coming in iOS 18.4:
- Advanced Shortcuts Actions: Shortcuts now allow deeper, automated control over core app settings, letting users manage Maps, Safari, Reminders, Notes, and others without needing to navigate menus manually.
- Apple News Food Hub: A thoughtfully curated food and recipe section arrives exclusively for Apple News+ subscribers, integrating top culinary content from sources like Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and Serious Eats.
- Expanded Image Playground Tools: New sketch-style visuals are available in the Image Playground app, perfect for creative iPhone photographers.
- Ambient Music in Control Center: Relaxation just a swipe away—iOS 18.4 brings soothing ambient playlists, categorized by mood, directly into your Control Center.
- New Emoji from Unicode 16: Express yourself with emojis like a fingerprint, harp, shovel, leafless tree, root vegetable, splatter, and tired eyes—fun additions enhancing your digital conversations.
When can you get iOS 18.4?
Apple plans a public rollout of iOS 18.4 in April, bringing these enhancements—and plenty more—to all eligible iPhones. Whether it's the smarter handling of notifications or simplified access to AI-driven features, the update exemplifies Apple's continued focus on practical user improvements, even outside major annual releases.
For anyone regularly using Apple Intelligence or looking to simplify their everyday interaction with iOS, 18.4's thoughtful refinements should be a welcome change.
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