After the really small update of iOS 15.3, we now have iOS 15.4 and thankfully this is a much larger update to Apple’s operating system.
There are some big features included, such as the long-awaited Multi Control, along with masked Face ID functionality. There are also new emojis, new Siri voices, and more.
So this is a packaged update, and below we’ve detailed everything you need to know about iOS 15.4, including features and compatibility.
Cut chasing
- What is it? Latest iOS release
- When is it out? It’s available now
- How much it costs? It’s free
iOS 15.4 release date and compatibility
iOS 15.4 landed in its final form on March 14, 2022, so it’s available now. For help with downloading, check out our iOS upgrade guide.
In terms of compatibility, it’s exactly the same as every other version of iOS 15, which means if you’re using iOS 15 or later, you can also download iOS 15.4. Specifically, that’s all handsets from the iPhone 6S onwards, including the iPhone SE (2020) and the original iPhone SE, plus the iPod touch (7th generation).
Features of iOS 15.4
There’s a host of new features and improvements in iOS 15.4, and we’ve detailed them below.
Face ID with mask
Well, this is new 🤔 (iOS 15.4 Beta 1) pic.twitter.com/MSe7hmPGlRJanuary 27, 2022
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a problem for the iPhone, when the whole world suddenly wears masks, Face ID is not always possible. Apple solved this problem a while back by allowing your iPhone to unlock if you were wearing an Apple Watch, but with iOS 15.4 it fixed the problem exactly.
iOS 15.4 lets you set Face ID to work even when you’re wearing a mask, by telling it to only scan visible parts of your face, such as your eyes.
Apple warns that this is less accurate, and we think it’s also less secure, but it’s a way to properly use Face ID with a mask on. It’s also optional, so if you want to keep doing things the way you are, you can turn the feature off. Note, however, that this only works with iPhone 12 and later.
General control
Technically, Universal Control is more of a feature of iPadOS 15.4 than an iPhone, as it allows users to connect an iPad to a Mac and use a mouse and keyboard on both devices, to the iPad’s display. like an extension of the Mac.
This feature has been around for quite some time, as we first heard about it at WWDC 2021, but it’s finally available on iPadOS 15.4.
New emojis
Either way, if you feel like you still don’t have enough emojis, iOS 15.4 can help, as the update includes 37 new icons, plus 75 skin tone variations for better blending. .
New emojis, some of which you can see above, including biting lips, melting faces, heart hands, and more.
Anti-Tracking Measures for AirTag
Apple has a series of measures planned to prevent unwanted AirTag tracking, and the first of them is already in iOS 15.4. These include a warning when setting up AirTag that it is illegal to use a tag to track someone inadvertently, and that AirTag is designed to be discoverable and so law enforcement can associate it with the owner.
It also includes clearer identification of devices, so you won’t get any ‘Unknown Accessory Alerts’.
A new Siri voice
iOS 15.4 also includes a new voice for Siri. This is the fifth pick in the ‘America’ category. So it’s an English accent and especially an American accent. This is a female voice, and you can listen to a sample below.
iOS 15.4 Beta 4 changes 🧵: Apple adds 5th US Siri voice with filename ‘Quinn’ pic.twitter.com/HFQZV1oF0IFebruary 22, 2022
Siri can now also provide date and time information when you’re offline on devices from iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 onwards.
Click to pay
Apple recently announced plans for a Tap to Pay feature, which will turn your iPhone into a contactless payment terminal, and iOS 15.4 adds frameworks for developers to enable the service. this in their app.
Other features
In addition to the above features, all sorts of improvements and smaller tweaks have also been included in iOS 15.4.
These include the ability to start SharePlay sessions directly from supported apps, use the camera to add scanned text to Notes and Reminders, translate Safari web pages into Italian or Chinese, manage Manage iCloud custom email domains from Settings, use Shortcuts to add, remove, or query tags with Prompts, and add notes to saved passwords in Settings.
Episode filters for seasons, played, unplayed, saved, and downloaded episodes are now also available in the Podcasts app, better visibility for audio content in the News app and the Glasses app Magnifier now uses the flagship iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max wide cameras to help you see small objects.
Additionally, people in the European Union can now add their Covid vaccine card to the Wallet app, and the Emergency SOS feature now defaults to requiring you to hold the side and volume buttons to initiate an incoming call. emergency services on whatever device you’re using. using – though you can change this to require five quick taps on the side or top button.
Fixes
New versions of iOS almost always come with bug fixes, and iOS 15.4 is no exception. These include a fix for the keyboard to insert periods between entered numbers, a fix for the News widgets in Today View not opening articles to touch, a fix for photos and videos not syncing with iCloud Photo Library, a fix for the Screen Accessibility feature that says exits unexpectedly in the Books app, and an app for Live Listen that doesn’t turn off when turned off in Control Center.
