iOS 15.4 is now available - all new features for your iPhone (2023)

We now live in an iOS 15.4 world. Apple has released an update for youriOS 15Software after a beta process that began in late January. This means that current iPhones can install iOS 15.4, which also comes pre-installed on the iPhone.iPhone SE (2022)yiPhone 13 y iPhone 13 Pro verdesModels arriving in stores this Friday.

Last fall, iOS 15 already introduced a number of features, but subsequent updates added more features. We have already seen iOS 15 updates releasedSharePlayto watch videos and listen to music with people on FaceTime calls and a newPrivacy report for all appsinstalled on your iPhone.

Since the first beta, iOS 15.4 indicated that it would be a notable update to iOS 15. While there isn't a single feature as important as SharePlay or a flashy MIA feature like the App Privacy Report that is finally here, iOS 15.4 introduces A number of tweaks and fixes. And one is particularly welcome by mask-wearing iPhone users who haven't been able to unlock their phones with Face ID since the coronavirus pandemic began. It also allows states to start rolling out digital IDs to store your driver's license or state ID card in the wallet app.

Here's a look at some of the coolest additions iOS 15.4 has to offer, along with instructions on how to get the software on your iPhone right away. And if you fancy a glimpse into the future, here's what we know about the upcoming update.iOS 15.5, and its functions asThird-party app payments.

To update:iOS 15.4 includes important fixes for 39 different security vulnerabilities(opens in a new tab). make sureGet the iOS 15.4.1. update soon.

iOS 15.4 release date

iOS 15.4 debuted on March 14. The software update arrived a few days before the March 18 launch.iPhone SE (2022)as well as a new color option for theiPhone 13yiphone 13 pro. All three phones include iOS 15.4.

But if you have a compatible iPhone, you can now experience iOS 15.4. To get the wireless update, just go to the Settings app and tap on General. Choose Software Updates and iOS 15.4 will be waiting for you there. From there, you can simply follow the onscreen instructions to download and install iOS 15.4.

As always, we recommendMake a backup of your iPhonebefore installing a software update. You should probably make sure that your iPhone is connected during the update process.

If you can run iOS 15 on your current iPhone, you can use the iOS 15.4 update. That means any device, including iPhone 6s or later, as well as the latest generation iPod touch. An update to iPadOS 15.4 with many of these same features, plus the introduction ofuniversal controls- comes at the same time.

The most important features of iOS 15.4

Using Face ID with a mask

We first covered this when the initial developer beta of iOS 15.4 arrived because it's great news: now you canEnable a Face ID setting that allows Apple's unlock technology to recognize your face even when you're wearing a mask. Enabling this feature means you give up some level of security, but it also saves you the hassle of having to enter your password every time you need to unlock your phone.

To get the feature working, go to Face ID & Passcode, where there is now a toggle to use Face ID with the mask on. Turn it on and you will be prompted to scan your face again. With everything set up, Face ID should unlock every time you look at the phone, even if you're wearing a mask.

The feature only works with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models. I have the setup on the iPhone 13 running iOS 15.4 Beta, but mineiPhone 11 PromaxRunning the same beta does not include the "Use with face mask" setting.

An update to iOS 15.4 beta further refined the Face ID feature by adding a prompt to look at the phone when wearing a mask to better identify you.

A new voice for Siri

Last yearsiOS 14.5-Updateintroduced a notable change for Siri: the iPhone's digital assistant no longer defaults to a female voice. Instead, you have to choose the voice for Siri, and Apple has added more options with the inclusion in mind.

With iOS 15.4, Apple is adding a fifth Siri language option for US users, and media reports say it will be more gender-neutral. You can see the new voice by going to Siri & Search in Settings and selecting Siri Voice; the new addition is Voice 5.

Live text integration with notes and reminders

If you've used iOS 15, you're probably already aware of theLive text feature that allows your phone's camera to capture textand paste into other applications. You could already use Live Text with notes and reminders, but iOS 15.4 improves the integration of this text scanning feature.

Notably, there is now a command to scan text in the popup menu that appears in both apps. Select this and a camera window will appear allowing you to capture text from a book, note, or photo. This text will instantly appear in your note or reminder, and you can tap Insert when you've entered all the text you want.

New Apple Pay and Tap to Pay authentication screen

One of my favorite annoyances with my iPhone is when I take the device out of my pocket and realize I accidentally opened Apple Pay by double-clicking the side button twice. As a result, instead of looking at my lock screen, I'm looking at all the credit and debit cards I have stored on my phone. It's very disturbing.

I don't know if other people have the same problem with their iPhone, but Apple adds a small layer of security. Now, when you double-click the side button, you'll see an authentication screen that requires Face ID or password verification before showing your credit cards and ID. And yes, if you've set up your iPhone to work with Face ID with face masks, you can bypass the authentication screen just as easily.

That's not the only change coming to Apple's digital wallet with iOS 15.4. The new version of Apple software is introducedtap to payThis allows anyone with an iPhone to accept contactless payments directly on their device. The change is seen as a way for small business owners to accept mobile payments without requiring hardware other than an iPhone.

Many new emojis in iOS 15.4

It's not an iOS update until there are new emojis to add to your texts, tweets, and emails, and iOS 15.4 obliges with more than three dozen new options.

The 37 emojis include melting face, heart hands, and disco ball. There is an emoji for a pregnant person and another that shows a pregnant man. You'll also find lip biting, beans, a troll, and a glass symbol. All of the emoji coming to iOS 15.4 were approved by the Unicode Consortium last September.

New camera options in the Magnifier app

I set the side button on my iPhone to launch the Magnifier app, as it can help me magnify hard-to-read text and fine print on labels. Now it seems that I can switch between the different cameras on my iPhone thanks to the new camera modes added in iOS 15.4.

You'll have to dig into the Magnifier app's settings, but you can add a camera control to the app to switch lenses. The supported cameras depend on the phone you have. For example, on the iPhone 11 Pro Max, I can now toggle between Auto, Telephoto, Macro, and Selfie options. The dual-camera iPhone 13 only offers a wide selection and selfie.

While this feature was quite prominent in the early versions of iOS 15.4 beta, it seems to have disappeared in the current version, which I'm using on multiple phones. Throughout the beta process, Apple had been optimizing camera switch searches for the Magnifier app, so we'll see if this addition makes it to the final cut.

Notes on Keychain Passwords

You can store passwords on your iPhone and save them to your keychain for easy login. This isn't new in iOS 15.4, but a note field is. Go to the Passwords section of the Settings app and you can enter notes about important passwords.

Why do this? Because these notes can also be searched in the Passwords section. And sometimes it's easier to type the name you're using the password for, and then remember the name of the app or website you're trying to log into.

AirTag anti-harassment improvements

Apple's first wave of updates to AirTag and the associated Find My app functionality have arrived in this update. You now get a new popup when you set up an AirTag, warning you that tracking someone without their consent is a crime and that victims and law enforcement can find your information through the tag if they discover it.

Also, you can no longer turn off all alerts for unexpected AirTags in your area, and other Find My items are now correctly identified in those alerts, instead of receiving a useless blanket alert.

This won't be the end of Apple's commitment to AirTag changescontain a number of anti-stalking functionsthe whole year 2022.

Digital IDs are here

One of the iOS 15 features that Apple touted when it released the software last year was the upcoming ability to store driver's licenses and ID cards digitally in the Wallet app. The iOS 15.4 beta included hints that the feature would be enabled by code in the software update.

Primavera,Arizona was the first state to offer digital ID support for the wallet appon March 23, and Apple says other states will follow soon. Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi and Ohio are also on the way, as is Puerto Rico. Apple has also said that Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah are also offering support.

To add your driver's license or ID card, you need to tap the plus sign on the main page of the wallet app and follow the on-screen instructions. (That is, assuming your state supports the feature.)

SOS emergency message

If iOS 15.4 beta is any indication, when you install the updated software, you'll immediately notice that it prompts you to review your Emergency SOS settings. This is the iOS feature that can call emergency contacts when you press one of the iPhone's volume buttons and the side button at the same time.

Tap on the SOS Emergency notice and you'll see who your current contacts are, with the ability to edit them. You can also configure how the Emergency SOS function is activated.

Other additions and improvements for iOS 15.4

There are a few other notable changes in iOS 15.4, though they are essentially minor changes.

• iOS 15.4 includes security updates, with fixes for 39 different bugs.
• In the Up Next section of the TV app, you can now choose between still images and banners to list the shows in your queue. (This adjustment is made in the Settings app for TV.)
• There is now a SharePlay option in the share sheet for albums and songs in Apple Music.
• With an Apple Card widget, you can now see your balance, purchasing power, and spending if you have an Apple credit card.
• You can run personal shortcut automations in the background without banner notifications if you want.
• The App Store has a new notifications panel that allows you to manage notifications of new features and updates, as well as recommendations and offers.
• Podcasts adds new filter options that let you sort your subscribed podcasts by unplayed and downloaded episodes.

iOS 15.4 battery drain complaints

Some Apple users who have upgraded complain about itiOS 15.4 causes iPhone battery to drainon your devices. Nevertheless,Apple has responded to complaints about iOS 15.4 battery drain(opens in a new tab)saying that "it's normal for your apps and features to need tweaking for up to 48 hours after an update." For what it's worth, I've been running iOS 15.4 on an iPhone 11 Pro Max since the beta and haven't had any battery drain issues.

So if you notice reduced battery life on your iPhone after updating to iOS 15.4, we wouldn't worry too much about it unless the problem persists after a few days. In this case, contact Apple support.

In any case,an update to iOS 15.4.1 is now available, and foremost among the fixes and tweaks is the promise that the software patch will fix iPhone battery drain issues.