Introduction
Apple has released iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 Release Candidate (RC) versions for developers and public beta testers. This indicates that the final public version is expected to roll out within the next few days. The update mainly includes improvements, bug fixes, and developer-focused changes.
What is iOS 26.4 RC?
A Release Candidate (RC) is the final stage of testing before a public rollout. It is considered a near-stable version and is usually almost identical to the final public release.
Compared to earlier beta versions, the RC build is more stable and refined, making it suitable for final testing before wider release.
What’s New in iOS 26.4 RC
According to Apple’s release notes, this update focuses more on backend improvements and developer enhancements rather than major visible features.
Key Improvements
- Apps can now check asset pack status even when offline
- Improved asset management for developers to ensure latest versions are available locally
- Enhanced memory protection with full memory integrity enforcement
StoreKit Updates
- New fields added:
- revocationType
- revocationPercentage
These updates improve purchase handling and subscription management.
Developer-Focused Features
Some features in this update are currently limited to developers and are not available to general users:
- Accessory Notifications Framework
Allows notification forwarding through companion apps (planned for future rollout) - AudioAccessoryKit
Enables accessories like headphones to share data for better audio switching - Messages (Future Feature Testing)
RCS end-to-end encryption is being tested between Apple and Android (not available to users yet)
Bug Fixes & Improvements
Apple has addressed several issues in this release:
- Fixed app crashes during asset pack downloads
- Resolved external HFS media mounting issues
- Fixed Feedback app UI freezing after crash submission
- Addressed memory leaks related to network proxies
- Fixed StoreKit purchase intent issues
- Improved SwiftUI user activity updates
- Fixed UIKit keyboard notification issues
Known Issues
- Address and Thread sanitizers may hang on older Xcode versions
- Reality Composer cannot export projects as .reality or .usdz
- SwiftUI animations may not merge correctly when targeting different properties
Should You Install iOS 26.4 RC?
If you are already using the beta version, updating to the RC version is generally safe as it is close to the final release.
However, regular users may prefer to wait for the official public rollout, which is expected within a few days.
Expected Public Release
The final version of iOS 26.4 is expected to be released publicly very soon, typically within a few days after the RC build.
Conclusion
iOS 26.4 RC is a stability-focused update with improvements mainly targeted at developers and system performance. While it doesn’t introduce major user-facing features, it prepares the system for a smoother public release.
