RC of iOS 17.4 & iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4 Beta 5, Released for Testing

Apple has issued Release Candidate builds for iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, together with beta 5 of macOS Sonoma 14.4 and tvOS 17.4. Separately, a brand new beta of VisionOS 1.1 is offered for Apple Vision Pro beta testers.

Beta updates and RC builds can be found to any customers who’re actively taking part within the Apple beta system software program packages.

What is an RC construct anyway?

RC, which stands for Release Candidate, is a model of system software program that’s anticipated to be free of great bugs, and is due to this fact a candidate for being the ultimate launch that’s issued to most of the people. Assuming no important points or bugs are found within the RC builds, they have an inclination to turn out to be the ultimate launch.

RC builds sometimes sign the top of the beta cycle for that exact model of system software program, on this case, iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4.

How to Download iOS 17.4 RC, iPadOS 17.4 RC, macOS Sonoma 14.4 beta 5

If your Apple ID is enrolled within the beta packages, it’s straightforward to get the most recent beta updates:

iPhone and iPad customers can discover iOS 17.4 RC from Settings > General > Software Update on any device enrolled within the beta packages.

Mac beta testers will discover macOS Sonoma 14.4 beta 5 obtainable from a Mac enrolled within the beta program by going to  Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.

Beta updates for different system software program can be found via their respective software program update mechanisms as effectively.

What is new with iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, & macOS Sonoma 14.4?

Each of those new variations of system software program will embody new Emoji icons, that embody every part from a mushroom, to shaking head, lime, damaged chain, and phoenix.

Transcription options come to Podcasts app, and there may be now assist for SharePlay with HomePod.

The most important change arrives solely to European customers with iOS 17.4, and that is because of new rules enacted by the EU that mandate one other technique for putting in apps onto the iPhone, bypassing the App Store. This function is restricted to customers within the European Union, and is unlikely to return to the USA (absent any main regulation, which doesn’t appear possible within the USA). The different App Store method is anticipated for use to return Fortnite to the iPhone, however just for EU customers (disappointing, we all know!).

These software program updates will even embody the everyday array of bug fixes, and safety enhancements.

iOS 17.4 RC Release Notes

Release notes accompanying iOS 17.4 RC construct for US customers are the next:

Emoji
– New mushroom, phoenix, lime, damaged chain, and shaking heads emoji are actually obtainable within the emoji keyboard
– 18 folks and physique emoji add the choice to face them in both course

Apple Podcasts
– Transcripts allow you to comply with an episode with textual content that highlights in sync with the audio in English, Spanish, French and German
– Episode textual content could be learn in full, looked for a word or phrase, tapped to play from a particular level and used with accessibility options similar to Text Size, Increase Contrast, and VoiceOver

This update contains the next enhancements and bug fixes:
– Music recognition helps you to add songs you’ve got recognized to your Apple Music Playlists and Library, in addition to Apple Music Classical
– Siri has a brand new choice to announce messages you obtain in any supported language
– Stolen Device Protection helps the choice for elevated safety in all places
– Battery Health in Settings exhibits battery cycle rely, manufacture date, and first use on iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro fashions
– Call Identification shows Apple-verified enterprise identify, brand, and division identify when obtainable
– Business updates in Messages for Business present trusted data for order standing, flight notifications, fraud alerts or different transactions you decide into
– Apple Cash digital card numbers allow you to pay with Apple Cash at retailers that don’t but accept Apple Pay by typing in your quantity from Wallet or using Safari AutoFill
– Fixes a difficulty the place contact photos are clean in Find My
– Fixes a difficulty for Dual SIM customers the place the telephone quantity modifications from major to secondary and is seen to a bunch they’ve messaged
Some options will not be obtainable for all areas or on all Apple units. For data on the safety content material of Apple software program updates, please go to this web site: https://assist.apple.com/kb/HT201222

When are iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, obtainable for everybody?

Apple has beforehand acknowledged that iOS 17.4 will debut in March.

It’s assumed that iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, tvOS 17.4, and watchOS 10.4 will debut at or close to the identical time, as Apple normally releases a bunch of system software program updates on the similar time.

With the RC construct already obtainable, we’d count on iOS 17.4 to be obtainable as quickly as next week.

What are the most recent steady variations of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS?

At the second, the most recent steady builds of system software program obtainable to most of the people are iOS 17.3.1, iPadOS 17.3.1, macOS Sonoma 14.3.1, tvOS 17.3, watchOS 10.3, and visionOS 1.0.1.