Apple recently rolled out iOS 18.4 to eligible iPhone models, and it's a big patch. So many new features have been added to the iPhone ecosystem that users are still discovering what upgrades are included. These changes affect a wide area, from Apple Intelligence to Control Center and App Store. It's impossible to cover every single feature in detail, so I will cover the most impactful changes and how to configure them.

Also: iOS 18.4 is a bigger iPhone upgrade than I expected: Try my 5 favorite features

After you're done reading, you can install iOS 18.4 on your iPhone by opening the Settings menu and then going to General. Tap Software Update to install the patch. Be aware that you will need a phone capable of supporting iOS 18, like the iPhone 13 Pro. Also, note that the Apple Intelligence features are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 series. Older models don't support them.

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1. New Apple Intelligence features

Arguably, one of the most helpful inclusions in the patch is Priority Notifications. Through Apple Intelligence, your iPhone will show notifications that the AI "believes" are the most important on the Lock Screen. You can swipe up to see the rest of your messages. Users have the option to disable the feature entirely or set it up on a per-app basis. For example, you could prioritize notifications from texts and the Amazon app.

To configure it, head to the Notifications section of the Settings menu. Tap Prioritize Notifications and select the toggles for the apps you want to hear from.

Also: iPhone 15 Pro users just got a major AI upgrade with Visual Intelligence 

Visual Intelligence is no longer exclusive to the iPhone 16 series. After a brief testing period, it is officially rolling out to eligible iPhone 15 models. To activate it, you can either launch it directly from the Control Center or through the Action button -- assuming it's configured properly.

As Contributor Lance Whitney explains, "Head to Settings and select the option for [the] Action Button." Going to the next screen shows all the options that you can set. Simply select the one for Visual Intelligence, and you're set.

2. Ambient Music

As part of iOS 18.4, Apple gave everyone access to a new Ambient Sound category within the Control Center. According to the company, these hand-curated playlists "offer soundtracks for daily life." The instrumental tracks consist of four categories: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing, each specializing in certain moods. Productivity strives to help you stay focused on your work, while Sleep aims to help you relax after a tough day.

You can install all of them in your Control Center or select just a couple. Selecting one of the playlists plays a random track, and tapping the song turns it off. To add a category, swipe down on your iPhone screen to launch the Control Center. Tap the Plus icon, then hit "Add a Control." Go to the new Ambient Music. There, you will find the four playlists. Install the ones you want, return to the Control Center, and tap one to play it.

3. New options in Photos app

The Photos app has been given new organizational tools. The Library section now has two additional filters: "Shared With You" and "Not in an Album." The former displays images that have been synced from either a Mac or PC, while the latter shows pictures not contained in any album. Shared With You and Not in an Album will automatically be included in the Filters menu in Photos, so you don't need to activate anything. 

Users can now disable both the Recently Viewed and Recently Shared albums. To do so, launch the Settings menu, head over to the Photos entry, and then scroll down until you find Show Recently Viewed & Shared. Go into that section and hit the toggle switch to hide whichever album you no longer wish to see.

Also: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the 16e for two weeks - here's my buying advice update

Lastly, items in the Media Types and Utilities collections can now be reordered. Prior to this update, entries were fixed in place. Adjusting them is easy. All you have to do is select the Edit button at the top of the screen to move entries around.

The features I've highlighted are just the tip of the update iceberg. There is so much more to iOS 18.4, such as the new Vision Pro app, which is automatically installed for users who own the headset. Apple News+ has been given a Cooking mode, providing step-by-step recipe instructions. People who own a Matter-compatible robot vacuum can now control their device via the Home app.

I encourage everyone to review Apple's patch notes on the tech giant's support website to learn the details.

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