Apple Releases iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Bug Fixes, Security Updates, and More

Apple has today released iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 to the public.

Based on our experience, it appears that the following accessibility-related bugs have been resolved or significantly addressed in iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4:

• When using a Braille display and invoking the Control Center, the display will no longer be disconnected.
• In apps including the iTunes Store and TV, navigating by Heading is now more consistent and reliable for VoiceOver users.
• Sticky notes and text boxes in Freeform can now be reliably edited using VoiceOver.
• VoiceOver now speaks the names of items on a canvas in Freeform.

Additionally, the iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 release notes mention the following enhancement for VoiceOver users:

• VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app

At the time of writing, we are unaware of any new bugs in iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4..

We strive to provide the most comprehensive and accurate information about the accessibility status of Apple software releases. However, as a small team, it is impossible for us to test every device, configuration, application, and use case. That's why we depend on our community to help us ensure that our information is as complete and accurate as possible. If you have tested iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 for accessibility, please share any additional fixes, enhancements, or regressions you've discovered in the comments below. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us provide the best information to our community.

iOS 16.4 Release Notes

This update introduces 21 new emoji and includes other enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

• 21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard
• Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen
• Voice Isolation for cellular calls prioritizes your voice and blocks out ambient noise around you
• Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
• Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
• Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent's device
• Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home
• Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models

iPadOS 16.4 Release Notes

• Now available are 21 new emoji, including animals, hand gestures, and objects in the emoji keyboard
• Apple Pencil hover adds tilt and azimuth support so you can preview your mark at any angle before you make it in Notes and supported apps on iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
• Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen
• Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
• Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
• Fixes an issue with Apple Pencil responsiveness that may occur while drawing or writing in the Notes app
• Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent’s device
• Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home

How to Update

iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 are available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update) via Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, or via iTunes on a PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier.