iOS 18.4 Beta 1 Released: New Ambient Music Controls, Prioritized Notifications, Apple Intelligence Language Support & More

Apple has rolled out the first developer beta of iOS 18.4, bringing several small but impactful updates to enhance user experience. This update introduces Prioritised Notifications, new Apple Intelligence language options, Ambient Music control improvements, a new Shortcut for conversations, and the ability to change default apps for translation and navigation. Additionally, there are fresh widgets and a new Image Playground style. Here’s a detailed look at everything new in iOS 18.4 beta 1.

Key Features in iOS 18.4 Beta 1

Prioritised Notifications

With iOS 18.4, Apple introduces Prioritised Notifications, an AI-powered feature that sorts the most important notifications into a dedicated section within the notification tray.

It uses on-device Apple Intelligence to determine priority.

Users can swipe up to view all notifications.

The feature is turned off by default but can be enabled manually:

Go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritised Notifications and toggle it on.

Expanded Apple Intelligence Languages

Apple has added new localized language support for Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.4. The following languages are now available:

Localized English for India

Localized English for Singapore

French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish

Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese

This expansion is expected to improve Apple Intelligence interactions for non-English users.

Ambient Music Control in Control Centre

A new Ambient Music toggle has been added to Control Centre, allowing users to play relaxing music instantly. The available genre options include:

Sleep

Chill

Productivity

Wellbeing

While users can start playing ambient sounds from Control Centre, track changes can only be done via the Now Playing screen or Dynamic Island.

New Widgets: Library & Shows

Two new widgets have been introduced for Apple Podcasts:

Library Widget: Displays saved podcasts.

Shows Widget: Shows subscribed podcast series.

Users can now add these widgets to their home screen for easier access.

Cellular Toggle in Control Centre

Apple has added a Cellular toggle to the Control Centre, allowing users to quickly check signal strength and toggle cellular data on or off.

Change Default Apps for Translation & Navigation

Due to regulatory changes, iOS 18.4 now allows users to set third-party apps as their default for Translation and Navigation (the latter feature is available only in the EU).

To change default apps, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps

Select Translation or Navigation and choose a different default app.

New Conversation Shortcut in Messages

A new shortcut action lets users open specific conversations within the Messages app, making it easier to jump into important chats quickly.

Sketch Style in Image Playground

Apple has introduced a new “Sketch” style in Image Playground, in addition to the existing Animation and Illustration styles.

To access this, open Image Playground and tap the “+” icon in the bottom-right corner.

iOS 18.4 Stable Release Timeline

Apple is expected to release iOS 18.4 to the public by April 2025. Until then, further beta updates may bring additional refinements. Stay tuned for more updates on iOS 18.4 beta developments.