Apple has seeded the second beta of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 to developers, arriving exactly one week after the first beta. Registered developers can download the updates through the Settings app under General > Software Update. The new betas bring several enhancements to Apple Music and Apple Podcasts, though Siri improvements remain absent.

Apple Music gains a Playlist Playground feature that generates songs based on text prompts for any mood or activity, plus a Concerts Near You feature for local show discovery. Apple Podcasts is receiving native video podcasting capabilities, allowing creators to produce, distribute, and monetize video content directly through the app with integration into existing features like personalized recommendations. RCS end-to-end encryption is being tested, though currently only for iPhone-to-iPhone conversations rather than cross-platform messaging.

While the first beta lacked new emoji, code analysis suggests they may arrive in this second beta, including characters for trombone, treasure chest, orca, landslide, and Bigfoot. Other additions include default Stolen Device Protection, an ambient music widget, and enhanced sleep app metrics. All features are detailed in MacRumors' comprehensive iOS 26.4 beta features guide.