Apple releases iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 for all compatible devices

All Apple compatible devices with the iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 updates can now download the new version of the operating system, which shows off its new features and has been well received by users of Apple devices.

Chief among the new features in iOS 15.4 is Face ID support for masks, a tool that comes two years after the start of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and its variants.

The renewed Face ID allows unlocking the smartphone even if its user wears a face mask. For the testers, the function was developed perfectly.

Apple explains that the “iPhone can recognize the unique features around the eye area to authenticate itself,” but warns that Face ID will be more accurate if you set it to not work with a mask.

We were able to test the feature on an iPhone 13 Pro and it’s great. The bad news is that not all iPhones are compatible with the tool.

Bad news for iPhone 11 users

We installed the iOS update on an iPhone 11 without problems. The problem is that when we went into the Face ID settings, we couldn’t find the option to enable facial recognition with a mask.

The reason is simple and is confirmed by Apple on its website: Face ID mask support is only available from iPhone 12 onwards.

“iOS 15.4 adds the possibility of unlocking iPhone 12 and later models with Face ID when using a face mask”, reports the Cupertino company.

It also adds that it is possible to use Face ID if you wear a mask to use Apple Pay and autofill passwords in apps and Safari.

It also highlights that “this update includes new emojis, the option to start a SharePlay session directly from compatible apps, as well as other features, improvements and bug fixes for your iPhone.”

The new version of the operating system also updates Siri, which can provide time and date information offline on iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 or later models.

Other enhancements include Safari website translation, adding support for Italian and Chinese (Traditional), the Podcasts app adding filters for seasons, played, unplayed, saved, and downloaded episodes, among others.

Bugs fixed

Apple highlights a list of bugs that iOS 15.4 fixes:

• The keyboard could insert periods between the numbers that were typed.
• Photos and videos might not sync in the iCloud Photo Library.
• The read-aloud accessibility feature could unexpectedly turn off in the Books app.
• “Live Listen” could not be disabled even if it was disabled in Control Center.

On iPadOS 15.4, it shares most of the updates from iOS 15.4, including 37 new emojis, improvements to AirTags, the option to add custom domains to iCloud Mail.

For iPads, there’s Universal Control, which makes dual-screen apps run seamlessly between devices, and Spatial Audio for AirPods, which brings 360-degree audio to video calls, movies, and remixed music.