Firmware update: Apple iOS 15.4

Apple has version 15.4 of iOS released. From version 13, iOS is only suitable for the iPhone and the iPads have been given their own OS, with the main difference being the extra options to use the larger screen. In iOS 15, there are now four different types of notifications: passive, active, time sensitive, and critical. The second big new feature is Focus, a combination of Do Not Disturb and Auto Mode, along with new settings options. Furthermore, Facetime, Safari, Maps and Wallet have been provided with new functionality. Version 15.4 makes it possible, among other things, to use Face ID when you wear a mouth cap.

Apple iOS 15.4

iOS 15.4 adds the ability to unlock iPhone 12 and newer models with Face ID while wearing a face mask. This update also includes new emojis, the ability to start SharePlay sessions from supported apps, and other features and bug fixes for your iPhone.

Face ID

• Face ID can now be used while wearing a mask on iPhone 12 and newer models
• Apple Pay and password autofill in apps and Safari can be used with Face ID while wearing a facemask

Emojis

• New emojis including faces, hand gestures and household items are now available on the emoji keyboard
• For handshake emojis, you can now choose individual skin colors for each hand

FaceTime

• SharePlay sessions can be started directly from supported apps

Siri

• Siri can provide date and time information when Siri is offline on iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 or later

Vaccination Cards

• With support for the European Digital Corona Certificate in Health, you can download and save verifiable versions of corona vaccination data, lab results and recovery receipts
• Corona vaccination cards in Apple Wallet now support the European digital corona certificate

This version also includes the following improvements for your iPhone:

• Translate web pages in Safari now supports Italian and Chinese (Traditional)
• In the Podcasts app, filters have been added for seasons, played, unplayed, saved or downloaded episodes
• Custom email domains in iCloud can be managed from Settings
• Assignments now supports adding, removing or consulting tags with Reminders
• The SOS emergency notification settings have been adjusted so that all users can use ‘Call with hold’. ‘Call with five pushes’ is still available as an option in the SOS emergency notification settings
• ‘Close-up’ in Magnifier uses the ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max to make small objects visible
• You can now add your own notes to saved passwords in Settings

This version also includes troubleshooting for your iPhone:

• The keyboard sometimes inserted a period between numbers typed
• Photos and videos sometimes didn’t sync to iCloud Photo Library
• Speak screen accessibility feature sometimes stopped unexpectedly in the Books app
• Live listening sometimes wouldn’t stop when turned off in control panel

Some features may not be available in all regions or on all Apple devices. Information about the security aspects of Apple software updates can be found at this page†