Apple has released iOS 26.4.2 and iPadOS 26.4.2, and this update is all about maintenance rather than shiny new features. As ever, there are some fixes in here that you will probably want to install sooner rather than later to keep your iPhones and iPads secure.
What’s changed
Apple doesn’t typically go into much detail on security fixes, since spelling out flaws before everyone’s updated would allow bad actors to target the vulnerability. But we do usually get a vague idea of what’s been fixed.
This time Apple says that “notifications marked for deletion could be unexpectedly retained on the device,” a problem that the FBI recently exploited to resurface deleted Signal messages that were supposed to be long gone.
That might sounds fairly niche, but it’s a definite privacy concern. Apple says this latest update improves data redaction to ensure that deleted notifications can’t be retrieved.
There may be a few smaller fixes in this release, but there are no other specifics in Apple’s release notes. It’s your call if this change is big enough to warrant updating, but our general advice is always to grab these releases ASAP to ensure you’re safe from all known vulnerabilities.
Recent updates
If you missed the last full-point release, iOS 26.4 was a bit more exciting, adding Playlist Playground, new emoji, and under-the-hood improvements to Apple Intelligence. So if you’ve been putting off updating, now’s a good time to catch up to get new features and the latest bug fixes in one fell swoop.
Meanwhile, those of you with devices still on older versions of iOS are in luck: Apple has also released iOS 18.7.8 and iPadOS 18.7.8 to address the same issue.
How to update
To install the update, open Settings > General > Software Update and follow the prompts to download and restart your iPhone. If you have automatic updates enabled, it may update on its own when the conditions are right – but it’s quicker to trigger the update yourself.