All the New Features of iOS 14.4 That You Need to Know

Apple released the iOS 14.4 iPhone software update in late January 2021. The tech giant used this update to focus on fixing various pre-existing bugs while also introducing a couple of cool new features.

Here are the best iOS 14.4 features and how to use them.

Who Can Download iOS 14.4?

iOS 14.4 is available on the following devices:

• iPhone: All models from the iPhone 6S and later
• iPod Touch: 7th Generation

If you own an iPad, you'll be running the equivalent iPad software: iPadOS 14.4.

Let’s Start With the Bug Fixes

Apple has fixed several problems reported by iOS 14.3 users.

You should no longer experience the following issues on iOS 14.4:

• Audio News stories in CarPlay not resuming after being paused for Siri or spoken directions
• Artifacts appearing in HDR photos taken on an iPhone 12 Pro
• Activity data not updating in the Fitness app
• Incorrect keyboard languages while sending messages
• Switch Control in Accessibility stopping users from answering calls
• Delayed typing or word suggestions not appearing

Beyond bug fixes, below are the best new features that Apple also introduced with the release of iOS 14.4.

Smaller QR Codes

With iOS 14.4, your iPhone has the ability to scan smaller QR codes on your camera. This means your phone should have fewer problems reading codes at a distance.

Related: How to Scan QR Codes on iPhone and Android

To scan QR codes on your phone:

1. Open your Camera app.
2. Point your camera at the QR code and wait.
3. Within a few seconds, your phone should have scanned the QR code.

Apple hasn’t mentioned precisely how small scannable QR codes will be, so you might still have some issues with particularly tiny codes.

Choose Bluetooth Device Types

With iOS 14.4, you can tell your iPhone what kind of Bluetooth device is connected to your smartphone.

Related: Is Your iPhone's Bluetooth Not Working? We'll Help You Fix It

To toggle your Bluetooth device types:

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Next to your connected devices, tap the blue information icon.
3. Tap on Device Type.
4. Check your device is correctly categorized. If it isn’t, pick the right option.
5. Go back and close the Settings app.

Time to Walk

Time to Walk is an audio series designed to motivate users on their daily stroll. Episodes include talks from inspirational figures and celebrities.

To use Time to Walk, you’ll need to have an Apple Watch and an Apple Fitness+ subscription, which costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year.

To access your Time to Walk episodes:

1. On your Apple Watch, open the Workout app.
2. Tap on the Time to Walk episode you’d like to listen to.
3. Once the Time to Walk episode begins, your Workout app will start a new walking workout.

Other New Features to Look Out For

If you have an iPhone 12, you can now find out whether or not a newly-fitted camera is Apple-verified.

If your camera is not genuine, Apple will warn you that it can’t verify the component.

This feature was designed to inform only. You can still use your camera, but you may experience the following problems:

• Subjects either only partially in focus or not in focus at all when using Portrait mode
• Third-party apps using the camera might freeze or quit
• Inaccurate camera focus or blurry images
• Real-time previewing in third-party apps could either get stuck or show up as blank

How to Download iOS 14.4

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
2. If you haven’t updated your iPhone’s software, you’ll see an option to download iOS 14.4.
3. Download iOS 14.4. Make sure your phone has enough battery life or is connected to a charging device.

Make the Most of Your iPhone’s New Features

iOS 14.4 has plenty of new features to improve the user experience while on your iPhone. And beyond the shiny new features, Apple has also made a lot of essential bug updates.

While iOS 14.4 has been out for a while, you can still upgrade and enjoy all the new changes. More importantly, keeping your software updated also helps to mitigate possible security risks you might face.

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