If you’ve ever found yourself unlocking your iPhone at midnight and looking for a sleep playlist while half asleep, Apple’s iOS 26.4 can make your life easier.
The release candidate for iOS 26.4 is here and, in addition to several additions, introduces so-called ambient music widgets. These are mood-based playlists that you can play on your home screen (in the widget) with a single tap.
What moods can you choose from?
So from now on, you no longer have to open the app, search for the playlist you want, and go through the three-step journey through Apple Music’s menus. The widgets cover four major mood categories: relaxation, productivity, sleep and well-being.
There are also two widget sizes to choose from: the smaller widget contains just one playlist (of your choice), while the larger version gives you access to all four moods at once with a tap. Both widgets are based on the Ambient Music feature, which first appeared in Control Center.
However, now it’s front and center on your home screen, where it’s hard to miss.
Can you customize what plays?
Yes, and Apple has made the process completely seamless. Apple offers built-in playlist presets for every mood. For example, Sleep offers options like Sleep Sound, Bedtime Beats, Sound Bath, and Plano Sleep.
However, if the curated options aren’t your thing, you can create your own custom playlists by long-pressing the widget and tapping “Edit Widget.” And before you even ask, the Ambient Music widget only works with Apple Music. It won’t benefit Spotify users.
The Ambient Music widgets are just a small part of the new iOS 26.4 update. The release candidate also brings a Playlist Playground feature, eight new emojis, urgent reminder flagging in the Reminders app, and an update to purchase approval for family users.
