Release record
Release notes
Editorial synthesis with inline references and a source ledger when citations are available.
iOS 14.4 improved recognition of small QR codes, let users classify Bluetooth device types for accurate headphone notifications, and warned iPhone 12 owners when the system could not verify a replacement camera as a genuine Apple part.[1]
The release fixed HDR photo artifacts, stale Fitness widget data, keyboard delay and language selection, interrupted News audio in CarPlay, and a Switch Control path that could block answering calls from the Lock Screen. Its security bulletin included actively exploited kernel and WebKit issues.[2][3]
Source ledger
Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · Kernel and WebKit exploitation notices
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 14.4
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · Released January 26, 2021
Apple Developer · 2026-07-29
Documented & observed
Source-linked features, fixes, known issues, removals, and community-observed behavior recorded across this version’s appearances and verified builds.
Release changes
Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.
enhancement · changed
A Settings control classified Bluetooth device types, helping the system distinguish headphones when calculating audio exposure notifications.
Recorded at Public
bugFix · fixed
Apple corrected image artifacts that could appear in HDR photographs captured on iPhone 12 Pro.
Recorded at Public
security · introduced
iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max could display a notification when camera authenticity could not be verified.
Recorded at Public
enhancement · changed
The Camera app gained documented support for recognizing smaller QR codes.
Recorded at Public
bugFix · fixed
The maintenance release addressed News audio that failed to resume after spoken directions in CarPlay and a Switch Control condition that prevented answering calls from the Lock Screen.
Recorded at Public
bugFix · fixed
Apple fixed delayed Activity data in the Fitness widget, lagging keyboard input, absent word suggestions, and incorrect keyboard language in Messages.
Recorded at Public
Milestones
Every recorded channel appearance in chronological order. Open an appearance for any available build, scope, notes, and sources.
Developer beta
Developer beta
Release candidate
Public release
The public iOS 14.4 release improved QR and Bluetooth handling, added camera-component verification on iPhone 12 models, and corrected several documented display, input, CarPlay, and accessibility problems.
Historical context
Pace, intervals, and duration compared with earlier releases on the same platform.
Historical avg for .4 releases
50 days, 6.8 milestones
Based on 9 previous iOS .4 releases
Cycle vs. platform average
41d (avg: 58d)
17 days shorter than the iOS average
Duration ranking
#61 of 92
Middle of the pack iOS beta cycles
Longest gap in this cycle
28 days
Between Beta 1 and Beta 2