macOS 15.4: what’s new?
Unless it’s a hot fix, Apple follows a certain macOS versions release schedule. Typically, it is announced at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which usually takes place in June. The company tells the public about major moves, like going up from macOS 14 Sonoma to macOS 15 Sequoia. Developers get their hands on the beta version around the same time.
As for minor updates, they are just rolled out and made available without much grandeur, since they are usually technical in character, bringing bug fixes and patches. macOS 15.4, released on March 31, 2025, is one of those, but this one packs a bit more than just remedies for old errors and some improvements. Let’s see what’s in this release.
macOS 15.4: key features
Apple introduced several rather noteworthy updates to its software in this release.
- Photos. Tapping into the power of AI, this application now can compile reels with memories, highlighting special moments and enhancing the experience with music and filters.
- Image Playground. Launched in macOS 15.2, this generative AI tool, mighty from the outset, got even better in macOS 15.4, which gave it the “Sketch” image style. A nice option when you need to add a fresh perspective to an image-heavy conversation in Messages, for example.
- Mail. This application, also leaning on artificial intelligence, can now categorize the emails coming to your inbox: macOS 15.4 adds Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions tabs to its interface, seeking to give you more control.
- Password app. Designed to take on third-party products like 1Password, LastPass, and Bitwarden, the Password app by Apple has an unfair advantage of deep and seamless integration throughout the ecosystem. In macOS 15.4, the native password manager learned to apply expiration timers to two-factor authentication codes, further enhancing security.
- Safari. The browser now has a unified menu and generally loads pages faster. Well, this sort of optimization is actually done by Apple in virtually every release of macOS.
- ChatGPT integration. This one simply got better; it still is available as part of Apple Intelligence and features a native integration with Siri, Freeform, and Messages.
- Quick Start. This is a new feature introduced in macOS Sequoia 15.4. It facilitates setting up new Macs or reinstalling macOS by tapping into paired iPhones or iPads for settings transfer (the said devices should be running iOS 18.4 for this feature to work).
On a more down-to-earth side, the new version of macOS also carries patches for 131 CVEs, support for SDUC cards larger than 2TB, and eight new languages.
