iOS 18.4 Brings Major Update: Prioritize Notifications Feature Changes How Alerts Appear on Your iPhone

Apple has always been at the forefront of integrating smart, user-friendly features into their devices, and with the upcoming release of iOS 18.4, the tech giant is introducing a new AI-powered feature designed to enhance how notifications are managed on your iPhone. Named "Prioritize Notifications," this feature promises to revolutionize how we interact with alerts on our Lock Screen. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

iOS 18.4 Brings Prioritize Notifications to iPhone Users

In what can only be described as a thoughtful response to the overwhelming amount of notifications many iPhone users face daily, Apple’s iOS 18.4 introduces the Prioritize Notifications feature, which helps highlight the most crucial alerts. The feature is currently available in iOS 18.4 Beta 1 and is expected to roll out to eligible devices soon.

The main concept behind Prioritize Notifications is simple yet effective. Rather than organizing notifications by time, iOS will now sort them based on what it deems the most important. This means that no matter when an alert was received, Apple’s advanced on-device intelligence will move the most relevant notifications to the top of the Lock Screen. Think of it as your phone’s way of making sure you don’t miss important updates, even if they’ve been buried under a flood of less critical alerts.

Apple’s AI learns to distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s not. So, if you receive a time-sensitive message or an update from a key app, such as your bank or an important work-related platform, it will automatically be prioritized. This ensures that you won’t have to dig through dozens of notifications just to find the one you need to act on right away.

How to Enable Prioritize Notifications on iOS 18.4

While the Prioritize Notifications feature will be enabled automatically once the final iOS 18.4 update drops, for now, you’ll need to activate it manually if you’re testing the beta. The feature is disabled by default, but Apple makes it incredibly easy to turn on. Here’s how to do it in under a minute:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.Scroll down and tap on Notifications.Look for the feature labeled Prioritize Notifications and toggle it on.

It’s as simple as that! Once enabled, your notifications will be sorted more intelligently, helping you stay organized and focused throughout the day.

Similar Features: Prioritize Mail, Now on Notifications

If the name “Prioritize Notifications” sounds familiar, it’s because it’s similar to another recent feature Apple introduced: Priority Mail. In the Mail app, Apple already places important emails at the top of your inbox to ensure you don’t miss critical communication. Now, with Prioritize Notifications, Apple is bringing that same intelligent sorting to your Lock Screen, so you can see the alerts that matter the most, right when you glance at your phone.

It’s clear that Apple is doubling down on improving how we handle digital clutter, and these updates show the company’s commitment to making the iPhone a smarter device that works better for its users.

More Exciting Updates in iOS 18.4

Along with Prioritize Notifications, iOS 18.4 will bring some exciting language support upgrades. The new update will add 10 additional languages to Apple’s lineup, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. This will make it easier for users around the world to experience a more personalized and seamless experience on their Apple devices.

However, not all of Apple’s anticipated AI improvements are arriving with iOS 18.4. Apple recently confirmed that the much-awaited upgrades to Siri, including enhanced AI capabilities, may be delayed and are now expected to arrive with iOS 18.5 instead. For now, iOS 18.4 will focus on the other updates, and we can expect more developments with Siri in the next release.

The Future of iOS: AI and Personalization

Apple’s move towards smarter notifications is just the beginning of an exciting evolution for iOS. By leveraging on-device AI to personalize experiences, Apple is setting the stage for a future where your iPhone knows exactly what you need, when you need it. The Prioritize Notifications feature is a prime example of how AI can enhance our day-to-day mobile experience, making our devices smarter, more intuitive, and ultimately, more helpful.

As Apple continues to refine its operating systems, we can expect even more features that rely on artificial intelligence to anticipate our needs, reduce distractions, and improve the overall user experience. With iOS 18.4, the future is looking brighter for iPhone users, and it's clear that Apple's focus on smart, seamless interactions is here to stay.

Stay tuned for more updates as Apple prepares to roll out iOS 18.4, and be sure to take advantage of the new Prioritize Notifications feature when it becomes available on your device.