You probably didn’t notice anything flashy if you’ve already updated to iOS 18.4. There’s no major redesign, no headline-grabbing Siri overhaul—at least, not on the surface.
But look a little closer, and you’ll find something quietly powerful hiding in the Shortcuts app.
Apple just rolled out a surprisingly rich set of new Shortcuts actions across several native apps. We’re talking seriously about granular control, like toggling AutoFill for credit cards in Safari or customizing the tab bar layout on the fly.
These aren’t just nice-to-have tweaks. They’re Apple, laying the groundwork for something much bigger: the next evolution of Siri.
What we’re seeing here is the beginning of a shift. These new app-level automations are built on Apple’s App Intents system, which is expected to power a vastly more capable Siri soon.
Sure, the full Siri upgrade has been pushed back (likely due to recent changes within Apple’s AI team), but this Shortcuts expansion is a clear signal that it’s coming.
You can now play with the building blocks. For example, Apple Notes’ shortcut for changing Apple Notes settings lets you update the following:
- All-Day Events Default
- Alert Times
- Alternate Calendars
- Birthdays Default
- Alert Times
- Duration For New Events
- Event Sync Durations
- Show Invitee Declines
- Show Week Numbers
- Start Week On
- Time to Leave
- Timed Events Default
- Alert Times
- Week View Starts
- On Today
Imagine a future where Siri can open Apple Notes and instantly configure it to your preferred settings, all with a single voice command. That’s where this is heading.
So while iOS 18.4 might feel like a “minor” update at first glance, it’s anything but. It’s a quiet, deliberate step toward Apple’s AI future.
Also: iOS 18.4 just made browsing the App Store way easier—and most iPhone users have no idea
Try these Shortcuts today and start exploring what’s possible; you might get a sneak preview of the smarter Siri we’ve all been waiting for.
Let me know what Shortcuts you’re building. I’d love to see how the community is using this under-the-radar update.
