Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
65,593
34,178


Apple today seeded the sixth beta of an upcoming watchOS 7.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming one week release of the fifth beta and over two months after the launch of watchOS 7.3 with "Time to Walk" functionality, expanded ECG availability, and a new Unity watch face.

7.4-on-Apple-Watch-feature-copy.jpg

To install the ‌watchOS 7.4 beta, developers need to download the proper configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once the profile is in place, the watchOS 7.4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated ‌Apple Watch‌ app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.

To update to the new software, the ‌Apple Watch‌ needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌.

Alongside iOS 14.5, watchOS 7.4 introduces a new "Unlock with Apple Watch" feature that lets an iPhone with Face ID use an unlocked and authenticated Apple Watch as a secondary authentication measure when you're wearing a mask, alleviating the need to enter a passcode to unlock the iPhone.

iphone-apple-watch-unlock.jpg

Face ID does not work when wearing a mask, but this new Apple Watch feature provides an easy but still secure way to access the iPhone without the hassle of a passcode. It's similar to the Apple Watch unlocking on Mac and can be enabled in the Settings app under Face ID & Passcode.

An unlocked Apple Watch paired with Face ID can unlock the iPhone when a mask is worn, but it's only for mask usage. The Apple Watch cannot be used to authenticate Apple Pay or App Store purchases, nor can it be used to unlock apps that require a Face ID scan. In these situations, the mask will need to be removed or a passcode/password will need to be used instead.

iphone-apple-watch-unlock-2.jpg

When the Apple Watch unlocks the iPhone, you'll feel a haptic tap on the wrist and will receive a notification on the watch, similar to how it works when using the watch to unlock a Mac.

For those who use Apple Fitness+, the watchOS 7.4 update combined with iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 enables AirPlay 2 for Apple Fitness+, so workouts can be streamed to an AirPlay 2-enabled TV or set-top box. Apple Watch metrics do not show up on the screen when AirPlayed, however, and that feature is limited to iPhone/iPad/Apple TV.

Article Link: Apple Seeds Sixth Beta of watchOS 7.4 to Developers
 

FishyFish

macrumors 6502
Sep 18, 2015
389
938
West Coast
Absolutely rock solid! I had no problems on beta 5, it has been a dream, but beta 6 seems on my early testing to be really excellent too. Face mask unlock working great, and all of my complications are showing perfectly on the Infograph Modular face.

watchOS 7.4 Beta 6 is so good! I'll keep testing throughout the day, but I am getting very excited for final release. Thank you Apple!
 

Razorpit

macrumors 65816
Feb 2, 2021
1,299
2,605
No idea. Always tells me I don't have enough space even though I don't keep pictures, music, or have any 3rd party app installed other than the default ones on the watch.
I don’t store anything on mine either. Updates seem to take forever though.
 

Robert.Walter

macrumors 68040
Jul 10, 2012
3,207
4,623
Julie, I think the PB dropped not long after, when the others did, as I installed 7.4 (18T5193a).
 

Ingo Brocksom

macrumors member
Sep 12, 2019
59
15
Absolutely rock solid! I had no problems on beta 5, it has been a dream, but beta 6 seems on my early testing to be really excellent too. Face mask unlock working great, and all of my complications are showing perfectly on the Infograph Modular face.

watchOS 7.4 Beta 6 is so good! I'll keep testing throughout the day, but I am getting very excited for final release. Thank you Apple!
Not good on my Apple Watch 6 just lost over 50% battery over night ?
 

Mendoza_559

macrumors member
Feb 11, 2021
65
120
Central California
Not good on my Apple Watch 6 just lost over 50% battery over night ?
I noticed my Apple Watch 6 die so much faster now. But I’m on watch OS 7.4 5th beta. But I did install the newest iOS 14.5 beta though. So idk if the iOS software has something to do with it. I noticed my watch die way faster after I installed the latest iOS beta.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.