You can now download the watchOS 7.4 update to your Apple Watch as Apple rolls out new smartwatch software to all of its compatible devices (check our list below to see if your device is included). We've detailed all the new features in watchOS 7.4 below, as well as those found in watchOS 7.3, 7.2, and 7.1, but it was the major update to watchOS 7 that was the last major update. WatchOS 7 rolled out right after the release of the Apple Watch 6 and Apple Watch SE, though you don't need these new smartwatches to use the software; many people with older devices can take full advantage of the new operating system and all its cool features. With watchOS 7 there are many new features such as sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, and many new watch faces. And while watchOS 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and 7.4 aren't that big, they also add some big new features, like the ability to unlock your iPhone while wearing a skin. We've got a full list of all the features in watchOS 7 through 7.4 below that you can check out while the update is downloading.
Come to the point
- What is it? Latest update of Apple's Smartwatch operating system
- When did it come out? watchOS 7.4 is now available
- How much will it cost? Nothing
WatchOS 7.4 release date and availability
(Image credit: Apple) WatchOS 7 itself landed on Wednesday, September 15, 2020. Although the iPhone 12 lineup was late, the software updates were right on time. Several smaller updates have landed since then, and as of this writing, we're at watchOS 7.4, which is out now, but you'll need to get iOS 14 (and ideally iOS 14.5) first in order to download it.
Can your Apple Watch get watchOS 7.4?
watchOS 7 (plus all 7.x updates, including watchOS 7.4) is compatible with Apple Watch 6, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch 5, Apple Watch 4, and Apple Watch 3. Yes, unfortunately that means Apple Watch 2 owners and Apple Watch Series 1 are out of luck. Original Apple Watch owners missed the watchOS 6 update, and we now have a new threshold for devices that can be updated to the latest version of watchOS.
WatchOS 7.4 Features
(Image credit: Apple) Further down, you'll learn about the many features that watchOS 7 has to offer, but there's even more recent stuff, thanks to watchOS 7.4, watchOS 7.3, watchOS 7.2, and watchOS 7.1. With watchOS 7.4, the big change is the ability to unlock your iPhone with a skin, without having to resort to a password. It may seem like an iPhone feature, but it works with the Apple Watch, so you need to wear your Apple Watch at the time, then try using Face ID with a mask, and your iPhone should unlock. Other updates to watchOS 7.4 include the ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness Plus to an AirPlay 2-compatible device, and for Apple Watch users in Australia and Vietnam to use the ECG app and receive irregular heartbeat notifications.
WatchOS 7.3 Features
(Image credit: Apple) With watchOS 7.3, Apple added walk time to Apple Watch. The feature allows you to listen to a celebrity guest tell inspiring stories as you walk by. Each episode has a different guest and also includes three songs that inspire them. The feature is also available for wheelchair users under the name "Push Time." This is only available to Apple Fitness Plus subscribers and contains a growing number of episodes from 25 to 40 minutes. WatchOS 7.3 also included a Unity watch face to celebrate black history. There are also watchOS 7.3.1, 7.3.2, and 7.3.3, but they mostly include bug and security fixes.
WatchOS 7.2 Features
(Image credit: Apple) Although Apple Fitness Plus was announced with watchOS 7, it wasn't released until after watchOS 7.2. So that's the biggest update here – you can find more in-depth details about it below in watchOS 7 Features, or check out our full guide to Apple Fitness Plus. WatchOS 7.2 also added the ability to receive notifications when your cardiovascular fitness is low, more tools to examine your cardiovascular fitness level in the Health app, an atrial fibrillation classification for heart rates above 100 BPM in the ECG app, and support for braille displays with VoiceOver.
WatchOS 7.1 Features
watchOS 7.1 is an update focused primarily on bug fixes; For example, there's a fix for a bug that prevented some users from unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch. However, watchOS 7.1 also adds a new feature in the form of notifications when the audio level from your headphones could affect your hearing. And if you're in South Korea or Russia, you'll also get ECG support and irregular heartbeat notifications, two things most countries in the world already had.
WatchOS 7 Features
(Image credit: Apple)
Simplified complications
WatchOS 7 has refined complications, allowing developers to enable multiple complications and watch dials. You can create your own custom selection, for example a "surf watch" with sea conditions, to create your ideal watch face. WatchOS 7 also makes it easy to share your watch faces through a new feature, Face Sharing. When you see a watch face you like, click the button below and the face will download, prompting you to download any missing complications.
(Image credit: Apple)
Finally, sleep tracking
The Health app has finally added a long-requested sleep tracking feature. This includes Wind Down, which allows you to create a personalized routine to fall asleep, with options like waking up through audio tones or haptic vibrations for a more personal and silent alarm. WatchOS 7 tracks sleep with an on-device smart machine learning aid and sends that information to the updated Health app on a paired iPhone.
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Maps: cycling options and more
Yes, just like iOS 14, watchOS 7 includes bike routes in the Maps app. This includes elevation changes and navigation directions with large, easy-to-read complications that are detailed enough to notify you of upcoming elevation changes or other trip disruptions. The app can even suggest you modify a ride yourself, for example advising you to get off and walk your bike or walk up a flight of stairs to save time. You can also customize your trip to avoid changes in altitude or to take the most direct route, the hills are sacred.
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple FitnessPlus
Apple Fitness Plus is a new service that works directly through Apple Watches. It's in the Fitness app and wasn't released until after watchOS 7.2, though it was announced with watchOS 7. Apple Fitness Plus is a collection of workouts you can view on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, and while you're exercising, you can watch all your fitness data collected by your Apple Watch on the screen. New workouts come every week from a host of instructors who teach alongside a variety of workout music styles including hip hop, country, and R&B.
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Workouts: dance and cool down
Workouts have also been updated to watchOS 7, with dancing added as a full-body workout. The dance will follow four of the most popular (and broadly defined) dance styles: Bollywood, cardio dance, hip hop, and Latin. As? 'Or what? The watch combines data from the heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope to measure effort as you move your arms and legs. That's not all: there are a few other new training modes, including core training, functional strength training, and even cool-downs to finish off your workouts. You can keep up with all of this in the redesigned Activity app, now called Fitness, in iOS 14.
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Family setup
Home setup allows users to route multiple Apple Watches through a single phone, allowing parents to set up their children's smartwatches without the need for a separate iPhone. Parents can also set movement goals and track the location of their children. Only mobile Apple Watch models can connect to Family Setup, and the feature doesn't work in all countries so far, but it's likely to expand to more regions in the future.
(Image credit: Apple)
Handwashing
Apparently some of you haven't washed your hands enough! watchOS 7 is delivered with an automatic detection of the washing of the mains, which uses the automatic apprenticeship and the audio signaux to measure if you wash the mains pendant a complete minuterie of 20 seconds, with the children amusants pour you assure that you have sufficient a long time. Best of all, your handwashing data is entered into the iPhone's Health app, which will show how often and for how long. Not only will your Apple Watch + iPhone pay attention to you, but the Health app will also provide information on the importance of handwashing. For those of you who haven't, maybe it's time to learn.
(Image credit: Apple)
Audience
While watchOS 6 introduced the Noise app to warn users when their environment is noisy enough to endanger their hearing, watchOS 7 expands the app's functionality to warn users when they have exceeded safe levels of media listening. through headphones. That's about 80 decibels for about 40 hours a week, according to the World Health Organization; check that and your Apple Watch will warn you. The Health app on the iPhone will also track how long you've been exposed to high decibel levels throughout the week (this is also where users can control the maximum audio level for headphone volume). In keeping with Apple's attitude towards privacy, none of this audio data is saved or recorded by the Health app or your Apple Watch.
Siri on device
With watchOS 7, Apple Watches can now use Siri to manage translation, dictation through the Apple Neural Engine, and even use the voice assistant to speak messages audibly through the Announce Messages feature.