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Apple Seeds Seventh Beta of watchOS 7.4 to Developers

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Apple today seeded the seventh beta of an upcoming watchOS 7.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming one week release of the sixth 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.

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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
‌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
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.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

Johnny907 Avatar
Johnny907
67 months ago

??

I’m enthusiastic and test every beta. If you want to contribute positively, you can test as well and post your experiences.

I like to post early so that people know whether it is safe to install or not. I always make clear that it’s an “early” review.
You come across like an overzealous sycophant, which kills your credibility. While I get excited when new betas drop, I give them at least half a day of use before commenting on them. I launch the majority of apps I use daily, from activity to audible to pandora and spotify to various others just to ensure they all work as expected. I also watch battery usage, as I have milestones for how much all of my daily activities and uptime should diminish battery life. Deviation either way from usual patterns is noted.
Basically, I wait until I have an actual informed opinion before making that opinion known.
Whether you label it an “early review” or not, two minutes of use is not enough time to form a valid opinion other than “well it does/doesn’t turn on.” As for it being “a beast,” I take it this is just more hyperbole as the update process wasn’t any more involved than previous betas, and performance after rebooting has been essentially identical to the last beta.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
Braderunner
67 months ago

This beta is an ABSOLUTE BEAST. It took a long time to install, but once the Apple logo was gone it took off like a wild horse. Fast so far and everything looks like it should. In early testing, A+ on this one. Thank you Apple for including us in the beta test!!
Can't possibly "test" in two minutes. You're implying that it's faster? Hard to believe. I mean, if it's the same...it's the same. Of course Apple includes developers in beta testing. How else would one develop an app for new software?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ISKOTB Avatar
ISKOTB
67 months ago

This beta is an ABSOLUTE BEAST. It took a long time to install, but once the Apple logo was gone it took off like a wild horse. Fast so far and everything looks like it should. In early testing, A+ on this one. Thank you Apple for including us in the beta test!!
I agree!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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