Apple Seeds Release Candidate Version of watchOS 9.4 to Developers - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Release Candidate Version of watchOS 9.4 to Developers

by

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 9.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming one week after launch of the fourth beta.

Apple watchOS 9 Feature
To install the watchOS 9.4 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.

Once installed, ‌watchOS 9.4 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the ‌iPhone‌ it is paired with.

watchOS 9.4 gains support for new emoji characters that include donkey, goose, black bird, shaking head, hyacinth, pea pod, and more, with 31 new characters available in total.

According to Apple, the watchOS 9.4 update also prevents wake-up alarms from being silenced with the cover to mute gesture to prevent accidental cancellations during sleep. It also brings AFib History to several additional countries including Colombia, Malaysia, Moldova, Thailand, and Ukraine, plus it adds Cycle Tracking in Moldova and Ukraine.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Series 10 Jet Black Touch ID

Apple Watch Series 12 and watchOS 27: What to Expect Later This Year

Friday May 8, 2026 2:07 pm PDT by
While not too much has been reported about the next Apple Watch models, there are a few rumors about potential design changes and watchOS 27 features. Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 models are expected to be released in September, and we have outlined some of the key rumored hardware and software changes below. A new Apple Watch SE is not expected this year, as that model was...
Read Full Article • 60 comments
ios 26 5 luminance colors 2

A Closer Look at watchOS 26.5's New Luminance Watch Face

Friday May 8, 2026 3:38 pm PDT by
With watchOS 26.5, Apple is introducing a Pride Luminance face, and it's one of the most versatile and customizable watch faces. There are pre-configured color options, but the face also supports custom colors. You can select 1 to 12 colors from a palette that has every color of the rainbow, some in-between shades, and black, white, brown, and gray. The colors you pick are distributed...
Read Full Article • 83 comments
watchos 26 gradient light

Apple Releases watchOS 26.5 With New Pride Luminance Watch Face

Monday May 11, 2026 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 26.5, the fifth major update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.5 comes a month and a half after Apple released watchOS 26.4. watchOS 26.5 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.5 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the...
Read Full Article • 27 comments

Top Rated Comments

surfzen21 Avatar
surfzen21
42 months ago
Lets Gooooooooo!!!!!

I'm not sure if this is a software issue on my phone or watch but its not updating my 5k fastest run time.

Today I ran a 5k at 29 seconds faster than my best time a month ago and its still showing my best run is one from last month. I hope whatever the issue it get fixed. It did show I ran a 5k though today so it recorded the 5k and it should have shown it as the best 5k time.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
_Spinn_
42 months ago

According to Apple, the watchOS 9.4 update also prevents wake-up alarms from being silenced with the cover to mute gesture to prevent accidental cancellations during sleep.
Thank goodness!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments