Apple releases first watchOS 7.4 public beta with iPhone unlock feature

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 7.4 update for public beta testers, with the new beta a few days after the release of the first developer beta.

The ‌watchOS 7‌.4 update can be downloaded after upgrading your iPhone to iOS 14.5 public beta. After installing iOS 14.5, the watchOS 7.4 software should show up as long as you have the Apple Watch profile installed. To update to the new software, the ‌Apple Watch‌ must have 50 percent battery life, be placed on the charger and within range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌‌.

In addition to iOS 14.5, watchOS 7.4 introduces a new ‘Unlock with Apple Watch’ feature that allows an iPhone with Face ID to use an unlocked and verified Apple Watch as a secondary authentication measure when wearing a mask, easing the entry of a passcode to access the iPhone unlock.

Face ID doesn’t work when wearing a mask, but this new Apple Watch feature provides an easy yet secure way to access the ‌iPhone‌ without the hassle of a password. It is similar to the Apple Watch unlock 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 wanneeriPhone‌ when wearing a mask, but this is for mask use only. Apple Watch cannot be used to verify 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 should be removed or a password / password should be used instead.

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

For those using Apple Fitness +, the watchOS 7.4 update in conjunction with iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 enables AirPlay 2 for Apple Fitness + so workouts can be streamed to an AirPlay 2 compatible TV or set-top box. However, Apple Watch stats do not appear on the screen during AirPlayed, and that feature is limited to ‌iPhone‌ / iPad / Apple TV.

watchOS 7.4 will be available in beta capacity for several weeks, with Apple planning to release the update in early spring.