Apple Releases First watchOS 7.4 Public Beta With iPhone Unlocking Feature

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

The ‌watchOS 7‌.4 update can be downloaded after upgrading your iPhone to the public beta version of iOS 14.5. 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 needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in the range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌‌.

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. WatchOS 7.4 is going to be available in a beta capacity for several weeks, with Apple planning to release the update in the early spring.