WatchOS 7.4 now available for download with iPhone unlock, Apple Fitness + support and AirPlay 2

Apple released watchOS 7.4, the fourth major update to the watchOS 7 operating system, released in September 2020. watchOS 7.4 comes three months after watchOS 7.3, an update that introduced a new watch face, Time to Walk function, and Extended ECG.

watchOS 7.4‌‌ can be downloaded for free via the Apple Watch app on iPhone. Once in the app, go to General> Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch must have at least 50 percent battery, must be placed on a charger, and must be within range of the iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌‌.

Along with iOS 14.5, watchOS 7.4 offers a new “Unlock with Apple Watch” feature that allows an iPhone with Face ID to use an authenticated and unlocked Apple Watch as a secondary authentication measure when wearing a mask.

An unlocked Apple Watch along with Face ID can unlock the "iPhone" when wearing a mask, but the entire face cannot be covered and the eyes must still be visible.

Apple Watch Mask Authentication can't be used for Apple Pay or App Store purchases, nor can it be used to unlock apps that require a Face ID scan. In these situations it will be necessary to remove the bezel or use the access code / password.

When the Apple Watch unlocks the iPhone‌, you will feel a tactile touch on your wrist and you will receive a notification on the watch to notify you when the iPhone‌ has been unlocked, similar to how the watch works when used to unlock a Mac.

There is also a proximity function, to make sure the watch is close to the iPhone‌ to use the unlock function.

For Apple Fitness + users, the watchOS 7.4 update enables AirPlay 2 for Apple Fitness +, so workouts can be streamed to an ‌AirPlay-enabled TV or set-top box. However, Apple Watch metrics do not appear on the screen when playing via AirPlay and that function is limited to ‌iPhone‌ / iPad / Apple TV.

Apple's full release notes with additional features are listed below:

watchOS 7.4 includes new features, improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Ability to unlock your iPhone X and later with Apple Watch when trying to use Face ID while wearing a mask
• Ability to classify the type of Bluetooth device in Settings, so that audio notifications reach the appropriate headphones
• Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness + workouts to ‌AirPlay‌ 2-enabled televisions and devices
• Support for ECG application on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Australia and Vietnam
• Support for irregular heart rate notifications in Australia and Vietnam