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Release record

watchOS 7.4

Full article
Public release
Recorded milestones
7
Beta cycle
84d
Average interval
14d
Public release
Apr 26, 2021

Release notes

Overview

Editorial synthesis with inline references and a source ledger when citations are available.

Release overview

watchOS 7.4 was released on April 26, 2021. It enabled Apple Watch-assisted iPhone unlocking while wearing a face mask, Bluetooth device-type classification, Fitness+ playback over AirPlay 2, and ECG and irregular-rhythm notification availability in Australia and Vietnam.[1][2]

Evidence boundary

Apple's security advisory adds documented repairs across code-signature checks, audio and image parsing, the kernel, WebKit, WebKit Storage, and Wi-Fi. No beta-only or undocumented behavior is attributed to the public release.[3][2]

Source ledger

References

Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.

  1. About the security content of watchOS 7.4

    Apple Support · Apple · 2021-04-26T00:00:00.000Z · Released April 26, 2021

    Back to text ↑
  2. About watchOS 7 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-30 · watchOS 7.4

    Back to text ↑
  3. About the security content of watchOS 7.4

    Apple Support · Apple · 2021-04-26T00:00:00.000Z · AppleMobileFileIntegrity; Audio; ImageIO; Kernel; WebKit; WebKit Storage; Wi-Fi

    Back to text ↑

Documented & observed

Changes in this version

Source-linked features, fixes, known issues, removals, and community-observed behavior recorded across this version’s appearances and verified builds.

Release changes

Changed in this release

Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.

compatibility · introduced

Irregular-rhythm notifications in Australia and Vietnam

documentedconfirmed

The update expanded Apple Watch irregular-rhythm notification availability to users in Australia and Vietnam.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About watchOS 7 Updates · watchOS 7.4 — Irregular heart rhythm notifications

feature · introduced

Unlock iPhone while wearing a mask

documentedconfirmed

The release added a proximity-based Apple Watch confirmation path for unlocking a Face ID-equipped iPhone while the user wore a mask.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About watchOS 7 Updates · watchOS 7.4 — Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch

security · fixed

watchOS 7.4 security repairs

documentedconfirmed

Apple's advisory documents repairs across AppleMobileFileIntegrity, Audio, ImageIO, the kernel, WebKit, WebKit Storage, and Wi-Fi.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About the security content of watchOS 7.4 · AppleMobileFileIntegrity; Audio; ImageIO; Kernel; WebKit; WebKit Storage; Wi-Fi

compatibility · introduced

ECG availability in Australia and Vietnam

documentedconfirmed

Apple expanded ECG app availability to Australia and Vietnam on supported watches, subject to the feature's regulatory requirements.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About watchOS 7 Updates · watchOS 7.4 — ECG app availability

enhancement · changed

Bluetooth device-type classification

documentedconfirmed

Users gained a device-type control for Bluetooth accessories, allowing headphone exposure reporting to distinguish relevant audio devices.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About watchOS 7 Updates · watchOS 7.4 — Bluetooth device type

compatibility · introduced

Fitness+ over AirPlay 2

documentedconfirmed

watchOS 7.4 enabled Fitness+ subscribers to play workouts through supported AirPlay 2 destinations beyond the existing Apple-device screens.

Recorded at Public

  1. [1] About watchOS 7 Updates · watchOS 7.4 — AirPlay 2 for Apple Fitness+

Milestones

Release history

Every recorded channel appearance in chronological order. Open an appearance for any available build, scope, notes, and sources.

  2. +15 days
  3. +16 days
  4. +19 days
  5. +8 days
  6. +20 days
  7. +6 days

    Public release

    Public

    Full articleEditorially verified

    watchOS 7.4 reached the public channel on April 26, 2021 with mask-assisted iPhone unlocking, audio-device classification, Fitness+ AirPlay, health-feature expansion, and security repairs.

    Availability
    available
    Sources
    8 linked
    Open this appearance

Historical context

Cycle comparison

Pace, intervals, and duration compared with earlier releases on the same platform.

Historical avg for .4 releases

38 days, 5.5 milestones

Based on 2 previous watchOS .4 releases

Cycle vs. platform average

84d (avg: 57d)

27 days longer than the watchOS average

Longest gap in this cycle

20 days

Between Beta 6 and RC

Previous .4 releases (watchOS)

Previous comparable watchOS releases
VersionYearCycleMilestonesAvg. Interval
watchOS 26.4202636d76d
watchOS 8.4202240d413d

Scroll horizontally to compare every historical field.

Official release notes