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Release appearance

watchOS 7.4 Public

Full article
Public release

Recorded context

About this appearance

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.

Date
Apr 26, 2021
Availability
available
Revision
No

Release notes

What changed

Original editorial synthesis. Linked references appear with the claims they support and in the source ledger.

Public release

Apple released watchOS 7.4 on April 26, 2021. The update connected Apple Watch to iPhone authentication while wearing a mask, expanded audio and Fitness+ behavior, and added ECG and irregular-rhythm availability in two countries.[1][2]

Security record

Apple's advisory adds repairs across code validation, audio and image processing, the kernel, WebKit, browser storage, and Wi-Fi. No undocumented occurrence is added to the first-party public-release record.[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 ↑
  4. About watchOS 7 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-30 · watchOS 7.4 — AirPlay 2 for Apple Fitness+

  5. About watchOS 7 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-30 · watchOS 7.4 — Bluetooth device type

  6. About watchOS 7 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-30 · watchOS 7.4 — ECG app availability

  7. About watchOS 7 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-30 · watchOS 7.4 — Irregular heart rhythm notifications

  8. About watchOS 7 Updates

    Apple Support · Apple · 2026-07-30 · watchOS 7.4 — Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch

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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

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