watchOS 7.4 adds support for Face ID mask unlock, ECG in more countries

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Apple Ios Update Iphone12pro Watchseries6 Unlocking Screen
Apple Ios Update Iphone12pro Watchseries6 Unlocking Screen (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

  • watchOS 7.4 has been released to the public.
  • The update brings support to unlock your iPhone with Face ID while wearing a face mask.
  • It also brings ECG to Australia and Vietnam.

watchOS 7.4 has released to the public and brought with it a really handy feature during the pandemic.

The new update now lets you use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone with Face ID while wearing a face mask. The feature does require an iPhone with Face ID and an Apple Watch Series 3 or later.

Starting today, customers can use their Apple Watch to securely unlock iPhone when attempting to use Face ID while wearing a face mask. With Apple Watch on the wrist, unlocked, and in close proximity to iPhone, users can simply glance at their iPhone and they will receive haptic feedback from Apple Watch, indicating their iPhone has been unlocked. The new feature works with iPhone X and later and Apple Watch Series 3 and later.

The update finally brings the ECG app to Apple Watch customers in Australia and Vietnam as well.

  • Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Australia and Vietnam
  • Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Australia and Vietnam

ECG app for Apple Watch

ECG app for Apple Watch (Image credit: Apple)

Users can now also stream their Apple Fitness+ workouts to AirPlay 2-enabled televisions.

Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+ workouts to AirPlay 2-enabled TVs and devices

Apple Fitness Plus Screens Appletv Ipadpro Applewatch Iphone11

Apple Fitness Plus Screens Appletv Ipadpro Applewatch Iphone11 (Image credit: Apple)

The last feature is that you can now classify Bluetooth devices as headphones in order to receive certain audio notifications.

Option to classify Bluetooth device type in Settings for correct identification of headphones for audio notifications

watchOS 7.4 is available to download now.

Joe Wituschek
Joe Wituschek
Contributor

Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.