Apple Seeds Release Candidate Version of watchOS 9.4 to Developers

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 9.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming one week after launch of the fourth beta.

Apple watchOS 9 Feature
To install the watchOS 9.4 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.

Once installed, ‌watchOS 9.4 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ it is paired with.

watchOS 9.4 gains support for new emoji characters that include donkey, goose, black bird, shaking head, hyacinth, pea pod, and more, with 31 new characters available in total.

According to Apple, the watchOS 9.4 update also prevents wake-up alarms from being silenced with the cover to mute gesture to prevent accidental cancellations during sleep. It also brings AFib History to several additional countries including Colombia, Malaysia, Moldova, Thailand, and Ukraine, plus it adds Cycle Tracking in Moldova and Ukraine.

Related Roundup: watchOS 11
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

surfzen21 Avatar
25 months ago
Lets Gooooooooo!!!!!

I'm not sure if this is a software issue on my phone or watch but its not updating my 5k fastest run time.

Today I ran a 5k at 29 seconds faster than my best time a month ago and its still showing my best run is one from last month. I hope whatever the issue it get fixed. It did show I ran a 5k though today so it recorded the 5k and it should have shown it as the best 5k time.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
25 months ago

According to Apple, the watchOS 9.4 update also prevents wake-up alarms from being silenced with the cover to mute gesture to prevent accidental cancellations during sleep.
Thank goodness!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)