Apple Releases watchOS 4 With New Watch Faces, Siri Improvements, Gym Equipment Integration, and More

Apple today released watchOS 4, the newest version of the operating system designed to run on the Apple Watch. watchOS 4 is a significant update that brings a whole host of new features from new watch faces to tools that will better motivate you to get moving.


watchOS 4 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.

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Apple has added three new watch faces in watchOS 4. There's a Siri watch face that offers dynamic, personalized information that changes throughout the day, a Kaleidoscope face that uses your own photos, and a Toy Story face starring Jessie, Woody, and Buzz Lightyear.

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In watchOS 4, Apple wants to motivate you to close your activity rings. There are new notifications when you're close to meeting a goal, more exciting animations when you reach your fitness target, and personalized monthly fitness challenges based on your own activity history.

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There are several interface improvements, including a new vertical dock, a Quickstart interface when starting a workout, a better interface and more options in Apple Music, access to Apple News, new gestures in Mail, new complications for unread messages and Now Playing songs, and more.

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New workout options have been added, like High Intensity Interval Training and improvements for swim workouts, and the Apple Watch is now able to integrate with gym equipment over Bluetooth. The heart rate app is also getting some improvements that will give you more insight into what's going on with your heart, offering up resting heart rate, recovery rate after exercise, and notifications if your heart rate gets alarmingly high when you're not active.

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A new Flashlight option is available in Control Center for running or walking at night, person-to-person Apple Pay is coming to the Messages app starting this fall, and third-party apps are faster than ever with better load times and a more responsive interface, plus developers have access to even more features like the heart rate monitor, accelerometer, and gyroscope.

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watchOS 4 is compatible with all available Apple Watch models, including the original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3. For additional details on all the new features in watchOS 4, make sure to check out our watchOS 4 roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

OneMike Avatar
100 months ago
By the time the update downloads a new update will be out.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rvinny Avatar
100 months ago
2hours start to finish. I've been holding my pee the entire time so I get credit for walking to the bathroom. :p
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bryan Bowler Avatar
100 months ago
I’m coming for you watchOS 4! Just waiting on my iPhone 7 Plus to finish upgrading to iOS 11 and then you’re mine. Since it takes a ridiculous amount of time for the watch OS to update on the Series 0 Watch, I’ll probably take a 2-3 hour nap while the update runs its course. But knowing how slow it is, a 2-3 hour nap might not be enough!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
psac Avatar
100 months ago
Just came to see if it bricks anyone else's watch before I do mine. :)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jason.childs Avatar
100 months ago
Mine's not showing an update yet. Nike Series 2 and on a charger with 96% battery in the U.S.
Not showing for me either, I'm on iOS 11 GM build.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
stef6392 Avatar
100 months ago
I am flabbergasted (and angry)!!
They removed my most frequently used feature. I used my apple watch as remote control for apple music on my iphone (which is connect my BT headphone to) and they removed that possibility!
With the music app you cannot browse your playlists on your iphone (apple music) anymore!
They want you to download these playlists to the apple watch and connect your bluetooth headphones to it, ridiculous!
This separation of AW and iphone goes too far!! Hopefully they bring it back soon!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)