Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 10.4 to Developers - MacRumors
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Apple Seeds First Beta of watchOS 10.4 to Developers

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 10.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a week after the release of watchOS 10.3.

Apple Watch Faces watchOS 10 Feature Blue
To install the ‌watchOS 10.4‌ update, developers need to open the Apple Watch app, go to the Software Update section under "General" in Settings, and toggle on the watchOS 10 Developer Beta. An Apple ID linked to a developer account is required.

Once beta updates have been activated, watchOS 10.4 can be downloaded under the same Software Update section. To install software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life and it must be placed on an Apple Watch charger.

watchOS 10.4 includes new emoji characters such as a lime, an edible brown mushroom, a phoenix, a broken chain, shaking head vertically (as in a "yes" nod), and shaking head horizontally (a "no" head shake).

Related Roundups: watchOS 26, watchOS 27
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

MrGimper Avatar
34 months ago

While I understand updates on the watch are “limited” I think Watch OS updates needs something worthwhile, even major updates have very little to brag about.

Alwas waiting for Apple to come up with something “revolutionary” on the watch os.
More than 2 useful watch faces would be a start

There are currently more faces for kids than there are useful ones.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
34 months ago

More than 2 useful watch faces would be a start

There are currently more faces for kids than there are useful ones.
Well an app for Mac to develop watchfaces would be a great start.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nortonandreev Avatar
34 months ago
Wondering when they will remove the WiFi only and connected to charger requirements for installing updates.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rwilliams Avatar
34 months ago

Wondering when they will remove the WiFi only and connected to charger requirements for installing updates.
That really is so irritating. If I’m on the go and want to risk the battery hit or whatever to install it, make it an option.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
34 months ago

More than 2 useful watch faces would be a start

There are currently more faces for kids than there are useful ones.
Ive practically been on the same watch face since my first gen back in 2015… every time there is an updated OS im excited to see if there is another decent watch face… but im always disappointed..

I think they need to put more focus on their watch faces that cater to non children lol informative, nice to look at but power efficient.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
34 months ago
While I understand updates on the watch are “limited” I think Watch OS updates needs something worthwhile, even major updates have very little to brag about.

Alwas waiting for Apple to come up with something “revolutionary” on the watch os.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)