Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2.

watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1
watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

With watchOS 11.4, Apple has added an option for a Sleep Wake Up alarm to break through Silent Mode, so you can have your Apple Watch make a sound in addition to haptic tapping when a morning alarm goes off. There's also support for Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaners in the Home app.

This update includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
- Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaners can be added to the Home app as well as used in scenes, automations, or simply say "Siri, clean the living room."
- An option to allow Sleep Wake Up alarm to break through Silent Mode
- An issue where face selection may become unresponsive when switching faces
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100

More of the features available in watchOS 11 can be found in our watchOS 11 roundup.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

Icehawk Avatar
9 months ago
Maybe one day they'll let us use our custom tones from our phones on it.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JackieTreehorn Avatar
9 months ago
You sure this time around?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
infinitedreams Avatar
9 months ago
I thought we’re on watchOS 24.4



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Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BigBlur Avatar
9 months ago

It’s data over Bluetooth so not far off.

Kind of amazing we got stuck with this technology that works just well enough nobody can replace it but everyone also knows it mostly sucks.
The watch can update over Wi-Fi. You actually don't even need to use your phone either. If it's downloading slowly, then turn Bluetooth off to force it to use Wi-Fi.

I started the update at 2:39pm, and it was done at 3:00pm...so ~20 minutes total for my S10.



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Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yukari Avatar
9 months ago

Where is this new setting found?

This the sound one? To me it looks like it’s just on. In Sounds & Haptics, right under the Silent Mode toggle it says “Silent mode will not mute alarms and timers while the Apple Watch is charging.” So, just looks like it’s gotta be charging, so no sleep tracking.
It's on your Apple Watch.
1. Open Sleep App on the Apple Watch.
2. Scroll down to the bottom (or rotate the dial until you get to the bottom screen).
3. Click on "Wake Up"
4. Scroll down to "Sound & Haptics" and click on it.
5. There you will find "Break Through Silence". Toggle the switch to "ON"
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macamazing Avatar
9 months ago

build number is 22T251 - which is strange. that's the same build number that was pulled!
Maybe the problem was not with the build but something on the server side, etc.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)