Apple is addressing a common frustration among Apple Watch users who rely on silent alarms. The upcoming watchOS 11.4 update introduces Break Through Silent Mode, a feature designed to prevent oversleeping by combining haptic feedback with audible alerts.
Currently, when Silent Mode is enabled, the Apple Watch relies solely on gentle vibrations to wake users—a method that doesn’t always work for deep sleepers. The new feature ensures alarms will bypass Silent Mode, adding sound to the wake-up process when activated.
How to Enable the Feature
Users can toggle Break Through Silent Mode in two ways:
- Through the Sleep app under Sounds & Haptics
- Via the Alarm app by selecting an existing alarm
The update is currently available to developers, with a public rollout expected next week. Those still on watchOS 11.3 will need to wait for the official release.
How to Install watchOS 11.4
To update
On the Apple Watch: Open Settings > General > Software Update, then tap Download and Install.
Via iPhone: Open the Watch app, navigate to General > Software Update, and follow the prompts.
This enhancement aims to provide a more reliable wake-up experience, ensuring users never miss an important start to their day.
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