Apple has rolled out the release candidate for watchOS 11.4, offering a preview of upcoming enhancements for the Apple Watch. While the update includes several bug fixes, its most notable change modifies Silent Mode, enabling alarms to sound even when the watch is muted.
Currently, when Silent Mode is active, the Apple Watch delivers notifications solely through haptic feedback. This feature ensures privacy, minimizes distractions, and prevents unwanted sounds in quiet environments, such as meetings.
Alarms Can Now Bypass Silent Mode
According to release notes, watchOS 11.4 introduces an option allowing the Sleep Wake Up alarm to override Silent Mode. Each alarm—including those set in the Apple Watch’s sleep settings—will include a new toggle labeled ”Break Through Silent Mode.” When enabled, both sound and vibrations will trigger upon activation, as reported by 9to5Mac.
While the adjustment may seem contradictory to Silent Mode’s purpose, many users have struggled with sleeping through haptic-only alarms—even at the highest intensity setting. Some have avoided relying on the Apple Watch for critical wake-up alerts, but this update could soon change that behavior.
