Apple’s watchOS 10.4 brings a handful of welcome upgrades and fixes to your Apple Watch. While not a massive overhaul, these refinements improve the day-to-day experience for Apple Watch users. Let’s break down the most important changes…
1. Expanded Notifications
Notifications just got a little more helpful. Now, instead of just seeing a snippet of longer notifications, you can double-tap directly on the alert to expand it fully. This is a fantastic quality-of-life improvement, especially for reading longer messages.
2. Enhanced Apple Pay Security
If you use Apple Pay with AssistiveTouch, watchOS 10.4 has tightened security. You’ll now be required to enter your passcode for every Apple Pay transaction through the accessibility feature, adding a layer of protection. It’s a change to get used to, but ultimately good for your financial safety.
3. The End of Ghost Touches?
Some Apple Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users have experienced the annoying “ghost touch” issue where the display registers inputs without your interaction. watchOS 10.4 includes a fix that targets this problem, hopefully restoring a normal user experience for those affected.
4. Other Smaller Fixes
- Contact Syncing Fix: watchOS 10.4 addresses a bug that prevented contacts from syncing properly for some users.
- Tap to Show Full Notifications Setting: This new setting allows full customization of notification behavior, giving you more control.
How to Get watchOS 10.4
Updating your Apple Watch is easy and straightforward. Here’s how:
- Make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Head to the “My Watch” tab.
- Tap on “General,” then “Software Update.”
- If watchOS 10.4 is available, follow the prompts to download and install it.
Is It Worth the Update?
While watchOS 10.4 may not have groundbreaking new features, it offers useful improvements and essential fixes. If you’ve been experiencing any of the issues addressed in this update (like the ghost touch problem), don’t hesitate to install it. The expanded notification view alone makes it a worthwhile upgrade.
