Apple Watch update lets alarms break through silent mode

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Apple has just released the final test version of watchOS 11.4, giving us an early preview of new features coming to the Apple Watch. 

While the update includes some bug fixes, the biggest change affects how Silent Mode works, especially when it comes to alarms.

Right now, when Silent Mode is turned on, the Apple Watch doesn’t make any sounds at all. Instead, it only alerts users through vibrations on their wrist, known as haptic feedback. 

This is perfect for any situation where you don’t want your watch to make noise.

However, it also means that alarms are completely silent, relying only on vibrations, which some users find easy to sleep through.

As first reported by 9to5Mac, with watchOS 11.4, Apple is introducing a new setting that allows alarms to “Break Through Silent Mode.” 

This means that even if Silent Mode is on, alarms can still make a sound while keeping all other notifications muted. 

This option will be available for all alarms, including the one used in the Apple Watch’s sleep settings to wake you up in the morning. 

Users can choose whether they want each alarm to stay silent (vibration-only) or make a sound as well.

This change might seem a bit strange at first since Silent Mode is meant to keep the watch quiet. 

However, it’s a useful update for those who rely on their Apple Watch as an alarm clock but don’t want to risk sleeping through a vibration-only alert. 

Even with the strongest vibration setting (called Prominent Haptics), many people still don’t wake up from the buzzing on their wrist. 

Before this update, users had to either keep Silent Mode off, which allows all notifications to make noise, or find another device for alarms. That will soon change with the public release of watchOS 11.4.

Are you looking forward to this feature? Do you use alarms with your Apple Watch? Tell us what you think below in the comments, or via our Twitter or Facebook.