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Apple will soon roll out the next update for the Apple Watch: watchOS 11.4. The RC (Release Candidate) version has already been released, which usually means the final release is imminent. This update brings a long-awaited improvement that's especially interesting for users who wear their Apple Watch at night. It's a new alarm function that was previously missing—but is finally being added with watchOS 11.4.
Most watchOS updates bring minor optimizations, bug fixes, or cosmetic adjustments. With watchOS 11.4, things are different. One feature stands out in particular because it can directly improve the everyday lives of many users: the ability to make an alarm on the Apple Watch audible even when silent mode is activated. It sounds like a minor detail, but for many, it's a real game-changer.
New alarm function: What exactly changes with watchOS 11.4?
The new update introduces an option that wasn't available before: Alarms can break the Apple Watch's silent mode. Specifically, this means you can now set the alarm sound to play even when silent mode is enabled—along with the haptic feedback you're already familiar with. This option affects all alarms you set on your watch, including those linked to your sleep schedule. A new feature is an additional switch for each alarm: "Break Through Silent Mode." If you activate this switch, your watch will emit both a sound and a vibration when the alarm goes off—even if it's muted.
What was the problem so far?
Many people wear their Apple Watch in silent mode, especially at night. The reason is clear: no one wants to be disturbed by a beeping watch when every notification triggers a noise. It was the same with alarm clocks – in silent mode, the alarm remained silent, with only haptic feedback on the wrist. That was enough for some, but not enough for others. Anyone who absolutely wanted to be woken up acoustically had to deactivate the Watch's silent mode. With watchOS 11.4, that changes. You no longer have to turn off silent mode altogether; instead, you can specifically specify for individual alarms that they are allowed to go through – with sound.
More control through individual settings
A major advantage of this new feature is that you can decide for each alarm separately whether it can override silent mode or not. For example, you can activate a loud alarm during the week and continue to rely on haptic feedback on the weekend. This flexibility is especially useful if you have different wake-up times or don't want your alarms to work the same way every time. Even if you want to be considerate of others in the household—such as your partner—you can now better consider how you wake up.
For whom is this feature particularly useful?
The new feature is primarily aimed at users who wear their Apple Watch at night and use it as an alarm clock. For many, the previous alarm function wasn't reliable enough because it relied solely on vibrations. This isn't always enough, especially during deep sleep. Now you have the choice: vibration only, or vibration plus sound – whichever works best for you. It's also practical for shift workers who rely on precise wake-up times without waking up the entire house. Or for anyone who simply wants more control over how they wake up in the morning.
watchOS 11.4 closes an annoying gap
With watchOS 11.4, Apple is introducing a meaningful improvement for everyday life. The new alarm function isn't a major technical highlight, but it's exactly what many have been wanting for a long time. Finally, you can set certain alarms on your Apple Watch to be audible even in silent mode. And without any detours or manual switching. It's a small feature with a big impact—and one more reason to install the update as soon as it's available. The best products for you: Our Amazon Storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including HomeKit-compatible ones. (Photo by Unsplash / Szabo Viktor)
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