Apple has pushed out the watchOS 4.1 update for the Apple Watch, bringing several highly anticipated features to the smartwatch. Users of Apple’s smartwatch will be able to stream directly from the watch without an iPhone, Wi-Fi toggle, support for Gymkit and much more.
What’s included in the watchOS 4.1 update?
After installing the update, Apple Watch users will be able to stream directly from Apple Music or Apple Radio and the full iCloud Music Library over Wi-Fi (or over LTE for the models that equipped with it). The new version of the OS also brings with it a new Apple Radio app and support for GymKit which enables users to pair their watch with compatible gym equipment so data can be shared between devices.
The watchOS 4.1 update also adds a Wi-Fi toggle to the Control Center for the LTE-equipped Apple Watch Series 3 so that users can select cellular when they’re not using their iPhone. This toggle can also be useful in other situations, like when your Internet goes down so you want the watch to use cellular data instead (similar to how some mobile phones are when the Wi-Fi network they’re connected to goes down).
The changelog also states that watchOS 4.1 fixes a number of problems, including issues with Heart Rate notifications not being delivered when the feature was enabled. It also corrected problems with Stand Reminders and with haptics not being delivered for silent alarms. The update also fixes a charging problem with the first-generation model and resolves problems with the Sunrise and Sunset complication. It doesn’t appear that the watchOS 4.1 update fixes the LTE issues that were rampant when the Apple Watch Series 3 was released.
How to download and install the watchOS 4.1 update
The Apple Watch Series 3 launched in September without a few features that buyers were looking forward to, but the update will add those features. Although the Apple Watch Series 3 has much more functionality than its predecessors, the original Apple Watch and the Series 2 model can still benefit from installing the watchOS 4.1 update. Here’s how to download and install it:
- Put the Apple Watch on the charger.
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.
- On your iPhone, go to Watch -> General -> Software Update.
- Then tap “Download and Install.”
Installing the watchOS 4.1 update will take quite a lot of time, so don’t expect it to be done in only a minute or two.
