Apple watchOS 9.4 released, supports direct deletion of built-in App

Apple today pushed the watchOS 9.4 update (internal version number: 20T253) to Apple Watch users, 42 days after the last release.

Apple watchOS 9.4 can be downloaded for free from the Apple Watch app on your iPhone by opening the app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to be at least 50 percent charged and on a charger.

The Apple watchOS 9.4 update adds support for new emoji characters, including donkey, goose, blackbird, bobble head, hyacinth, pea pod and more. The update also makes changes to wake-up alerts, which can no longer be muted by the mute gesture to prevent accidental cancellation.

The summary of the update as follows:

Wake-up alerts can no longer be muted via the "mute over" gesture to avoid accidental cancellation while sleeping

Cycle tracking using retrospective ovulation estimation and cycle deviation alerts is now supported in Moldova and Ukraine

AFib history now available in Colombia, Malaysia, Moldova, Thailand, and Ukraine

In addition, the watchOS 9.4 update has a hidden feature that allows users to remove built-in apps directly from the Apple Watch. Apple did not mention this feature in the update’s release notes, but a support document for removing built-in apps from various devices has been updated.

After updating to watchOS 9.4 or later, the following apps can be removed directly from the Apple Watch:

Activity, Water Depth, Emergency Alerts, Find, Heart Rate, Maps, Wallet, Training, World Clock

Apple warns that removing built-in apps may affect the core functionality of the device. For example, if you delete the Heart Rate app, Apple Watch will not send high heart rate, low heart rate, arrhythmia, and aerobic fitness notifications.

Note that due to server configuration caching issues across Apple’s regional nodes, there may be a slight delay in detecting the update update in some locations, typically within half an hour, not too long.