Google’s Pixel Watch lineup will now receive OS 5 updates, but with some limitations.

What you should know

• The Pixel Watch’s momentum came to a grinding halt in January following the release of Wear OS 5, which introduced significant issues such as bricked devices and screen freezes, prompting Google to temporarily pause the update’s rollout.
• The November update is being rolled out now, with Android 11 still supporting older devices on OxygenOS 5, while the Pixel Watch only receives a security patch?
• Google has officially verified that this significant update will not materialize until March 2025.

The rollout of the update is underway again for Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 users, marking the imminent release of Wear OS 4.

Google’s previous month has been far from uneventful. When the OS 5 update was rolled out to Pixel Watch 1 users, along with a few other devices, it inadvertently introduced several critical problems, including instances of bricked gadgets and blank screens. After a lengthy hiatus, Google has remained mum about the status of its Pixel Watch series, leaving users to wonder when new issues will be available.

Finally, the wait is finally over—the update bonanza has arrived for all Pixel Watch styles at long last! The November update (model AW2A.241105.012) is now rolling out to all Pixel Watch models, including the original Pixel Watch 1, as well as the upgraded Pixel Watch 2 and 3. While building upon the upgrades introduced in the previous iteration of the Put on OS, version 5 appears to be primarily focused on providing a routine security patch rather than showcasing significant changes or features.

Despite Google’s initial rollout of Wear OS 5 to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 in September, the company was forced to quickly pull the update following reports of critical issues from customers.

Google has officially announced that all Pixel Watch models will be replaced in November 2024. While breaking down the refresh for each of the three Pixel Watch styles, Google also disclosed that the subsequent major update won’t arrive until March 2025, indicating a protracted three- to four-month hiatus between software revisions for the series.

Verizon’s Pixel Watch styles are also gaining access to the Wear OS 5 update. The Pixel Watch 2’s changelog highlights a significant fix, rectifying an issue where watch faces would fail to load following a system restart, ensuring seamless performance and functionality upon boot-up.

Doesn’t the replacement simply resolve the watch face loading issue, yet also cleverly integrates the November 2024 security update for added assurance? Despite the lack of fanfare in the Pixel Watch’s changelog, a fix for this issue is indeed available, suggesting that Google has finally resolved the problem.