For the most part, Google has issued an update to the Pixel Watch approximately once a month. Most were simple security updates, while others included new features and operating system updates. Fans were hoping for an update in October, but Google delayed it until this month. This update will resume rolling out Wear OS 5 to Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2 users after a series of crashes caused Google to pause it in September. After several months of work, the company has addressed the cause of the crashes and is confident that yesterday’s update will be stable.
In addition to Wear OS 5the update will also include better camera controls and changes to the Pixel Recorder app, which will be available through the Play Store. Your individual watch will notify you when the update is available for download, so you don’t have to constantly search for it. The first update for the Pixel Watch 3 since its launch also comes with bug fixes and security updates. All Pixel Watch models will eventually be updated to version AW2A.241105.012, although when the update occurs will depend on both the carrier and the device.
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Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a while for the next Pixel Watch software updates, which Google says won’t arrive until March 2025. Until now, Pixel Watch users have never seen a three-month gap in updates before. The longer time between updates generally coincided with OS updates, such as from Wear OS 3 to Wear OS 4. That said, slower updates aren’t necessarily a drawback. By reducing the time spent deploying bug fixes, Google could focus on releasing larger, regular updates, perhaps quarterly instead of monthly.
While the wait is unfortunate, there is a bright silver lining. The schedule for the next update aligns with a feature delivery in March. You can expect some significant updates and improvements, along with some updates we already know are coming, like the Android 15 QPR2 beta. Expect to see changes not only in how the Pixel Watch works, but also in how it interacts with Android. It’s also safe to say that there are likely several surprises that we haven’t encountered yet.
