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Got yourself a new Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2? Google’s Wear OS smartwatches pack many valuable features you might not know about. Here, we’ll uncover them to help you make the most of your Pixel Watch.
1. Workout Screen Customization
If you like to track your workout sessions, you should customize your watch’s workout screen first. This way, you can display the important stats at the top while moving the rest to the bottom or hiding them. You can have a customized workout screen for every activity.
Follow these instructions to customize the workout screen:
Workout screen customization is the only feature on this list that’s limited to the Pixel Watch 2; the original model lacks this.
2. Sync Bedtime Mode With Your Pixel Phone
Have youset up Bedtime mode on your Android phone? If so, you’ll want your Pixel Watch to sync with it and ensure your sleep isn’t disturbed. Likewise, you may want Do Not Disturb mode to sync across your phone and watch so you’re not distracted by incoming notifications while you’re in a meeting.
you’re able to set this up in the Pixel Watch companion app. Simply head to theNotificationssection and make sure theSync across watch and phonesetting is toggled on.
Note that if you’ve paired your Pixel Watch with a non-Pixel phone (like a Samsung device), you won’t be able to sync Bedtime mode between the two devices.
3. Emergency SOS for Assistance
If you haven’t already, the first thing you should do after pairing a Pixel Watch with your phone is to set up Emergency SOS. The feature lets you quickly contact emergency services during a life-threatening situation. You can trigger Emergency SOS by pressing the crown five times.
To set up Emergency SOS on your Pixel Watch, follow the steps below:
From the sameSafety & emergencymenu, you can also enableFall detectionandEmergency info accesson your Pixel Watch. It’s worth taking the time toset up safety and emergency features on your Pixel phoneas well.
4. Hassle-Free Screenshots
Taking screenshots on some Wear OS watches is a pain, as you need to use the companion app on your phone for this. Thankfully, this is not the case with the Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2.
You only need to press the side button and crown simultaneously to take a screenshot. A prompt about the screenshot will appear on the paired phone, which you can tap to share the image.
Note that if you don’t act on the notification, your device won’t save the screenshot. This is a significant limitation as it prevents you from taking multiple screenshots back-to-back.
5. Native Cloud Backups
Backing up the data on your Pixel Watch periodically will make restoration much easier when switching devices or in the case of an unfortunate event that requires a reset.
Wear OS 4 and later include a native cloud backup option, making it much easier to back up your Pixel Watch:
You can also enable cloud backup directly from your Pixel Watch by navigating toSettings > System > Backup.
Your watch will automatically back itself to the linked Google account when it is on charge and connected to Wi-Fi. you may find the last backup details from the same settings page.
6. Mirror Google Maps Directions
Want to use your Pixel Watch for navigating using Google Maps? Using the Google Maps app on your phone to get directions will not automatically mirror the instructions on the watch. You need to enable mirroring manually by following these steps:
The next time you use Google Maps to navigate to a place on your phone, the Maps app on the Pixel Watch will mirror the instructions.
7. Handy Google Assistant Tile
Do you frequentlyuse Google Assistant to control your smart home devicesor set an alarm? Use the Google Assistant tile to add a shortcut to your frequently used voice commands for quick access. This way, you can simply tap the shortcut in the tile to trigger the action instead of invoking Google Assistant every time.
you may only have one Assistant tile with two shortcut actions, which can feel limiting—especially if you heavily rely on the voice assistant.
Access the Google Assistant tile by swiping left or right on the watch face and cycling through all the available tiles. If you don’t see it, long-press on the screen and add the Assistant tile.
It’s worth noting that Google Assistant will rely on your phone to process the command, so the action won’t be triggered instantly when you press the shortcut on the tile.
8. Safety Check to Notify Contacts
If you’re walking through an unsafe neighborhood or traveling alone, and are worried about your safety, you can use the Safety Check feature on your Pixel Watch for peace of mind.
To take advantage of it, you need to set a check-in timer at the end of which you must confirm you’re doing OK. If you don’t provide confirmation, your location will automatically be shared with your specified emergency contacts.
When starting a Safety Check, you may select whether you’re walking alone, going for a run, hiking, or taking transportation. After this, you can set a time and decide whether you want to notify your emergency contacts about this. Similarly, when you confirm your safety by the end of the timer, you can choose to let your contacts know for their confirmation.
you may set up and configure Safety Check fromSettings > Safety & emergency > Safety check. Keep in mind that Safety Check requires Emergency Sharing to work properly. Set up the latter on your Pixel Watch by heading toSettings > Safety & emergency > Emergency sharing.
Safety features like this make the Pixel Watch one of thebest Wear OS watchesto own. Since the Pixel Watch packs so many handy features, it’s possible you don’t know about them all, which might prevent you from using your wearable to its full potential. Now that you’re aware of all the lesser-known functions, you’re able to put some of them to good use and get your money’s worth.
