The latest version of Google’s smartwatch operating system, Wear OS 6, is now making its way to older Google hardware. While the Pixel Watch 4 enjoyed the software from its launch, the update is now rolling out to the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3. This deployment seems to be live in various regions, including the US, UK, and Germany.
How to Get the Wear OS 6 Update Manually
If you’re eager to get your hands on the new software and haven’t received an automatic notification, there’s a tried-and-true method that still works for many users. You can attempt to manually trigger the update.
To do this, navigate to Settings System About on your watch. Once there, you need to keep tapping the watch icon repeatedly. This simple trick often forces the watch to check and pull down the available update if it’s been released in your area. This method has already proven successful for owners of the Pixel Watch 2.
Software Details and Installation Requirements
The new software version is designated as 16.0.0 with the specific build number BP3A.250905.014.W3. The download process itself typically takes around 10 minutes, but you’ll need a little patience for the installation.
To ensure a smooth update, your Pixel Watch needs to be on its charger and maintain a charge level above 50 percent. Note that the rollout appears to include the LTE versions of the Pixel Watch 2 and 3 without any known issues. Pixel Watch 1 users, however, will need to wait a little longer, though Google has confirmed the update will eventually arrive for them.
Impact on Battery Life and Performance
Immediately following the installation, some users have noted a temporary drop in battery performance. It might be wise to hold off on updating right before a long activity or workout.
However, once the system settles in, the news is good for daily usage. Google has stated that thanks to platform optimizations within the new OS, users moving from Wear OS 5 to Wear OS 6 should anticipate an improvement of up to 10% in overall battery life. Beyond just power efficiency, you can also expect a generally smoother experience, including faster performance, improved notification handling, and smoother transitions across the interface.
What to Expect (and What Not To)
While this isn’t a massive redesign, the update includes several small but important tweaks. Additionally, major third-party watch face apps like Facer, Pujie, and Watchmaker are now fully compatible, which should help users customize their device further while they await new official options from Google.
There was some expectation for a full suite of new watch faces with this release. Reports are mixed: some users have seen the Pride watch face appear, and others have successfully installed the related APK. However, faces like “Concentric” are reportedly not yet functional or visible for all users. It remains unclear whether another application update will be necessary to unlock the entire collection of new faces.
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Source: 9to5google.com
