Citizen to end support for Bluetooth watch apps for select models

Citizen has recently confirmed that it will discontinue support for dedicated smartphone apps used with some of its Bluetooth-enabled watches. The change takes effect on December 31, 2027, after which app-linked features for affected models will no longer be supported.

The notice, dated March 30-31, 2026, applies to watches using the W770, W770 Riiiver, W410, and W510 calibers. These platforms power a wide range of Citizen Bluetooth watches that rely on companion apps for functions such as notifications, automatic time syncing, and additional smart features.

From January 1, 2028, Citizen warns that the apps may stop working reliably due to ongoing updates to smartphone operating systems. The company also adds it will not be liable for any loss of functionality tied to these apps after that date.

A long list of affected references has been published - this includes models with case numbers starting with "EE" and "BZ." As mentioned earlier, these span multiple generations of Bluetooth-equipped watches, especially those tied to the Riiiver ecosystem.

The Japanese watch manufacturer also states that core timekeeping functions will continue to be supported as long as repair parts are available. What this means is that the watches will still function as standard quartz timepieces, but connected features will gradually lose relevance once app support ends. We've seen this before with other companies (Fossil, for instance), where early smart or hybrid platforms become difficult to maintain over time due to dependence on mobile operating systems and cloud services.

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