Pixel Watch: Wear OS 5 causes enormous problems, Google delays rollout

Google began rolling out the Wear OS 5 update to the Google Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 on September 24, 2024. Shortly afterwards, users complained on Reddit and elsewhere that the update had rendered their smartwatch practically unusable, as the watch got stuck on a black screen.

Affected users must reset their Pixel Watch to factory settings, which, however, means that all data stored on the watch is lost, so apps must be reinstalled and watch faces set up again. Google has now confirmed in a support article that the company is working on a solution to the problem. The rollout of Wear OS 5 was thus discontinued on September 26 in order to prevent further users from being affected by the error.

The rollout of Wear OS 5 for the Pixel Watch is set to continue later this year, but Google has not yet been able to provide a more precise timeline. It is unclear whether this means that updates for users who have already installed Wear OS 5, such as the October security update, will also be delayed. Wear OS 5 introduces a number of new features already known from the Pixel Watch 3, including a grid view for app selection, an audio recorder app, a privacy dashboard, improved run tracking and longer battery life.