So that you simply received a Google Pixel Watch 2, and you actually aren’t certain the place to start out. Properly, not solely are you getting one of many sleekest smartwatches in the marketplace, however Google managed to offer fairly a couple of upgrades over the unique Pixel Watch. Maybe the perfect a part of all of it is seeing new options and enhancements made on the software program aspect of issues.
Mant options are much like what you may discover on the unique Pixel Watch, however there are nonetheless some variations between the 2. With that in thoughts, let’s dive into the primary issues to do with the Pixel Watch 2.Â
Arrange Emergency SOS and Fall Detection
First launched in late 2022, Google added the flexibility to your Pixel Watch to succeed in out to Emergency Companies or a liked one if you happen to want help. Though we hope you may by no means have to make use of it, we nonetheless advocate getting every little thing arrange, simply in case.Â
1. Wake your Pixel Watch by tapping the display screen or urgent both the aspect button or the crown.
2. Swipe down on the watch face to disclose the Fast Settings panel.
3. Faucet the Settings (cog icon) button.
4. Scroll down and faucet Security & Emergency.
5. Faucet Emergency SOS.
6. Faucet the toggle subsequent to the Emergency gesture and Countdown alarm to allow them.
7. Return to the earlier display screen and faucet Emergency location service.
8. Allow Emergency location service performance.
9. Exit the Settings app.
The characteristic is offered for each generations of the Pixel Watch, with the one distinction coming down as to whether you personal an LTE or Wi-Fi mannequin. When you’ve got a Pixel Watch 2 with LTE, your smartwatch will be capable to make the required calls straight. In any other case, your telephone will should be inside vary of your smartwatch as it would depend on the telephone to make the decision.Â
One other new characteristic launched by Google for the Pixel Watch lineup is the flexibility to your wearable to detect once you fall. It does so by using on-device Machine Studying paired with the built-in movement sensors. It, too, is offered on each the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, however like Emergency SOS, Fall Detection must first be enabled.Â
1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your telephone.Â
2. Scroll down and choose Security & emergency.Â
3. Faucet Fall detection.Â
4. Faucet the toggle subsequent to Use fall detection to the On place.
When your Pixel Watch 2 acknowledges that you’ve got fallen and wish help, it would “vibrate, sound an alarm, and test if you happen to need assistance.” This occurs after 30 seconds, and if you happen to do not reply, it would then name emergency companies utilizing an “automated message that gives your location and requests assist.”
Sync DND & Bedtime Mode along with your telephone
One of many extra stunning options launched with the Pixel Watch 2 was the flexibility to lastly sync Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Mode along with your telephone. This has been a long-requested characteristic, and till it was revealed, left many questioning why it wasn’t already accessible.Â
1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your telephone.
2. Scroll down and faucet Notifications.Â
3. Swipe down and faucet the toggle subsequent to Sync throughout watch and telephone.Â
Beforehand you would need to arrange the DND and Bedtime Mode in your telephone and watch, individually. It was extra of a headache than the rest, so evidently we’re comfortable to see this characteristic added.
Unlock your telephone along with your watch
When Google introduced the December 2023 Characteristic Drop, the corporate lastly added the brand new Watch Unlock characteristic. This was initially launched again in 2022 however had but to really make its technique to gadgets.Â
Watch Unlock is pretty much like the Sensible Lock performance that we have loved on Android for years. With this characteristic arrange and enabled, you can mechanically unlock your telephone with no need to enter a passcode. As you would possibly suspect, this characteristic must first be enabled earlier than you can begin utilizing it.Â
1. Open the Watch app in your telephone.
2. Scroll down and faucet Watch preferences.Â
3. Faucet Safety.Â
4. Faucet Watch Unlock.Â
5. When prompted, enter your telephone’s PIN or password.
6. Scroll to the underside of the web page and faucet the Affirm button.
7. If you have not already arrange a display screen lock to your watch, you may be prompted to take action. Simply observe the on-screen steps out of your Pixel Watch.
8. As soon as full, faucet the Achieved button.Â
Understand that this characteristic is simply accessible for Pixel telephones operating Android 13 or greater, so you may be out of luck if you happen to personal another sort of Android telephone. Watch Unlock additionally doesn’t work on tablets or different gadgets.
Change and customise your watch face
It is one factor to swap out your watch band for one thing that matches your temper. However, simply doing one thing so simple as utilizing a unique watch face can change the way in which you view smartwatches. Fortunately, Google features a plethora of choices to select from, a few of that are moderately fundamental, whereas others might be custom-made to your coronary heart’s content material.Â
1. Open the Watch app in your telephone.
2. Faucet the Watch faces button.
3. If enhancing the present watch face, faucet the Edit button under the preview.
4. If including a brand new watch face, faucet the + Add new button.
5. Choose a watch face so as to add.
6. Make any adjustments to the assorted kinds and problems.Â
7. Faucet the Add button under the watch face preview.
8. Within the high proper nook, faucet the again arrow.Â
9. Swipe left or proper to find the newly created watch face.
10. Faucet the Use on watch button.
Understand that you do not have to stay to the built-in watch faces that Google offers. There are many watch faces and apps you possibly can obtain from the Play Retailer if Google would not have something that tickles your fancy. Take a look at the following part to get began with the Play Retailer in your Pixel Watch 2.
Obtain your apps
One space that was once a degree of competition when it got here to the Put on OS platform was the standard of the apps. In 2023, Google started making strides to alter that, because it launched new necessities for builders so as to present a “fundamental constant expertise throughout all apps.”Â
Whereas smartwatch apps aren’t practically as feature-rich as their telephone counterparts, they will nonetheless turn out to be useful. Plus, with the addition of problems to numerous watch faces, your Pixel Watch 2 can change into much more versatile than it already is.
Whenever you undergo the preliminary setup course of, you may be prompted to put in apps which can be already accessible in your telephone. However you may as well manually seek for and set up apps proper from the Google Play Retailer app in your wrist. Google has even made it straightforward to put in Put on OS apps out of your telephone, due to the drop-down menu subsequent to the set up button within the Play Retailer. Â
Get some spare watch bands
Together with utilizing a unique watch face, one other technique to customise your Pixel Watch 2 is to make the most of a unique watch band. Possibly the default silicone band has simply worn out, otherwise you need one thing to match your outfit. Fortunately, there are a plethora of Pixel Watch 2 bands accessible, even with Google nonetheless using a proprietary band connector.Â
You possibly can even go as far as to make use of virtually any band that tickles your fancy, as you possibly can seize an adapter, connect a conventional 20mm watch band, and be in your manner. This makes for limitless mixtures so that you can combine and match relying on what you are doing, or your temper.
Google Pixel Watch Energetic Sport Band
Default for exercises
Google’s Energetic Sport Band may not be essentially the most thrilling band, however it’s incredible if you need a silicone band that breaths. It is accessible in a couple of totally different colours, and matches the Pixel Watch 2 completely.
Google Pixel Watch Woven Band
Distinctive, however not for everybody
It is apparent that Google is keen to strive various things with the Pixel Watch 2, as evidenced by the Woven Band. This too, is available in a couple of totally different colours, however you may need to take note of the dimensions of your wrist as even the biggest choice could be too small.
Ringke Google Pixel Watch Metallic One Band
Flashy, glossy, and formal
There’s one thing to be mentioned about pairing a smartwatch with a metallic band. Not solely does it go effectively with virtually each state of affairs, however it additionally provides you the sensation that you just’re sporting a “conventional” watch as a substitute of 1 which you can make calls from.
Pay along with your Watch 2
I do not find out about you, however the comfort of with the ability to pay for issues proper from my wrist is extremely handy. Google Pockets on the Pixel Watch 2 is sort of the proper mixture, as you may solely have to double-press the crown to provoke the method.Â
The one “catch” is that the Google Pockets app in your telephone must be arrange first, earlier than you possibly can try to set it up on the Pixel Watch 2. Fortunately, we now have a superb information which you can try, so you can begin utilizing your watch to pay for issues.Â
1. Double-press the crown in your Pixel Watch.
2. Swipe to the left to undergo the tutorial.
3. Faucet the Add card+ button.
4. You’ll be taken to the Pockets app in your Android telephone.
5. Faucet the Add to look at button.
6. Choose one of many pre-existing playing cards hooked up to Google Pay, or faucet New credit score or debit card.
7. If including a brand new card, observe the on-screen steps to finish the method.
Not solely will you be capable to pay for gadgets with Google Pockets in your Pixel Watch 2, however you may as well entry your varied passes and loyalty playing cards for straightforward entry. It is tremendous handy!
Nice-tune your notifications
Even when you do not have a whole lot of the perfect Android apps put in in your telephone, you continue to in all probability get extra notifications than you need. So once you pair the Pixel Watch 2 to your telephone, you may be consistently berated by apps attempting to get your consideration. Fortunately, you do not have to let each app trouble you and may customise what notifications really seem in your wrist.
1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your telephone.
2. Scroll down and faucet Notifications.Â
3. Faucet the toggle subsequent to the app to show off its notifications.Â
4. If you wish to customise which apps can ship notifications, faucet See all apps from final 7 days.Â
5. Undergo the record of purposes and faucet every one that you just need to flip off.Â
The one different factor that we advocate is to return and prune the record of accepted apps. In any other case, you may finish proper again at sq. one all since you downloaded a couple of new apps that caught your eye.Â
Seize a spare charger
One of the crucial irritating elements of the perfect smartwatches is that lots of them use a proprietary charger. This contains the Pixel Watch 2, as it isn’t even the identical Qi charging puck as the unique Pixel Watch. As an alternative, Google opted to introduce pogo pins, because it offers quicker and extra dependable charging speeds.Â
Whereas Google features a charging cable within the field, we extremely advocate choosing up a spare one. In any other case, you would possibly find yourself like my colleague Nick Sutrich, who had a rabbit chew by means of his Pixel Watch cable and was out of luck till he grabbed a substitute.Â
It is also value mentioning that if you happen to’re upgrading from a Fitbit Sense 2 or Versa 4, these chargers will work with the Pixel Watch 2.
Discover what Fitbit can do for you
Though the {hardware} may need been a bit lackluster, in some regards, that is not the case with Fitbit’s cellular app. It is change into fairly clear that Google is ready on slowly rebranding the Fitbit that we knew and liked. Nonetheless, Google has additionally proven that the Fitbit app will probably be how you retain monitor of your varied exercises and metrics.
Google contains six months of Fitbit Premium with each Pixel Watch 2 buy, supplying you with entry to “unique exercises, mindfulness classes, and extra.” Fitbit Premium additionally provides quite a lot of different options, together with customized insights and even a wellness report.Â
Even if you happen to choose out of Premium after the six-month trial has concluded, the Fitbit app nonetheless serves because the hub for monitoring your varied well being metrics. Through the setup course of, you are prompted to attach the Fitbit app to your Pixel Watch 2, and from there, we advocate testing what the app has to supply. Plus, the six-month trial ought to take loads of time to find out whether or not it is value signing up for the subscription or simply counting on the free options.
Benefit from the Pixel Watch 2
Final, however definitely not least — simply take pleasure in your new smartwatch. The Pixel Watch 2 may not be as flashy because the Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional, however it does have loads of bells and whistles to take pleasure in. There are many options that make this probably the greatest Android smartwatches, and we’re comfortable to see Google committing to wearables.
Virtually excellent
There’s quite a bit to love concerning the Pixel Watch 2, even when it could be a bit too small for some. Google appears devoted to bettering its wearable platform, and what higher technique to get in on the bottom flooring than with the corporate’s personal {hardware}?
