Google Removes Clock App From Non-Pixel Wear OS Watches
Google has stopped supporting its Clock app on all Wear OS smartwatches that are not manufactured by Pixel, a change that went into effect yesterday and impacts app availability for new users.
The company announced the decision late last week, explaining that the move is a direct result of other watch brands increasingly offering their own default clock applications on the Wear OS platform. While users who have already installed the Google Clock app will be able to continue using it, they will no longer receive updates. New users with non-Pixel Wear OS devices will find the app unavailable for download through the Play Store.
This change also removes access to the integrated alarm, timer, and stopwatch functions within the Google Clock app for those users. Google highlighted the availability of alternative clock applications on the Play Store for Wear OS devices, offering users other options. This shift comes as Wear OS 6 continues its rollout, bringing a more expressive user interface to eligible devices.
The decision has already drawn criticism from some users in the Wear OS support community, but Google maintains that the change is necessary given the evolving landscape of the platform. This move underscores a trend toward greater customization and brand differentiation within the Wear OS ecosystem, potentially leading to a more fragmented user experience. For more information on Wear OS features, visit the official Wear OS website.
Google officials stated that they will continue to monitor user feedback and evaluate future options for the Clock app.
What you need to know
- Google announced that its Wear OS Clock app will no longer be available on non-Pixel watches.
- The company states that this move is the direct result of other brands “offering their own default clock apps.”
- Users with Google’s version can continue to use it (just without updates), but non-Pixel watches moving forward will lose access to its Play Store availability.
Google announced late this week, stating that this is due to other watch creators simply going their own route with the Wear OS clock.
In a Wear OS support thread, Google officially announced that it has halted support for its Clock app on all non-Pixel smartwatches. The post states, if you have a Pixel Watch, you won’t be affected by this new decision. However, if you have “any other Wear OS” watch, you will see this change. To break this down, Google says that watches without the Clock app installed already will no longer find it available via the Play Store.
If you’ve already previously installed the Clock app, you can continue to use it, though you should know that it will no longer receive updates.
Google explains that the reason it’s made this change is due to other “watch brands offering their own default clock apps on Wear OS.” As a result, Google’s Clock app, which you could previously download on, say, a Galaxy Watch, has been retracted. The clock is gone, as well as the included alarm, timer, and stopwatch functions within the app.
Some users on the Wear OS support thread have already voiced their displeasure with the move, but it seems that Google’s decision is set in stone. The company highlights the availability of other clock apps on the Play Store for Wear OS watches, as an alternative for users looking for something different.
This is certainly a change
Wear OS 6 started moving eligible devices into its new, more expressive wristbound world this year. The Pixel Watch 4 already came with this newer software, and Google started rolling it out to its past-gen devices in October.
A few weeks ago, Pixel Watch 3 and 2 users started receiving their Wear OS 6 upgrade (things look bleak for the O.G. Pixel Watch). Originally, the OTA images started appearing for the update, and Android Central quickly confirmed that it had begun hitting the two aforementioned watches officially. Users should’ve seen it earlier this month, but it’s likely that now, late in October, even more should have it.
The Wear OS 6 demo that Google showcased detailed a smoother scrolling experience with a fully immersive UI for its unique glass-domed Pixel Watch display.
