Pixel Watch to Gain Always-On Display Media Controls with Wear OS 6 Update
Google is preparing to enable always-on display functionality for media controls on the Pixel Watch 4, 3, and 2 with an upcoming Wear OS 6 update, allowing users to see song information and controls without waking the device.
Currently, when a Pixel Watch enters system ambient mode, the most recent activity remains visible, but media controls are blurred with the time displayed over them. The update will change this, displaying current song details and controls even when the watch isn’t actively being used, similar to how Google Maps navigation and Google Keep notes appear in ambient mode. This feature enhances usability, allowing for quick glanceable control of audio playback.
Google previewed the redesigned Material 3 Expressive Media Controls, which include a music note icon for complications and watch faces, and demonstrated how the background artwork will fade to black while buttons become faint outlines. The company confirmed that the update is slated for release later this year, with the December quarterly Pixel Watch update being a likely delivery window. For more information on Wear OS, visit the official Wear OS website.
In addition to the media controls update, Google is also addressing an issue where switching accounts on the Gemini app requires users to re-establish the connection on their watch, a process that currently requires phone access. This update aims to streamline the user experience across devices, a key focus for Google’s broader ecosystem strategy as detailed in their recent blog post.
Google officials stated that the Media Controls update will be available on all Wear OS 6 devices, and they are working to resolve the Gemini account switching issue in a future release.
At the moment, Wear OS 6 on the Pixel Watch 4, 3, and 2 does not support always-on display Media Controls, but that is coming soon.
With Wear OS 6, the “previous top activity remains visible and in the ‘resumed’ state when the device enters system ambient mode.”
The example Google provided was how the “current song and media controls remain visible even when the user isn’t interacting with the Wear OS device.” At the left (above), we see the redesigned Material 3 Expressive Media Controls that went live on the Pixel Watch 4, and the Wear OS 6 update for the Pixel Watch 2 and 3. (The other tweak Google made was adding a music note icon for the complication and at the bottom of your watch face.)
On the right, the background artwork fades into a black background, with the various buttons becoming faint outlines and the time at the top of your screen. This is like Google Maps navigation and Google Keep notes.
This is not yet live on any device, with Google telling us this week that the Media Controls update is targeting later this year for Pixel Watch. That presumably means it will be available on all of Google’s Wear OS 6 devices. In terms of timing, the next quarterly Pixel Watch update should be in December.
At the moment, it’s the same behavior as before with the entire Media Controls ‘app’ blurring and the time appearing overlaid at the center.
Meanwhile, Google is looking to address how switching accounts on your phone’s Gemini app (like between personal and work) will require you to set up Gemini on your watch again. This process annoyingly requires going to your phone.
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