Android smartwatch owners may want to update their devices soon.
The search giant will reportedly stop supporting Assistant on old Android watches soon; it wants customers to upgrade to Wear OS 3 and newer.
Google released Wear OS 2 in Sept. 2018 and has been updating it up until Dec. 2020 with its release of Wear OS 2.23.
End Of The Line
Users of old Android smartwatches may want to update their OS soon or get a new watch entirely. According to a report from 9to5Google, the search giant recently released version Version 2.65.11.552438494 of the Wear OS companion app with a string stating that it is ending Google Assistant support for certain smartwatches soon.
Watches running Wear OS 2 and earlier are the only smartwatches to use this companion app. Meanwhile, Google Assistant is powered by and updated with the Google app in a way similar to Android phones and tablets.
As a result, people using Android smartwatches that still run Wear OS 2 must update them to Wear OS 3 or later or consider getting a new smartwatch that uses Google's more recent Wear OS releases. Unfortunately, Google has yet to officially announce when it will end support for Wear OS 2, though it could happen anytime soon with the recent release of its Wear OS 4, which happened on Aug. 11, per Android Authority.
A Samsung Gear Live watch is seen on display during the Google I/O Developers Conference at Moscone Center on June 25, 2014 in San Francisco, California.
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Google Wear OS 3 Update Advantages
Google's Wear OS 3 didn't have the smoothest rollout when it came in 2021, per The Verge. However, years of improvement made it a good OS to update if Android smartwatch users choose to do so.
For example, Google Maps can use features like turn-by-turn directions when updated to Wear OS 3 while also providing users with quick app switching, an improved Google Assistant, and an SOS feature in the event of an accident or emergency, per Wareable.
Additionally, Wear OS 3 comes with a 30% performance increase compared to Wear OS 2, giving users smoother animations, an improved user interface, and a faster app load time. It even features a "much speedier, bug-free experience" compared to older Wear OS.
Most importantly, Google added the ability to download and install apps direct from the Play Store to an Android Smartwatch, removing the need to download them from a device before they could be installed.
How To Install Wear OS 3
Before updating your Android smartwatch with Wear OS 3, you will want to check if it's eligible for the update. Some companies decided to either roll out their eligibility at a later date, or skip it entirely.
If your smartwatch is eligible, you'll need to factory reset your smartwatch and uninstall the Wear OS by Google app on your Android or iOS phone. Afterward, download your watch's companion app from the App Store or Play Store.
Doing so will display a pop-up on your watch telling you to download Wear OS 3. You can do so using two methods: tapping the notification and doing it manually.
To do it manually, head over to your smartwatch's main menu and open the Settings app, then select System and About. You'll want to find System Updates; tap it and download Wear OS 3 or Wear OS 4 if your smartwatch is eligible for it.
Follow the on-screen prompts until the process is complete. Voila, you now have an updated Android Smartwatch.
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