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So you simply obtained a Google Pixel Watch 2, and you actually aren’t positive the place to begin. Well, not solely are you getting certainly one of the sleekest smartwatches on the market, however Google managed to present fairly a number of upgrades over the unique Pixel Watch. Perhaps the finest a part of all of it is seeing new options and enhancements made on the software program facet of things.
Mant options are related to what you may discover on the unique Pixel Watch, however there are nonetheless some variations between the two. With that in thoughts, let’s dive into the first things to do with the Pixel Watch 2.
Set up Emergency SOS and Fall Detection
First launched in late 2022, Google added the capacity to your Pixel Watch to attain out to Emergency Services or a liked one if you happen to want help. Although we hope you may by no means have to use it, we nonetheless advocate getting every little thing arrange, simply in case.
1. Wake your Pixel Watch by tapping the display or urgent both the facet button or the crown.
2. Swipe down on the watch face to reveal the Quick Settings panel.
3. Tap the Settings (cog icon) button.
4. Scroll down and faucet Safety & Emergency.
5. Tap Emergency SOS.
6. Tap the toggle subsequent to the Emergency gesture and Countdown alarm to allow them.
7. Go again to the earlier display and faucet Emergency location service.
8. Enable Emergency location service performance.
9. Exit the Settings app.
The characteristic is on the market for each generations of the Pixel Watch, with the solely distinction coming down to whether or not you personal an LTE or Wi-Fi mannequin. If you’ve got a Pixel Watch 2 with LTE, your smartwatch can be in a position to make the crucial calls instantly. Otherwise, your telephone will want to be inside vary of your smartwatch as it is going to depend on the telephone to make the name.
Another new characteristic launched by Google for the Pixel Watch lineup is the capacity to your wearable to detect whenever you fall. It does so by using on-device Machine Learning paired with the built-in movement sensors. It, too, is on the market on each the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, however like Emergency SOS, Fall Detection wants to first be enabled.
1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your telephone.
2. Scroll down and choose Safety & emergency.
3. Tap Fall detection.
4. Tap the toggle subsequent to Use fall detection to the On place.
When your Pixel Watch 2 acknowledges that you have fallen and want help, it is going to “vibrate, sound an alarm, and check if you need help.” This occurs after 30 seconds, and if you happen to do not reply, it is going to then name emergency companies utilizing an “automated message that provides your location and requests help.”
Sync DND & Bedtime Mode with your telephone
One of the extra stunning options launched with the Pixel Watch 2 was the capacity to lastly sync Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Mode with your telephone. This has been a long-requested characteristic, and till it was revealed, left many questioning why it wasn’t already obtainable.
1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your telephone.
2. Scroll down and faucet Notifications.
3. Swipe down and faucet the toggle subsequent to Sync throughout watch and telephone.
Previously you’d have to arrange the DND and Bedtime Mode in your telephone and watch, individually. It was extra of a headache than the rest, so unnecessary to say we’re joyful to see this characteristic added.
Unlock your telephone with your watch
When Google introduced the December 2023 Feature Drop, the firm lastly added the new Watch Unlock characteristic. This was initially launched again in 2022 however had but to really make its method to gadgets.
Watch Unlock is pretty related to the Smart Lock performance that we have loved on Android for years. With this characteristic arrange and enabled, you may have the ability to robotically unlock your telephone without having to enter a passcode. As you may suspect, this characteristic wants to first be enabled earlier than you can begin utilizing it.
1. Open the Watch app in your telephone.
2. Scroll down and faucet Watch preferences.
3. Tap Security.
4. Tap Watch Unlock.
5. When prompted, enter your telephone’s PIN or password.
6. Scroll to the backside of the web page and faucet the Confirm button.
7. If you have not already arrange a display lock to your watch, you may be prompted to do so. Just observe the on-screen steps out of your Pixel Watch.
8. Once full, faucet the Done button.
Keep in thoughts that this characteristic is simply obtainable for Pixel telephones working Android 13 or larger, 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’s one factor to swap out your watch band for one thing that matches your temper. But, simply doing one thing so simple as utilizing a distinct watch face can change the method you view smartwatches. Thankfully, Google features a plethora of choices to select from, a few of that are quite fundamental, whereas others might be personalized to your coronary heart’s content material.
1. Open the Watch app in your telephone.
2. Tap the Watch faces button.
3. If modifying 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. Select a watch face to add.
6. Make any modifications to the numerous kinds and issues.
7. Tap the Add button under the watch face preview.
8. In the high proper nook, faucet the again arrow.
9. Swipe left or proper to find the newly created watch face.
10. Tap the Use on watch button.
Keep in thoughts that you do not have to stick to the built-in watch faces that Google offers. There are loads of watch faces and apps you possibly can obtain from the Play Store if Google does not have something that tickles your fancy. Check out the subsequent part to get began with the Play Store in your Pixel Watch 2.
Download your apps
One space that used to be some extent of rivalry when it got here to the Wear OS platform was the high quality of the apps. In 2023, Google started making strides to change that, because it launched new necessities for builders so as to present a “basic consistent experience across all apps.”
While smartwatch apps aren’t practically as feature-rich as their telephone counterparts, they’ll nonetheless come in useful. Plus, with the addition of issues to numerous watch faces, your Pixel Watch 2 can turn into much more versatile than it already is.
When you undergo the preliminary setup course of, you may be prompted to set up apps which can be already obtainable in your telephone. But you can too manually seek for and set up apps proper from the Google Play Store app in your wrist. Google has even made it straightforward to set up Wear OS apps out of your telephone, thanks to the drop-down menu subsequent to the set up button in the Play Store.
Get some spare watch bands
Along with utilizing a distinct watch face, one other method to customise your Pixel Watch 2 is to make the most of a distinct watch band. Maybe the default silicone band has simply worn out, otherwise you need one thing to match your outfit. Thankfully, there are a plethora of Pixel Watch 2 bands obtainable, even with Google nonetheless using a proprietary band connector.
You may even go as far as to use virtually any band that tickles your fancy, as you possibly can seize an adapter, connect a standard 20mm watch band, and be in your method. This makes for limitless combos for you to combine and match relying on what you are doing, or your temper.
Google Pixel Watch Active Sport Band
Default for exercises
Google’s Active Sport Band won’t be the most enjoyable band, but it surely’s improbable if you’d like a silicone band that breaths. It’s obtainable in a number of totally different colours, and matches the Pixel Watch 2 completely.
Google Pixel Watch Woven Band
Unique, however not for everybody
It’s apparent that Google is keen to strive totally different things with the Pixel Watch 2, as evidenced by the Woven Band. This too, is available in a number of totally different colours, however you may need to concentrate to the measurement of your wrist as even the largest possibility is likely to be too small.
Ringke Google Pixel Watch Metal One Band
Flashy, smooth, and formal
There’s one thing to be stated about pairing a smartwatch with a steel band. Not solely does it go nicely with virtually each situation, but it surely additionally offers you the feeling that you simply’re sporting a “traditional” watch as an alternative of 1 which you could make calls from.
Pay with your Watch 2
I do not learn about you, however the comfort of having the ability to pay for things proper from my wrist is extremely handy. Google Wallet on the Pixel Watch 2 is nearly the excellent mixture, as you may solely want to double-press the crown to provoke the course of.
The solely “catch” is that the Google Wallet app in your telephone wants to be arrange first, earlier than you possibly can try to set it up on the Pixel Watch 2. Thankfully, we have now a superb information which you could take a look at, so you can begin utilizing your watch to pay for things.
1. Double-press the crown in your Pixel Watch.
2. Swipe to the left to undergo the tutorial.
3. Tap the Add card+ button.
4. You can be taken to the Wallet app in your Android telephone.
5. Tap the Add to watch button.
6. Select certainly one of the 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 full the course of.
Not solely will you have the ability to pay for gadgets with Google Wallet in your Pixel Watch 2, however you can too entry your numerous passes and loyalty playing cards for simple entry. It’s tremendous handy!
Fine-tune your notifications
Even if you do not have tons of of the finest Android apps put in in your telephone, you continue to most likely get extra notifications than you need. So whenever you pair the Pixel Watch 2 to your telephone, you may be consistently berated by apps making an attempt to get your consideration. Thankfully, you do not have to let each app trouble you and might customise what notifications really seem in your wrist.
1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your telephone.
2. Scroll down and faucet Notifications.
3. Tap the toggle subsequent to the app to flip off its notifications.
4. If you need to customise which apps can ship notifications, faucet See all apps from final 7 days.
5. Go via the checklist of purposes and faucet each that you really want to flip off.
The solely different factor that we advocate is to return and prune the checklist of authorised apps. Otherwise, you may finish proper again at sq. one all since you downloaded a number of new apps that caught your eye.
Grab a spare charger
One of the most irritating facets of the finest smartwatches is that a lot of them use a proprietary charger. This consists of the Pixel Watch 2, as it is not even the identical Qi charging puck as the unique Pixel Watch. Instead, Google opted to introduce pogo pins, because it offers sooner and extra dependable charging speeds.
While Google features a charging cable in the field, we extremely advocate selecting up a spare one. Otherwise, you may find yourself like my colleague Nick Sutrich, who had a rabbit chew via his Pixel Watch cable and was out of luck till he grabbed a alternative.
It’s additionally 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.
Explore what Fitbit can do for you
Although the {hardware} might need been a bit lackluster, in some regards, that is not the case with Fitbit’s cellular app. It’s turn into fairly clear that Google is about on slowly rebranding the Fitbit that we knew and liked. However, Google has additionally proven that the Fitbit app can be how you retain observe of your numerous exercises and metrics.
Google consists of six months of Fitbit Premium with each Pixel Watch 2 buy, providing you with entry to “exclusive workouts, mindfulness sessions, and more.” Fitbit Premium additionally gives quite a lot of different options, together with customized insights and even a wellness report.
Even if you happen to decide out of Premium after the six-month trial has concluded, the Fitbit app nonetheless serves as the hub for monitoring your numerous well being metrics. During the setup course of, you are prompted to join the Fitbit app to your Pixel Watch 2, and from there, we advocate trying out what the app has to provide. Plus, the six-month trial ought to take loads of time to decide whether or not it is value signing up for the subscription or simply counting on the free options.
Enjoy the Pixel Watch 2
Last, however definitely not least — simply take pleasure in your new smartwatch. The Pixel Watch 2 won’t be as flashy as the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, but it surely does have lots of bells and whistles to take pleasure in. There are loads of options that make this certainly one of the finest Android smartwatches, and we’re joyful to see Google committing to wearables.
Almost excellent
There’s rather a lot to like about the Pixel Watch 2, even when it is likely to be a bit too small for some. Google appears devoted to bettering its wearable platform, and what higher method to get in on the floor ground than with the firm’s personal {hardware}?
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