Did you simply get a brand new smartwatch powered by Wear OS 3 and are questioning what you may truly do with it? The interface has been fully overhauled, whereas nonetheless retaining a lot of the identical performance that we have come to anticipate. Unfortunately, the alternatives for a Wear OS 3 smartwatch are slim, however no matter which one you resolve on, we have got you coated when you’re in search of the very best Wear OS 3 ideas and methods. Change your watch face(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)Where’s the enjoyable in having a smartwatch if you cannot customise it to your liking? Out of the field, every smartwatch ships with just a few completely different “default” watch faces to select from. And here is how one can swap between those which can be pre-installed.1. Wake your smartwatch by tapping the display or urgent both the aspect button or the crown.2. Tap and maintain on the display. 3. Swipe to the left and faucet the Add + button.4. Select one of many accessible watch faces.(Image credit score: Android Central)5. If vital, observe the on-screen steps to customise your watch face.(Image credit score: Android Central)Control your sensible house with Google Home(Image credit score: Android Central)It’s one factor to have the ability to ask for Google’s assist if you wish to activate the lights if you get house from dinner. But it is equally as superior having the ability to take action proper out of your smartwatch. Alongside the discharge of the Pixel Watch, an all-new Google Home app for Wear OS was launched making this attainable. 1. If you have not already performed so, you may wish to set up the Google Home app from the Play Store both out of your Pixel Watch or your smartphone.2. With the app put in, press the haptic crown to entry the apps put in on the watch.3. Scroll down and Home within the app checklist.4. Select the room that accommodates the system(s) you wish to management.5. Tap on the group or system you wish to management.(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)Ask Google Assistant for assist(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)1. Swipe down from the highest of the display and faucet on the ⚙ icon to entry the settings menu.2. Scroll up till and choose Google.3. Choose Assistant.(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)4. Tap on Get began.5. Now, go to your smartphone and faucet Set up within the decrease proper nook.6. Review the knowledge. Then faucet on More and I agree.7. Select I agree.8. Tap on OK.(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)With Google Assistant-enabled, there are 3 ways which you can entry it when you personal a Wear OS 3 smartwatch:1. Press and maintain on the highest button, the one above the haptic crown.2. With the display lively, say, “Hey, Google.”3. Press the haptic crown and choose Assistant from the app checklist.While we’re nonetheless ready for Google Assistant to reach on extra of the very best Android smartwatches, it is a good begin. Especially when you think about that the Galaxy Watch 5 and Pixel Watch are two of the very best and hottest choices in any case.Customize your {hardware} buttons(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Despite having a Digital Crown and a devoted secondary button, you may’t truly customise the actions that these buttons carry out. However, when you personal the Galaxy Watch 4 or 5, then you definitely’re in luck. 1. From your Galaxy Watch, open the Settings app. 2. Scroll down and faucet Advanced options. 3. Tap Customize keys. (Image credit score: Android Central)From right here, there are two completely different sections listed which correlate to the 2 {hardware} buttons. The Home secret is the one positioned on the prime proper, whereas the Back secret is the button within the backside proper. With the Home key, there are two completely different “gestures” that may be carried out, as there is a Double press and a Press and maintain choice. By default, the Double press is programmed to open the latest app, whereas Press and maintain is programmed to launch Bixby. (Image credit score: Android Central)Additionally, the Double press gesture has fairly just a few extra choices accessible.(Image credit score: Android Central)Use Google Wallet on the go(Image credit score: Chris Wedel / Android Central)One of the very best issues about utilizing a smartwatch is the flexibility to make use of it for various duties that you’d usually use your cellphone for. Paying for groceries on the retailer is a superb instance of this, and after getting every thing arrange, you may simply use Google Wallet in your Wear OS 3 smartwatch.1. Double-press the crown in your Pixel Watch.2. Swipe to the left to undergo the tutorial.(Image credit score: Android Central)3. Tap the Add card+ button.(Image credit score: Android Central)4. You will probably be taken to the Wallet app in your Android cellphone.5. Tap the Add to look at button.6. Select one of many pre-existing playing cards connected 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.(Image credit score: Android Central)There are some situations if you might need already connected a card to Google Wallet to be used with a distinct smartwatch, wherein case you may see a card already listed within the app. Nevertheless, you may carry out the identical steps listed above so as to add one other card if you wish to use Google Wallet on Pixel Watch.Download the very best apps from the Play Store(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Where’s the enjoyable in having a smartwatch if you cannot obtain and use completely different apps on it? Sure, there are well being monitoring advantages and the flexibility to get notifications, however there are additionally a bunch of apps accessible to obtain. Many of the very best Android apps in your smartphone even have a companion app for Wear OS 3.Track your sleep(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Pretty a lot each smartwatch, health tracker, and different wearable contains the flexibility to trace your sleep. This contains Wear OS 3 watches, albeit with barely completely different strategies. For occasion, the Pixel Watch works along with the Fitbit app as a way to observe your sleep. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch 5 makes use of the Samsung Health app to do the identical factor. There are professionals and cons to every, however you may be taught extra with our devoted breakdowns of sleep monitoring with every wearable.Ping your cellphone(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)We’ve all been there earlier than. You know you place your cellphone down someplace, however you simply can not seem to bear in mind the place. And due to your smartwatch, you do not have to fret about freaking out. 1. Press the haptic crown in your Pixel Watch to get up the system. Now, there are two methods to make use of your watch to seek out your cellphone.2a. Swipe down on the display to entry the fast toggles.3a. Find the icon that appears like a cellphone with two partial circles and faucet on it.or2b. Press the haptic crown a second time to entry the put in apps.3b. Scroll till you see Find my cellphone within the checklist and faucet on it.4. After utilizing both of those strategies, your watch will present Phone ringing and an X in a circle to cancel the motion.(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)Turn off sounds out of your cellphone(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)It would not take a lot to get inundated with buzzes, beeps, and pings all day lengthy. This is particularly true when you have a number of gadgets making an attempt to ship duplicate notifications in every single place. While we will not communicate to your tablets or computer systems, you can also make it so any notifications that arrive in your cellphone, solely trouble you when you’re carrying a smartwatch.1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your cellphone.2. Tap Notifications. 3. Scroll down and Tap Mute Notifications. 4. Under the Phone part, faucet the toggle subsequent to Mute notifications.(Image credit score: Android Central)Leave your cellphone at house(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)No matter the explanation why you may wish to depart your cellphone behind, you do not want a community connection as a way to preserve utilizing your smartwatch. While the LTE connectivity does come in useful, that is not essentially one thing that everybody needs to spring for. Thankfully, there are many issues that your smartwatch can nonetheless do if it isn’t linked to the web. 
Tell time and show the date.
Set an alarm.
Use the stopwatch.
Use the timer.
View your calendar for immediately.
Display your step rely.
Display your coronary heart charge (in case your watch has this function).
Change your watch face.
Put your watch in airplane mode.
Listen to music by way of your watch.
Track your coronary heart charge(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)In an effort to give you as a lot details about your well being as attainable, lots of the finest wearables are geared up with a well being charge monitor. Some of that are higher than others, however on the very least, you’ll regulate what is going on on. Both the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 5 are geared up with the required sensors to trace your coronary heart charge. And the expertise has reached a degree the place each Google and Samsung have carried out steady coronary heart charge monitoring. This implies that you will not need to manually open the app simply to see the place your coronary heart charge is at. Instead, you may simply look at it from a complication, or open the suitable app based mostly on which Wear OS 3 smartwatch you might be utilizing.Control your cellphone’s digicam(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Foldable cellphone house owners however, are you bored with making an attempt to line up the right shot out of your cellphone, solely to finish up with a slightly-blurry picture? Or perhaps you are making an attempt to prop up your cellphone to take a gaggle picture. Well, as a substitute of counting on the built-in timer, you should use your Wear OS 3 smartwatch to take a photograph or video out of your cellphone. 1. Press the haptic crown in your Pixel to entry the apps checklist.2. Scroll down and faucet Camera. After just a few moments, you may see a preview of your digicam seem in your watch face, full with a Shutter button on the backside. However, this solely works when you have paired the Pixel Watch with a Pixel cellphone. Those who’ve a Galaxy Watch 4 or 5 paired with a Samsung cellphone can benefit from Camera Controller. This is an app that was launched in 2023 following the discharge of the Galaxy S23 lineup. 1. Wake your Galaxy Watch.2. Swipe as much as reveal your App Drawer.3. Locate and faucet the Camera icon.4a. Wait for the Camera app in your cellphone to open.4b. Wait for the preview to complete loading in your Galaxy Watch.(Image credit score: Android Central)5. Line up the image that you simply wish to take.6. Tap the Shutter button.(Image credit score: Android Central)Much just like the Pixel Watch, Samsung additionally offers just a few completely different choices when utilizing Camera Controller. These embody issues comparable to having the ability to set a timer, swap to video recording, and consider your gallery. Pair your earbuds(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Gone are the times if you needed to depend on your cellphone for actually every thing and something. Now, you may even hearth up your favourite music streaming service and take heed to music proper out of your watch. You’ll simply have to pair your Bluetooth headphones with the watch, first.1. Put your earbuds in pairing mode. This will differ relying on the mannequin that you’re utilizing. 2. From your Pixel Watch, swipe down on the watch face to disclose the Quick Settings panel.3. Tap the Settings (cog) icon.4. Tap Connectivity. 5. Select Bluetooth. (Image credit score: Android Central)6. Tap the Pair new system button.7. Select your earbuds from the checklist of accessible gadgets.8. Tap the Checkmark button to verify the earbuds you wish to pair.(Image credit score: Android Central)Get higher battery life(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Over the years, battery life on smartwatches has been a blended bag, and truthfully, that continues to be the case. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is de facto the one Wear OS 3 smartwatch that may truly final for a number of days. But even then, there are just a few completely different steps you may take to try to squeeze much more juice out of your smartwatch. 
Turn off AOD
Change the display timeout
Adjust the Vibration depth
Turn off “Hey Google”
Enable Power Saving Mode
Turn off notifications
Uninstall apps you don’t use
Lower the display brightness
Theater mode
Check for an replace(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)We’re extraordinarily grateful for the truth that smartwatches are getting updates regularly. And whereas the method won’t be as fast as we might hope, it is nonetheless higher than it was once. Here’s how one can test for an replace in your Wear OS 3 smartwatch.1. From your Pixel Watch, swipe down on the watch face to disclose the Quick Settings panel.2. Tap the Settings (cog) button.3. Scroll down and faucet System. (Image credit score: Android Central)4. Tap System updates. 5. If an replace is accessible, look ahead to it to be downloaded and put in.(Image credit score: Android Central)If an replace is accessible, you’ll probably see a immediate informing you that the downloading course of has began. Once the replace has completed downloading, the Pixel Watch will reboot, displaying an “Installing update…” message. Update your apps(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Even when you by no means obtain any apps from the Play Store, there are nonetheless just a few apps which can be pre-installed with Wear OS 3. However, as a substitute of ready for a system replace to get new options, you may replace your apps proper from the Play Store. 1. Open the app drawer in your respective Wear OS 3 smartwatch.2. Locate and faucet the Play Store app icon.3. Scroll to the underside of the principle display and faucet Manage apps. 4. If relevant, faucet the Update All button.5. If you need, you can even replace particular person apps by first tapping them. 6. Then, faucet the Update button that seems.Take a screenshot(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)The technique for taking a screenshot on any Android smartwatch varies relying on the mannequin. For occasion, with the Galaxy Watch 5, you may simply press the Home and Back key concurrently. Then, the display will flash, simply as you may discover when taking a screenshot in your cellphone.Unfortunately, the identical cannot be mentioned for the Pixel Watch, as you may have to first allow Developer Options in your cellphone. We aren’t precisely positive why that is the case, however it’s only a minor hurdle to beat. That being mentioned when you do not have already got these choices enabled, take a look at Jerry Hildenbrand’s explainer which covers all of it. 1. Open the Watch app in your smartphone.2. Tap on the three dots within the higher proper nook.3. With the display displaying in your Pixel Watch that you simply wish to screenshot, choose Take display shot on watch.(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)There’s one thing else value declaring in relation to taking a screenshot on the Pixel Watch. The screenshots will not be routinely saved to your cellphone’s gallery, that means that it’s a must to manually save or share them. When a screenshot is taken, a notification seems in your cellphone, and tapping that can open your cellphone’s share sheet menu.Enable Fall Detection(Image credit score: Google)Fall detection on the Pixel Watch was a function that Google introduced alongside the launch of its first wearable, however it solely not too long ago turned accessible. With this enabled, your Pixel Watch will ask you when you’re okay and when you do not reply, it’ll routinely name emergency companies.1. From your Pixel Watch, press the crown.2. Scroll by way of your checklist of put in apps and faucet Personal Safety. 3. Tap Fall detection. 4. Tap the toggle to allow Fall detection.(Image credit score: Android Central)5. Tap While utilizing the app to allow location entry.6. Tap the toggle subsequent to Improve fall detection. (Image credit score: Android Central)Wear OS 3 is best than ever(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Wear OS 3 is way from good, however when you take a look at the state of Google’s software program now, in comparison with Wear OS 2, it is a evening and day distinction. Instead, the largest criticism you might need is when the replace will lastly come to your smartwatch. Currently, there are solely a handful of smartwatches with Wear OS 3, however we’re nonetheless holding our fingers crossed that this can change within the close to future.

Almost good
Google’s first smartwatch ended up delivering on lots of the rumors that have been unfold through the years. Not solely is the Pixel Watch modern and chic, however Wear OS 3 is snappy and responsive. 

The default for many
Samsung’s smartwatches proceed to be a number of the hottest and for good purpose. The resolution to ditch TizenOS in favor of Wear OS has paid dividends for each Samsung and Android customers.