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 one of many sleekest smartwatches in the marketplace, however Google managed to supply fairly a couple of upgrades over the unique Pixel Watch. Perhaps the very best a part of all of it is seeing new options and enhancements made on the software program facet of issues.Mant options are much like what you will discover on the unique Pixel Watch, however there are nonetheless some variations between the 2. With that in thoughts, let’s dive into the primary issues to do with the Pixel Watch 2. Set up Emergency SOS and Fall Detection(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)First launched in late 2022, Google added the power to your Pixel Watch to achieve out to Emergency Services or a cherished one should you want help. Although we hope you will by no means have to make use of it, we nonetheless suggest getting every thing arrange, simply in case. 1. Wake your Pixel Watch by tapping the display screen or urgent both the facet button or the crown.2. Swipe down on the watch face to disclose the Quick Settings panel.3. Tap the Settings (cog icon) button.4. Scroll down and faucet Safety & Emergency.Get the most recent information from Android Central, your trusted companion on the earth of Android5. 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 screen and faucet Emergency location service.8. Enable Emergency location service performance.9. Exit the Settings app.The characteristic is out there for each generations of the Pixel Watch, with the one distinction coming down as to whether you personal an LTE or Wi-Fi mannequin. If you might have a Pixel Watch 2 with LTE, your smartwatch will be capable of make the mandatory calls immediately. Otherwise, your cellphone will must be inside vary of your smartwatch as it should depend on the cellphone to make the decision. Another new characteristic launched by Google for the Pixel Watch lineup is the power to your wearable to detect if you fall. It does so by using on-device Machine Learning paired with the built-in movement sensors. It, too, is out there on each the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, however like Emergency SOS, Fall Detection must first be enabled. 1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your cellphone. 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’ve got fallen and want help, it should “vibrate, sound an alarm, and check if you need help.” This occurs after 30 seconds, and should you do not reply, it should then name emergency companies utilizing an “automated message that provides your location and requests help.”Sync DND & Bedtime Mode together with your cellphoneOne of the extra shocking options launched with the Pixel Watch 2 was the power to lastly sync Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Mode together with your cellphone. This has been a long-requested characteristic, and till it was revealed, left many questioning why it wasn’t already out there. 1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your cellphone.2. Scroll down and faucet Notifications. 3. Swipe down and faucet the toggle subsequent to Sync throughout watch and cellphone. (Image credit score: Android Central)Previously you would need to arrange the DND and Bedtime Mode in your cellphone and watch, individually. It was extra of a headache than the rest, so evidently we’re comfortable to see this characteristic added.Unlock your cellphone together with your watch(Image credit score: 9to5Google)When Google introduced the December 2023 Feature Drop, the corporate lastly added the brand new Watch Unlock characteristic. This was initially launched again in 2022 however had but to truly make its solution to units. Watch Unlock is pretty much like the Smart Lock performance that we have loved on Android for years. With this characteristic arrange and enabled, you’ll mechanically unlock your cellphone while not having to enter a passcode. As you may suspect, this characteristic must first be enabled earlier than you can begin utilizing it. 1. Open the Watch app in your cellphone.2. Scroll down and faucet Watch preferences. 3. Tap Security. (Image credit score: Android Central)4. Tap Watch Unlock. 5. When prompted, enter your cellphone’s PIN or password.6. Scroll to the underside of the web page and faucet the Confirm button.7. If you have not already arrange a display screen lock to your watch, you will be prompted to take action. Just comply with the on-screen steps out of your Pixel Watch.8. Once full, faucet the Done button. (Image credit score: Android Central)Keep in thoughts that this characteristic is barely out there for Pixel telephones operating Android 13 or larger, so you will be out of luck should you personal some other sort of Android cellphone. Watch Unlock additionally doesn’t work on tablets or different units.Change and customise your watch face(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)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 unique watch face can change the best way you view smartwatches. Thankfully, Google features a plethora of choices to select from, a few of that are reasonably fundamental, whereas others might be personalized to your coronary heart’s content material. 1. Open the Watch app in your cellphone.2. Tap the Watch faces button.3. If enhancing the present watch face, faucet the Edit button under the preview.4. If including a brand new watch face, faucet the + Add new button.(Image credit score: Android Central)5. Select a watch face so as to add.6. Make any adjustments to the assorted types and problems. 7. Tap the Add button under the watch face preview.8. In the highest 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.(Image credit score: Android Central)Keep in thoughts that you do not have to stay to the built-in watch faces that Google gives. There are loads of watch faces and apps you may 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(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)One space that was once a degree of rivalry when it got here to the Wear OS platform was the standard of the apps. In 2023, Google started making strides to alter that, because it launched new necessities for builders as a way to present a “basic consistent experience across all apps.” While smartwatch apps aren’t almost as feature-rich as their cellphone counterparts, they’ll nonetheless turn out to be useful. Plus, with the addition of problems to varied watch faces, your Pixel Watch 2 can change into much more versatile than it already is.When you undergo the preliminary setup course of, you will be prompted to put in apps which can be already out there in your cellphone. 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 simple to put in Wear OS apps out of your cellphone, because of the drop-down menu subsequent to the set up button within the Play Store. Get some spare watch bands(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Along with utilizing a unique watch face, one other solution to customise your Pixel Watch 2 is to make the most of a unique 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 out there, even with Google nonetheless using a proprietary band connector. You may even go as far as to make use of virtually any band that tickles your fancy, as you may seize an adapter, connect a conventional 20mm watch band, and be in your manner. This makes for countless combos so that you can 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 probably the most thrilling band, nevertheless it’s implausible if you would like a silicone band that breaths. It’s out there in a couple of completely 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 various things with the Pixel Watch 2, as evidenced by the Woven Band. This too, is available in a couple of completely different colours, however you will wish to take note of the dimensions of your wrist as even the biggest choice is perhaps too small.
Ringke Google Pixel Watch Metal One Band
Flashy, glossy, and formal
There’s one thing to be mentioned about pairing a smartwatch with a steel band. Not solely does it go nicely with virtually each state of affairs, nevertheless it additionally provides you the sensation that you just’re carrying a “traditional” watch as a substitute of 1 which you can make calls from.
Pay together with your Watch 2(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)I do not learn about you, however the comfort of having the ability to pay for issues proper from my wrist is extremely handy. Google Wallet on the Pixel Watch 2 is sort of the right mixture, as you will solely must double-press the crown to provoke the method. The solely “catch” is that the Google Wallet app in your cellphone must be arrange first, earlier than you may try to set it up on the Pixel Watch 2. Thankfully, now we have a superb information which you can take a look at, so you can begin utilizing your watch to pay for issues. 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.4. You might be taken to the Wallet app in your Android cellphone.(Image credit score: Android Central)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, comply with the on-screen steps to finish the method.(Image credit score: Android Central)Not solely will you be capable of pay for gadgets with Google Wallet in your Pixel Watch 2, however you can too entry your varied passes and loyalty playing cards for straightforward entry. It’s tremendous handy!Fine-tune your notifications(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Even if you do not have lots of of the very best Android apps put in in your cellphone, you continue to most likely get extra notifications than you need. So if you pair the Pixel Watch 2 to your cellphone, you will be consistently berated by apps attempting to get your consideration. Thankfully, you do not have to let each app hassle you and might customise what notifications really seem in your wrist.1. Open the Pixel Watch app in your cellphone.2. Scroll down and faucet Notifications. 3. Tap the toggle subsequent to the app to show off its notifications. 4. If you wish to customise which apps can ship notifications, faucet See all apps from final 7 days. 5. Go by way of the checklist of purposes and faucet each that you just wish to flip off. (Image credit score: Android Central)The solely different factor that we suggest is to return and prune the checklist of accepted apps. Otherwise, you will finish proper again at sq. one all since you downloaded a couple of new apps that caught your eye. Grab a spare charger(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)One of probably the most irritating points of the very best smartwatches is that lots of them use a proprietary charger. This contains the Pixel Watch 2, as it isn’t even the identical Qi charging puck as the unique Pixel Watch. Instead, Google opted to introduce pogo pins, because it gives quicker and extra dependable charging speeds. While Google features a charging cable within the field, we extremely suggest choosing up a spare one. Otherwise, you may find yourself like my colleague Nick Sutrich, who had a rabbit chew by way of his Pixel Watch cable and was out of luck till he grabbed a alternative. It’s additionally price mentioning that should you’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(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Although the {hardware} may need been a bit lackluster, in some regards, that is not the case with Fitbit’s cell app. It’s change into fairly clear that Google is about on slowly rebranding the Fitbit that we knew and cherished. However, Google has additionally proven that the Fitbit app might be how you retain monitor of your varied exercises and metrics.Google contains six months of Fitbit Premium with each Pixel Watch 2 buy, supplying you with entry to “exclusive workouts, mindfulness sessions, and more.” Fitbit Premium additionally provides quite a lot of different options, together with personalised insights and even a wellness report. Even should you decide out of Premium after the six-month trial has concluded, the Fitbit app nonetheless serves because the hub for monitoring your varied well being metrics. During the setup course of, you are prompted to attach the Fitbit app to your Pixel Watch 2, and from there, we suggest testing what the app has to supply. Plus, the six-month trial ought to take loads of time to find out whether or not it is price signing up for the subscription or simply counting on the free options.Enjoy the Pixel Watch 2(Image credit score: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)Last, however definitely not least — simply take pleasure in your new smartwatch. The Pixel Watch 2 won’t be as flashy because the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, nevertheless it does have quite a lot of bells and whistles to take pleasure in. There are loads of options that make this the most effective Android smartwatches, and we’re comfortable to see Google committing to wearables.
Almost good
There’s lots to love concerning the Pixel Watch 2, even when it is perhaps a bit too small for some. Google appears devoted to bettering its wearable platform, and what higher solution to get in on the bottom ground than with the corporate’s personal {hardware}?