Google has temporarily suspended the rollout of its Wear OS 5 update for Pixel Watch models after numerous users reported serious issues, including unresponsive devices and black screens.
The highly anticipated Wear OS 5 update, initially released earlier this week for both the original Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, was meant to breathe new life into these wearables. However, the excitement quickly turned to frustration for many users as problems began to surface shortly after installation attempts.
Key points of the situation:
- Multiple users reported their Pixel Watches becoming unresponsive or displaying a black screen after attempting to install the Wear OS 5 update.
- Google has officially confirmed the pause of the update rollout while they investigate and work on a resolution.
- Affected users are required to perform a factory reset using Fastboot mode to restore functionality to their devices.
- The update is no longer available through the normal update process in the watch settings.
While not all users experienced issues, with many successfully installing Wear OS 5, the prevalence of problems was significant enough to prompt Google's swift action. The company has provided a guide for users to perform a factory reset if needed, but this solution involves data loss and considerable inconvenience.
The Wear OS 5 update promised several enticing features, including:
- Battery life optimizations
- New watch faces
- A new watch face format designed to use less storage
- Enhanced running metrics
For now, Pixel Watch owners who haven't yet updated are advised to wait until Google resolves the current issues and resumes the rollout. Those who have already encountered problems should follow Google's official instructions for performing a factory reset.
This incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with early adoption of software updates, even for established tech giants like Google. As the company works to address these concerns, the wearable tech community eagerly awaits further information on when a stable version of Wear OS 5 will be available for older Pixel Watch models.
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| Smartwatches in use, highlighting the Pixel Watch models that are experiencing issues after the Wear OS 5 update |
