After months of waiting for regulatory approval, Google's potentially life-saving Loss of Pulse Detection feature is finally rolling out to Pixel Watch 3 users in the United States. This critical safety feature, which has been available in other regions since last year, received FDA approval in February 2025 and is now making its way to American users.
The Critical Safety Feature
Loss of Pulse Detection represents a significant advancement in wearable health technology. The feature works by continuously monitoring the wearer's heart rate and can automatically detect when a pulse cannot be found. In such critical situations, the watch will prompt a call to emergency services if the user is unresponsive, potentially saving lives during medical emergencies. This functionality adds a new dimension to the existing Emergency SOS capabilities of the Pixel Watch 3, creating a more comprehensive safety net for users.
Loss of Pulse Detection Feature Details
- Automatically detects when a user's pulse cannot be found
- Calls emergency services if user is unresponsive
- Opt-in feature requiring manual activation
- Tested with over 100,000 hours of data
- Validated through peer-reviewed study in Nature
- Available in 15 countries worldwide (including the US)
- Requires Pixel Watch 3
Regulatory Journey
The feature's arrival in the US market was delayed due to the necessary regulatory hurdles. While European users have had access to Loss of Pulse Detection since the Pixel Watch 3 launched last August, American users had to wait until the Food and Drug Administration granted approval in late February 2025. Google had initially promised the feature would arrive by the end of March as part of its March Pixel Feature Drop, but the actual rollout began on April 8, 2025.
Timeline
- August 2023: Feature announced with Pixel Watch 3 launch
- Late 2023/Early 2024: Available in European markets
- February 2025: FDA approval granted for US market
- March 2025: Announced as part of March Pixel Feature Drop
- April 8, 2025: US rollout begins
- April 2025: Full rollout expected to complete within weeks
Rigorous Testing
Google didn't take shortcuts in developing this potentially life-saving feature. According to the company's fact sheet, the algorithm behind Loss of Pulse Detection was tested with over 100,000 hours of data to minimize false alerts. The technology's effectiveness has been validated through a peer-reviewed study published in Nature, underscoring Google's commitment to creating reliable health monitoring tools.
How to Enable the Feature
Loss of Pulse Detection is an opt-in feature, meaning users will need to manually enable it when it becomes available on their device. The process is straightforward: open the Google Pixel Watch app on your connected smartphone, navigate to Safety and Emergency settings, select Loss of Pulse Detection, and follow the on-screen prompts to activate this safety tool.
Availability Timeline
While the rollout begins today, Google spokesperson Bridget Starkey indicated that the feature will gradually appear on devices over the next couple of weeks. Users should watch for a prompt on their Pixel Watch 3 to enable the feature. The staggered release ensures a smooth deployment of this critical health monitoring capability.
Global Reach
With the addition of the United States, Loss of Pulse Detection is now available in 15 countries worldwide. The feature's expansion highlights Google's ongoing efforts to enhance the health and safety capabilities of its wearable technology across global markets, making the Pixel Watch 3 a more compelling option for health-conscious consumers.
The arrival of Loss of Pulse Detection coincides with Google's April 2025 update for all Pixel Watch models, continuing the company's commitment to regular software improvements for its wearable devices.
