Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The Wear OS 5 rollout for older Pixel Watches will take a while longer.
- Google is still working on the blank screen issue affecting the original Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2.
- Users can now expect the new software “later this year.”
Google has once again acknowledged an ongoing issue with the Wear OS 5 update for the original Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. A few weeks ago, Google rolled out the September update for the smartwatches. However, the software was quickly rescinded after owners started reporting that their devices were stuck on a blank screen after the update. Google has said it’s working on a resolution, but it looks like users will have to wait a bit longer.
In a new community update, Google says it plans to resume the Wear OS 5 update for the older Pixel Watches later this year, once it has mitigated the observed issues. So if you were hoping to get the Wear OS update sometime soon, you’ll have to temper your expectations and possibly wait another month or so.
Meanwhile, Google recommends resetting your Pixel Watch to factory settings if you’re experiencing issues. If you’re stuck on a blank screen, press the crown on your Pixel Watch for three seconds, then scroll down and tap restart. You can also try hard resetting your smartwatch before a factory reset. To do that, long press the crown and side button for approximately 35 seconds until the white “G” logo appears. The watch should restart and be usable again once the restart completes.