Google has temporarily halted the rollout of the Wear OS 5 update for its Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2. The update was originally expected to include many new functions and improvements, but problems led to the company putting the delivery on hold for the time being.
The most important facts in brief
- Google pauses the Wear OS 5 update for Pixel Watch 1 and 2
- Reason are reports of soft-brick issues on some devices
- A new update is expected to be released after bug fixing
- Users should not update their devices until then
Update Google Pixel Watch: What happened?
Owners of a Google Pixel Watch 1 (just under 122 euros on Amazon) and Google Pixel Watch 2 (278.00 euros on Amazon) were delighted last week when it was announced that Wear OS 5, the latest software update, would also be released for the now somewhat outdated smartwatches. The long-awaited Wear OS 5 update should significantly improve the performance and functionality of the Pixel Watches.
However, shortly after the rollout began, the first reports of problems emerged, prompting Google to stop delivery. Users reported that their smartwatches entered a so-called “soft brick” state after installing the update. This means that although the devices can still be switched on, they no longer function properly. In such cases, the screen often remains frozen and users cannot access the operating system or other functions.
Update Google Pixel Watch: Reasons for the stop
The main reason for pausing the update is due to the soft-brick problems that have occurred on an undetermined number of Pixel Watches. Affected users reported that their watches no longer started properly after the update or were stuck in a boot loop. While such problems are not uncommon in the software world, they are a major annoyance for users – especially as in some cases the only solution may be a factory reset or contacting customer service.
Google reacted quickly and suspended the update to prevent further damage. The company is currently investigating the exact cause and is working on a solution to fix these issues. Until then, Google advises all users not to install the update if it is already available for download on their devices.
Impact on users
For Pixel Watch 1 and 2 owners, the pause in the update will initially mean a wait. It is not clear when exactly the problem will be fixed and when the rollout of Wear OS 5 can continue. However, Google has assured users that it is working intensively on a solution and will release the update again as soon as the errors have been rectified.
Users who have already updated their watch to Wear OS 5 and are not experiencing any issues do not need to take any further action, according to Google. However, if soft-brick problems occur, it is recommended to contact support. It is also possible that Google will provide a fix update shortly to make affected watches functional again.
What does Wear OS 5 bring?
Despite the current problems, Wear OS 5 offers some exciting new features designed to improve the user experience. These include improved battery life, optimized performance and new health functions. The integration of Google Assistant and other Google services will also be improved. However, many of these functions can only be fully used once the update is available again and the existing problems have been resolved.
Conclusion
The temporary pause of the Wear OS 5 update for the Pixel Watch 1 and 2 shows how important thorough testing is in software development to avoid problems after release. Google reacted quickly and is already working on a solution. For affected users, however, this means a delay in using the new functions. It remains to be seen when the update will be rolled out again and whether Google will manage to fix the problems in a timely manner.
