Google Pixel Watch will now show you the time even when the battery is dead

Late-sounding alarms are also being fixed in the coming weeks
Wareable google pixel watch clock app
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The Google Pixel Watch will now show you the time even after the battery has died, with the smartwatch receiving a number of improvements as part of a substantial software update. 

The 'March 2023' update for the Wear OS watch is now officially rolling out to all users following a couple of weeks of false starts and delays, and, at least on paper, it appears to be pretty weighty. 

One of the biggest improvements, as we say, is the ability to now view the time even after the Pixel Watch's battery has died.

And given that the device very quickly guzzles up juice, this feels like it'll prove to be a really handy feature - one, of course, that the Apple Watch has offered for many years.

The specifics are a little scarce in Google's blog post outlining the update, though, so it's not clear just how long the time will show at 0%.

We do know, at least, that it will also appear with a red battery low indicator, and will only appear following a press of the crown.

Wareablegoogle pixel watch on wrist

Hidden among the changes was also an acknowledgment of recent complaints regarding late-sounding alarms, with a fix coming to the Clock app over the next few weeks.

Google also advises that users have automatic updates enabled (Play Store > Settings) in order to receive this fix without having to keep manually checking whether it's available.

Elsewhere, the Fall Detection promised at launch is now finally landing on devices globally, after the safety feature popped up sporadically for some over the last couple of months, while the accessibility improvements that began rolling out in February should now be available to everyone. 

As ever, there's no specific timeline for when users should start to see the latest update land on their watch, though we'd expect it to follow the typical pattern of rolling out to all users over the next couple of weeks. 

For those who want to check, head to the software information within the watch's settings and look for the latest build number, RWDA.230114.008.R1.


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Conor Allison

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Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.

Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides. 

He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror. 


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