How to update Wear OS on your Android smartwatch

Wear OS smartwatches are great companions for Android smartphones. They have great health tracking features, help you view and answer notifications from your phone, and tell the time. Premium Wear OS smartwatches have additional features such as ECG capability, more durable screens, and LTE capability. While the features from launch are great, Wear OS watches get more features over time through updates. These updates include security patches to help make your device safer, and here’s how to install them.

How to check your Wear OS version

You may have seen the news that a new update is available, and want to check if your watch has this update installed. Here’s how to do so. These steps may vary depending on your Wear OS version and smartwatch manufacturer, but the general idea should be the same.

1. Wake your watch.
2. Swipe down to access the quick settings menu.
3. Select the Settings gear.
4. Go to System > About. Here, you’ll see your Wear OS version and information about your device.
5. For further build information, scroll down and select Versions.

How to check if you have a Wear OS update available

You can check for a system update if you think one may be available.

1. Wake your watch.
2. Swipe down to access the quick settings menu.
3. Select the Settings gear.
4. Go to System > System update.
5. Here you can see the date of your latest update and if a new one is available.

How to update Wear OS

Wear OS updates are different from updates on other devices. You aren’t prompted to update your device or manually go to the settings app and select the update. Instead, Wear OS devices automatically install updates when the watch is charging and connected to Wi-Fi when an update is available. You don’t need to do anything to initiate this, but if you take your watch off the charger, you’ll see a notification informing you to put it on the charger to finish the update.

How to update apps on Wear OS

App updates on Wear OS happen automatically, like Wear OS updates. However, that is not always the case. Here’s how to check if your apps have updates available and how to install them.

1. Wake up your watch.
2. Open the app list and tap the power button (the main button at the 3 o’clock position).
3. Select the Google Play Store app.
4. Scroll to the bottom and select Manage apps.
5. You’ll see a list of available app updates. To update them, tap the Update all button at the top.

Choose if apps update automatically on Wear OS

You can choose whether your apps update automatically on your smartwatch.

1. Wake up your watch.
2. Open the app list and tap the power button (the main button at the 3 o’clock position).
3. Select the Google Play Store app.
4. Scroll to the bottom and select Settings.
5. Toggle Auto-update apps on or off depending on your preference.

Updates galore

Wear OS has come a long way and has many great features and devices. However, updates are still essential to make sure your device has the most up-to-date features and security enhancements. While checking your settings for updates, change these settings to improve your Wear OS experience.