Older Pixel watches just received a major alarm feature from the Pixel Watch 5

One of the standout quality-of-life features Google introduced with the Pixel Watch 5 launch was Smart Wake, giving users a gentler way to start their mornings. Now, Google is bringing that exact experience to older Pixel Watches.

As spotted by Reddit user Broad_Magazine2285, Smart Wake appears to be rolling out more widely to older Pixel Watches, with confirmations that the feature is going live on the Pixel Watch 4, Pixel Watch 3, and Pixel Watch 2. The feature appears to have rolled out as part of yesterday’s September Wear OS 7 update.

It’s not immediately clear whether the Smart Wake feature is available on the first-generation Pixel Watch — you should keep your expectations grounded since the first-gen Pixel Watch has reached the end of its software support window.

Smart Wake works by tracking your sleep stages rather than buzzing indiscriminately at a hard deadline. According to Google, the feature monitors heart rate and subtle body movements during the 30-minute window preceding your set alarm. If it detects that you’ve entered a lighter phase of sleep within that timeframe, it triggers haptic vibrations to wake you before the alarm goes off. While you technically get less sleep than if you had slept until the last minute of your alarm, Smart Wake aims to prevent the grogginess associated with waking abruptly from deep sleep, so you hopefully feel a bit lighter when you wake up.

Smart Wake functionality has been a staple on Fitbit trackers like the Charge, Versa, and Sense series for years, and it is also present on the Fitbit Air. Despite Google owning Fitbit, the feature did not carry over to Pixel Watches until the Pixel Watch 5’s launch. Unless they tried out a third-party app, Pixel Watch owners have had to make their peace with rigid alarms that jolted them out of deep REM sleep. With the September Wear OS 7 update, older Pixel Watch users can finally rest easy knowing their watch will wake them at a gentler time without having to spend on new hardware altogether.

To find the Smart Wake feature, open the Clock app on your Pixel Watch’s app drawer, create a new alarm or select an existing alarm to edit, and you will find the Smart Wake toggle right alongside the other settings. If you don’t see the feature on your watch, double-check that you’ve received the September Wear OS 7 update and all of your watch apps are up to date through the Google Play Store. The September Wear OS 7 update carries software version CP3A.260905.002 on the Pixel Watch 3 and 4, while the Pixel Watch 2 gets version CP3A.260905.002.E1.