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Wear OS 2.1 is rolling out to your smartwatch starting today
- Wear OS 2.1 — the latest version of the smartwatch operating system — is rolling out starting today.
- All smartwatches running Wear OS 2.0 will get the update.
- The update brings many improvements and some new features (but not a new chipset).
Unfortunately, we don’t expect Google to launch a Pixel-branded smartwatch at its hardware event on October 9, but that doesn’t mean smartwatches aren’t going to get some Google love. Starting today, Wear OS 2.1 is rolling out to compatible wearables.
As we previously reported, the Wear OS 2.1 update brings some new gesture controls, better access to notifications, heavier integration with Google Assistant, and better features related to monitoring your health and wellbeing.
The list of smartwatches that won’t see the update is very short (check it out here). Essentially, if your watch has Wear OS 2.0, you will eventually get Wear OS 2.1.
Although the rollout begins today, we advise you to be patient: Google’s rollouts tend to be staggered and slow. It’s highly likely that certain regions will get the update first and then other regions will follow, so the rollout could take days or weeks.
If you are impatient and want to be sure that you didn’t miss your chance to update, you can always manually check for updates on your watch. Go to Settings > System > About > System Updates on your Wear OS smartwatch to see if the update is available for you.
Oh, and one more thing: while this update does bring some nifty new features that will make your smartwatch smoother and better, it unfortunately won’t bring a new chipset.
NEXT: Google confirms it will not launch its own Wear OS smartwatch this year