Wear OS 5 Update Paused for All Google Pixel Watches Due to Blank Screen Issue

Google recently rolled out the highly-anticipated Wear OS 5 software update for the OG Pixel Watch and Watch 2 devices. The September 2024 update brought Android 14 and the latest features for Wear OS. However, the update has been paused today as it caused several devices to black screen.

In a recent announcement, Google has temporarily halted the rollout of WearOS 5 to both Pixel Watch 1 and 2 devices. This decision comes in response to reports of devices becoming unresponsive after the September 2024 OTA update.

Google’s Pixel Watch team has acknowledged an issue where some users experienced their devices getting stuck on a blank screen following the latest update. This problem, identified on September 26, 2024, prompted the company to pause the WearOS 5 expansion temporarily.

If you haven’t received the update yet, now we know the reason. It best that you stay at WearOS 4 update for now. Google plans to resume the rollout later this year after addressing the issues.

What to do if your Pixel Watch is affected?

For users already impacted by the blank screen issue, Google recommends trying a device reset. Here are your options:

1. Basic Troubleshooting
   • Follow Google’s guide for fixing blank or frozen screens here
   • Attempt a soft reset before moving to more drastic measures
2. Factory Reset
   • If basic troubleshooting fails, a factory reset might be necessary
   • Remember to back up your data before proceeding

As someone who’s followed the wearable tech industry closely, this pause in rollout is both concerning and reassuring:

• Concerning because it indicates a significant issue that slipped through testing
• Reassuring because Google is taking a proactive approach to user experience and device stability

This situation reminds us that even major tech companies can face challenges with software updates, especially when dealing with the complexities of wearable devices.

Google Pauses WearOS 5 Rollout

The Pixel Watch 3 came with the latest Wear OS 5 out of the box. So the update can’t be rolled back. It will probably receive another update soon to avoid the black screen issue. It is about time the original Pixel Watch received the same treatment.

As for the Pixel Watch 1, and Pixel Watch 2, the update will resume by the end of this year. So stay tuned!