Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 Woes: Google Halts Wear OS 5 Rollout Amid Issues

The excitement of a new software update can quickly turn sour, as it has for some Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 users who installed Wear OS 5. While many were able to upgrade without a hitch, others have been plagued by a mysterious black screen issue, forcing Google to pause the rollout.

The Black Screen Blues

For those who encountered the problem, the fix is a factory reset through Fastboot, which, unfortunately, requires wiping all user data and restarting the setup process. While backups can help minimize the reset’s impact, it’s still a significant inconvenience for many users.

Google’s Update and Response

In a bid to address the issue, Google has released an “Update for WearOS 5 Expansion” that confirms the “stuck on a blank screen” issue and acknowledges that the OTA update was paused on September 26, just two days after its initial release. The company is now actively working on a resolution and plans to resume the Wear OS 5 rollout later this year, once the issues have been mitigated.

Reset and Resume

The paused update has raised questions about the impact on upcoming updates, such as the October security patch, for Pixel Watch, 2, and 3 devices already running Wear OS 5. For the time being, it appears that all watch updates are on hold until a fix is in place. However, most new features for the Pixel Watch are still available through app updates from the Play Store, such as battery full notifications and a new charging screen.

Will this setback lead to a delay in the promised Android 15 update for phones? Only time will tell. For now, it seems we’ll have to wait and see when the pause on the Wear OS 5 rollout will be lifted.