Everything you need to know about the Google Pixel Watch app

As any Pixel Watch owner will quickly learn, Google’s first smartwatch needs its own companion app. To enable users to set up, manage and support their watch from an Android phone, Google launched the Pixel Watch app. Learn everything you need to know about the app, including how to use it and what it means for other services.

Read more: Everything you need to know about the Google Pixel Watch

Starting with Wear OS 3, smartwatch manufacturers are now required to provide their own companion apps when a Wear OS device is launched. Instead of relying on the old Wear OS app, Google launched the Pixel Watch app.

Pixel Watch owners can use the app to pair their new watch, customize watch faces, manage notifications and settings, set up Google Wallet and Google Assistant, and more. If you’ve just unboxed your new Pixel Watch, download the app from the link below to start setting up your new wearable.

Once you’ve downloaded the Google Pixel Watch app, follow the steps below. Make sure your watch and phone are close to each other.

• Open the Google Pixel Watch appthen touch the option continue to start setting up the device.
• Read the terms of service and then tap I agree.
• Follow the instructions, review the permissions, and finish the setup. You must confirm the pairing codes displayed on your watch and phone, and sign in to your Google Account.
• Select your watch orientation and preferred wrist and review instructions for changing bands.
• Complete or skip the Google Assistant setup process, set up a pin or pattern, and Google Wallet, and see which apps you want to add to your watch.

If you have already connected a device to the app, tap three point menuthen touch the option + Add new device.

The Pixel Watch app can only be used for basic device settings. This is the most direct way to manage your device from your phone. However, it is not a fitness or health tracking data center. From step counting to workout stats, users should switch to the Fitbit app.

After pairing your device, the first thing you’ll notice is a warning about connecting your Fitbit to your watch. Tap the Open the application and follow the on-screen instructions to sync your accounts. If you don’t already have a Fitbit account, you’ll be prompted to create one.

The Fitbit app is essential for recording workouts, viewing health data, tracking sleep, and more. Integration with Fitbit’s ecosystem is one of the most powerful aspects of the Pixel Watch.

The home page of the Pixel Watch app is relatively self-explanatory, but we’ll dig into it anyway. At the top of the screen, you will see the device’s current watch face, as well as information about the connection and battery level. There are several menus below that you can tap to browse.

• Watch faces: Manage your current face gallery and change your favorite selections. You can also tap from this menu + Add new to browse other available native watch faces. Although customization is available on the device itself, we find it easiest to make watch face settings here on a larger screen.
• Tile: Manage your device’s tiles, including their order. To rearrange tiles, press and hold the tile you want to move and drag it to a new location in the list. You can also delete the tile by touching the icon trash can icon. To add a new tile, scroll all the way down and tap the button + Add a tile.
• Settings: You can manage additional settings and settings by tapping on the relevant topic listed below Settings. However, it’s worth noting that not all settings can be changed from the Pixel Watch app. Unfortunately, the app can be a bit of a guessing game as some settings are only accessible from the device itself. As such, we tend to use the app to manage watch faces, tiles, and notifications, as well as explore other watch settings.

• Notifications: You can change notifications for individual apps, mute notifications completely, and change settings for new apps.
• Google: Set up and manage your Google accounts, including Google Assistant and Google Wallet.
• Fitbit: Review the last time your device synced with Fitbit or unpair your watch from your Fitbit account.
• The Play Store: Explore the Google Play Store for third-party apps to complete your device. You cannot delete or manage apps from here.
• Viewing settings: Review and change display and gesture controls, screen lock settings, security and emergency settings, calendar sync, and watch orientation.
• Mobile network: Activate an LTE plan and set up mobile service on your device.
• Private life: Review your system’s privacy settings, Google’s terms of service, and Google’s privacy policy.
• Accessibility: Enable zoom and TalkBack features and manage real-time text (RTT) settings.
• System: Set up Google Device Finder or tap for more information about your device. From here you can reset and unpair if needed.
• Tips and support: Access the device tutorial or request additional device support.

In short, Google’s companion app is pretty bare bones. It’s certainly an improvement over the old Wear OS app. However, we would have liked to see a more complete tool. For example, compared to the Galaxy Wearable app, we think the Pixel Watch app doesn’t pack a punch.

The discrepancy between the app and the watch itself can be frustrating, as it’s not always easy to find the various settings and customization options. Our proofreaders and editors at the address Android Authority we had to enable developer settings on our phones to launch a three-dot menu in the app to take screenshots.

All in all, we’re hoping that the Pixel Watch will see as many improvements as the device itself is sure to feature in future generations. For now, this is enough to help users get started with their brand new wearables.