Whether or not you picked up a brand new Pixel Watch 3 in the course of the current Black Friday/ Cyber Monday hullabaloo or are merely searching for ideas and tips together with your months-old watch, I am right here to assist.
Based mostly on my time reviewing the Pixel Watch 3 and different Put on OS watches, I’ve created this Google Pixel Watch 3 newbie’s information to run by means of our favourite options that Google itself would not absolutely clarify throughout setup.
None of those options shall be groundbreaking to anybody who’s fluent in Put on OS watch software program, nevertheless it’ll hopefully show helpful to have all of it listed out in a single place. That manner you will not overlook to arrange Emergency SOS, Watch Unlock, and different helpful instruments together with your new watch!
Change up your watch faces
As all the time with Put on OS, you faucet and maintain your major watch display screen to swap between default watch face choices. Faucet the pencil icon to alter the colours, format, issues, and boldness of the primary clock.
By default, the Pixel Watch 3 has 13 totally different watch faces put in. Within the Pixel Watch companion app, you may see a Watch faces choice straight beneath the watch icon, the place you may see extra choices (about 25 differing kinds in whole, every with totally different “flavors”). My favourite is one tied to Google Photographs, the place you choose as much as 30 pictures and may faucet between them by tapping the primary watch face, swapping between them at your leisure.
Sadly, the Pixel Watch 3 cannot use any watch faces with out the XML Watch Face Format (WFF) — it is a Put on OS 5 restriction — which implies you cannot add them from Facer anymore. For the few appropriate third-party choices, open the Play Retailer in your cellphone, faucet Search, choose Watch apps beneath “Discover apps,” choose Pixel Watch 3 beneath “Your gadgets” on the high, and eventually faucet Watch faces. You may see XML watch faces so that you can purchase and obtain to the Pixel Watch 3.
Filter your notifications
Nothing drives me crazier than getting an limitless buzz of unimportant notifications on my wrist. One of many first issues I did with my Pixel Watch 3 was open the Pixel Watch app on my cellphone, faucet Notifications beneath Settings, then faucet Mute notifications from cellphone so I am not buzzed in two locations if I am at the moment utilizing my cellphone. I additionally prefer to Mute cellphone calls whereas sporting my watch, since I do know I will be buzzed on my wrist anyhow.
Most significantly, I faucet Watch apps and disable any notifications from apps I do know I do not care about seeing urgently, realizing that I can verify my notification feed on my cellphone later.
One factor I want Android and Put on OS provided was a option to disable a number of notifications from the identical supply in fast succession, like when a bunch Telegram chat buzzes my wrist thirty occasions throughout a run. So I discovered the Buzzkill Notification Supervisor app so I can set a cooldown on repeat notifications inside a sure span. It would not have a Put on OS app, however its results trickle right down to the Pixel Watch 3, and it is well worth the small price if you happen to’re equally bothered by back-to-back buzzes.
Lastly, bear in mind each evening to swipe down from the watch face and faucet the Crescent Moon icon to activate Bedtime Mode, which filters all calls and notifications apart from starred callers and alarms. By default, the Pixel Watch 3 has Auto-Bedtime mode enabled primarily based in your sleep zones and coronary heart charge, and syncs together with your Pixel cellphone’s DND settings — although not different cellphone manufacturers like Samsung, frustratingly. Both manner, the show will nonetheless blind you if you happen to transfer your arm in a darkish room earlier than you first go to sleep, so I flip it on manually.
Dive into the settings
This can be a little bit of a boring and apparent entry, nevertheless it’s nonetheless value mentioning. Swipe down from the primary watch face view, faucet the Cog icon, and spend 5 minutes working by means of the choices, enabling or adjusting issues as wanted. Listed here are my particular Pixel Watch 3 settings suggestions:
- Show: Change the textual content dimension if you happen to’re near-sighted; make sure that Adaptive brightness is turned on; change the display screen timeout to 10 seconds however the Go to look at face to both 2 or 5 minutes so you do not have to navigate again to issues if you happen to’re distracted and the display screen turns off; and flip off always-on display screen if you happen to’re making an attempt to avoid wasting battery life.
- Sound: I depart pontificate for calls and notifications in favor of vibrations, however you possibly can change the quantity right here if you need each.
- Vibration: Decrease the power of the haptics if, for instance, you need to be gently jostled awake by your alarm as a substitute of buzzed awake.
- Battery: Change Battery Saver to set off at the next or decrease share, relying in your priorities.
- Accessibility: Helpful options like TalkBack, shade correction, or the choice to vibrate the present time can be found right here, for anybody with visible impairments.
- System: Except for checking for system updates and restarting or turning off the watch, this menu has a secret methodology for turning on developer mode. Faucet About > Variations after which faucet the Construct quantity seven occasions.
Underneath Developer choices, you possibly can allow area of interest instruments like having your watch keep awake whereas charging in your desk, or to Pressure full GNSS measurements to enhance location accuracy throughout exercises (theoretically). As I famous in my Galaxy Watch Extremely newbie’s information, many individuals use dev choices particularly to cut back the animation time when swapping between or opening apps, so that you simply see info extra shortly.
Management your Google gadgets
Relying on what different Google gadgets you personal, the Pixel Watch 3 can act as a hub to regulate your good residence or Pixel cellphone, because of some new tips added with Put on OS 5.
When you’ve got a Nest Digicam or Doorbell related together with your Google House account, you may obtain notifications in your wrist when movement is detected; tapping it’s going to ship you to the stay feed for that digital camera. In any other case, you possibly can faucet the Digicam gadget tile in Google House and choose a particular digital camera.
In case you faucet the triple-line icon beneath the feed, you possibly can faucet a mic icon to allow 2-way discuss and communicate to whoever’s there, or the chat icon for Fast Responses like “We’ll be proper there.” On the feed itself, you possibly can double-tap the show to zoom in, then swipe left or proper to pan your view.
When it comes to different Google House features, in case you have an Android TV or Google TV dongle in your account, faucet and maintain any tile in your Pixel Watch, press the + button, and add the TV tile to your carousel; you could must take away a tile to make room in case your carousel is full.
If obligatory, choose the particular House and TV you need to management; for most individuals, your one Google TV gadget’s controls will grow to be seen by default. You can play/ pause, verify how a lot time is left, skip ahead or backward on a playlist, or change the quantity. If you should choose choices on display screen, faucet the Distant button, which has a D-pad and choose button.
In any other case, some other Google House gadgets and automations like good gentle routines or Nest Thermostat controls are controllable in your watch; that linked information will stroll you thru constructing a Google House ecosystem, if you happen to’re !
Obtain offline Google Maps
Some health watches can obtain particular GPX maps and programs to comply with for exercises in areas with no sign. The Pixel Watch 3 is not a kind of watches, however Google Maps can at the least retailer offline maps for entire areas so as to seek for instructions in a pinch. It is a good suggestion to avoid wasting entire areas like nationwide or regional parks the place the sign is poor, and to have these offline maps in your watch in case your cellphone dies.
So as to add offline maps to your Pixel Watch 3, begin on the cellular Google Maps app, seek for a particular place, faucet the top-right ellipsis, after which obtain offline map. Scroll or pinch to pick out the appropriate rectangular space, then Obtain it. It will save to your cellphone.
Subsequent, make sure that your Pixel Watch 3 is related to WiFi, then place it on its charger. Google auto-syncs your offline maps out of your cellphone to your watch, however solely when it is charging and on-network.
Arrange Google Pockets and transit passes
By default, double-tapping the Pixel Watch 3 crown pulls up Google Pockets, together with your default card able to be tapped for contactless funds. Setting it up is comparatively easy, however including Google Pockets playing cards will require a PIN or Sample for safety causes; you must solely should enter it each time you’re taking off your look ahead to charging, however if you happen to overlook your sample you may should reset the watch to manufacturing unit settings.
Double-tap the crown, then create a PIN if prompted. The app will then let you know to proceed in your synced cellphone within the Watch app; assuming you have already got Google Pockets in your related account, you’ll merely must enter the CVV for the cardboard you need to use, conform to sure phrases and situations, and watch for the financial institution to confirm your info. Then a double crown faucet will prime the default card for cost with out having to pick out something.
If you have not used Pockets earlier than, the app will use your cellphone digital camera to scan your card particulars, or else you possibly can enter them manually. Plus, you possibly can add a transit move to Pockets if you happen to stay close to Puget Sound (ORCA), the SF Bay Space (Clipper/BART), Toronto (PRESTO), or D.C. (SmarTrip/Metro) and need to faucet previous turnstiles together with your cellphone in your pocket.
Sync your Pixel and Pixel Watch
Google gave the Watch 3 a couple of Pixel-exclusive options rewarding those that purchase inside its household of gadgets. The primary is the brand new Recorder app: Anybody can report issues on their wrist, however Pixel homeowners can have their recordings auto-sync to their Pixel telephones, the place they’ll copy the AI transcripts as wanted.
Maybe a very powerful device is Name Screening, which is barely out there to U.S.-based Pixel Watch homeowners with a Pixel 6 cellphone or later. In your cellular Telephone app, faucet the top-right ellipsis > Settings > Caller ID & spam and ensure you auto-filter spam calls and make caller ID out there by default.
If you wish to prop your Pixel cellphone to take a distant picture, the Digicam app acts as a viewfinder to your Pixel cellphone. With this view, you possibly can faucet the Digicam or Video icon to modify the sort, double-tap the primary view to swap between entrance and rear cameras, slide the magnification up and down, and faucet the triple-line icon to alter settings just like the Mode and Timer.
Lastly, you should use your Pixel Watch 3 to unlock your close by Pixel cellphone with UWB, as long as you have got a watch passcode arrange — and are okay with utilizing a bit of additional watch battery life. Open the cellular Watch app and faucet Watch preferences > Safety > Watch Unlock, then enter your cellphone PIN and hit Affirm on the subsequent web page.
In case you allow this, your cellphone will unlock with any upward swipe or tapped notification on the lock display screen. Your watch will get a phone-unlock notification any time you do that; faucet the notification to re-lock your cellphone in case another person grabbed your cellphone and unlocked it close by.
Activate Emergency SOS and fall detection
The Pixel Watch app prompts you to arrange Emergency SOS and fall detection within the Watch app after setup, however I think about loads of folks dismiss the notifications of their preliminary unboxing pleasure after which overlook about it…till an emergency makes them remorse their short-sightedness.
We’ve got step-by-step guides on organising emergency SOS and turning on fall detection on Pixel Watches, so I will not waste area recreating these steps right here.
The primary factor is that you should select prematurely which contacts will obtain an emergency alert and ensure that the Private Security watch device has entry to your location in order that emergency companies know the place to seek out you. Look in your app drawer for the Private Security app, the place you possibly can select emergency contacts and arrange issues like Automobile Crash Detection or add your Medical Data for EMTs.
One other lesser-known characteristic you could need to strive is Security Test, which broadcasts your location to your emergency contacts if you happen to do not verify in after a sure time interval. This can be a helpful preventative measure if, say, you are going for a nighttime run.
Plus, if you happen to obtained your arms on the Pixel Watch 3 LTE, you robotically profit from Security Sign, which permits Emergency SOS, Fall Detection, and Security Test to work even when your cellphone is not round and you have not added it to a provider. The default Google Fi connection will ship your disaster information the place it must go.
Use Fitbit Run Teaching to get more healthy
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Google put main emphasis on enhancing Fitbit’s working software program on the Pixel Watch 3. Utilizing your six-month free trial of Fitbit Premium, you may get every day AI-generated run suggestions primarily based in your present health degree and coaching plan.
My how-to information for Fitbit run teaching goes into depth, however primarily you should open the Coach tab within the cellular Fitbit app and faucet the banner about customized exercises. You may select whether or not you are a newbie, intermediate (commonly run 5Ks), or superior runner (run 10Ks, half marathons), then select a plan primarily based on whether or not you need to enhance your Endurance, Tempo, or each (Balanced).
At that time, you may be given a every day advice like “tempo run” or “dash intervals” which you can ship to your watch and comply with; the exercise can have you stick with a particular coronary heart charge zone, so it is much less about hitting a particular tempo and extra about working onerous to your means degree.
In case you’d slightly select your personal exercise tempo, you possibly can simply create your personal customized exercises. Within the cellular Fitbit app, faucet the bottom-left + image, then construct a run after which the + signal subsequent to Intervals. You possibly can create a working interval primarily based on standards like distance, time, energy burned, or a “time trial” to complete X miles in Y minutes. You can even set a goal to remain inside a sure tempo or HR vary, together with your watch buzzing your wrist if you happen to stray outdoors of the goal zone.
When you’re executed, faucet Save and begin on watch, and it will cue up the exercise you simply made and begin connecting to GPS. If you wish to create a exercise however put it aside for later, merely exit out of the app after exporting it; it’s going to be saved completely in your watch exercises. Merely begin a Run exercise, faucet the appropriate stack icon, then select the exercise from the checklist.
Construct up your Fitbit Cardio Load
Fitbit Run Teaching is nice, nevertheless it would not assist non-runners construct exercises and it requires a Premium subscription. Fitbit Cardio Load is a free metric that scores your exercise degree for any kind of exercise, in addition to non-workout actions like lifting heavy packing containers at work or strolling round city that also elevate your coronary heart charge.
You may get Cardio Load scores by default, showing in the primary Fitbit Immediately tab. However to get probably the most out of Cardio Load, you should put on your Pixel Watch 3 for sleep monitoring for 2 weeks. It will assist the watch work out your well being and sleep baseline to generate a Each day Readiness rating, then offer you a every day Goal Load for the quantity of cardio load you must attempt to hit that day, primarily based in your previous exercises and health degree.
All of this to say, simply begin sleeping whereas sporting the Pixel Watch 3, and ultimately your every day Morning Temporary will present screens just like the picture above with a goal load rating. Your AI-generated runs will take that Goal Load under consideration, however you may as well have a look at previous exercises to see how a lot load you generate from a typical run or HIIT exercise, and design your exercise accordingly.
Purchase backup watch bands
Google makes use of a proprietary watch band system, so a lot of the bands comparable with different watches will not work with it. We’ve got a information on the greatest Pixel Watch 3 bands that’ll boost your watch’s look or offer you a extra snug band than the default Energetic band.
Sadly, we haven’t got many good third-party choices as a result of Pixel Watch gross sales aren’t as excessive as Galaxy or Apple Watches. Nonetheless, we have discovered numerous rugged, woven, metal, and solo loop choices that’ll offer you some selection and will not price as a lot as Google’s first-party bands, that are wonderful however fairly costly (particularly for leather-based or steel).
Whichever you select, just remember to purchase the appropriate dimension; the 41mm and 45mm Pixel Watch 3 use totally different band sizes, although your Pixel Watch 2 bands will carry over to the 41mm PW3.
Unpeel your Pixel Watch 3’s layers
I did not cowl every part the Pixel Watch 3 can do. Fitbit Premium has different perks like Peloton exercises, meditation guides, and video teaching that will get you understanding together with your Watch 3. You should utilize Tiles to take an ECG studying or comply with your Physique Responses (aka irritating moments) all through the day. And I did not even convey up Google Assistant, which you name by holding down the again button above the crown.
To not point out, you must open the Play Retailer in your cellphone, faucet Different gadgets within the high menu, and have a look at the “high free watch apps” to see what third-party choices shall be useful for you. Do not simply stick with Google apps!
The Pixel Watch 3 is likely one of the greatest Android watches out there at the moment, thanks partially to its new Put on OS 5 tips. And I’ve little doubt it’s going to get even smarter, since Google offers its watches three years of updates. Hopefully by the point Put on OS 6 arrives subsequent fall with the Pixel Watch 4, you may have mastered what your Pixel Watch 3 has to supply.
Begin exploring
If you have not purchased your Pixel Watch 3 but, relaxation assured that it is one in every of our workers’s favorites. We love its new 2,000-nit, 60Hz show that is available in two sizes for the primary time, plus its surprisingly competent 2-day battery life. Google House tips make the Watch 3 a handy controller to your whole good residence of gadgets, and Fitbit will assist you determine how a lot to work out on any given day with out overtraining.