SafekipediaWear OS
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Wear OS is a special kind of computer system made for smartwatches and other wearable devices by Google. It was first called Android Wear when it came out in 2014 and changed its name to Wear OS in 2018. This system works best when connected to phones that use Android or iOS, letting users get notifications and use helpful tools right on their wrists.
Wear OS can connect through Bluetooth, NFC, Wi‑Fi, and even cell networks like 3G, 4G, and LTE. It also works with Google Play, so users can find many apps and watch faces that come in round, square, and rectangular styles. Many companies like Asus, Fossil, HTC, LG, Samsung, and Xiaomi help make these smartwatches.
Since it launched, Wear OS has become popular. In 2014, over 720,000 smartwatches were sold, and by 2022, the Wear OS app had been downloaded more than 50 million times. By 2021, it was a big part of the smartwatch market, even though Apple’s watches were more popular. Today, Samsung is the main company selling Wear OS devices after switching back to it in 2021.
History and compatibility
The platform was first shown on March 18, 2014, with a preview for developers. Companies like Motorola, Samsung, LG, HTC, and Asus joined as partners. On June 25, 2014, at Google I/O, the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch were introduced, marking the first smartwatches to run Android Wear. The LG G Watch was the first to be released and sold, followed by Motorola's Moto 360 in September 2014.
An update in December 2014 added new features and changed the software to be based on Android 5.0 "Lollipop". More devices like the Asus ZenWatch, the Sony SmartWatch 3, and the LG G Watch R arrived by the end of 2014. By March 2015, newer models included the LG Watch Urbane and the Huawei Watch.
In 2015, Google introduced a Wear OS app for iOS version 8.2 or newer, letting users receive iOS notifications on supported smartwatches. In March 2018, Android Wear was renamed to Wear OS to better match its technology and vision. In September 2018, Wear OS 2.0 brought changes like a new Google feed and fitness tracking features.
In January 2021, Google finished buying the wearables company Fitbit, planning to invest more in Wear OS and bring new devices to the market. In May 2021 at Google I/O, Google shared plans for Wear OS 3.0. This update includes a new look inspired by Android 12 and Fitbit's exercise tracking. Google also partnered with Samsung Electronics to bring Wear OS to Samsung's future smartwatches. The update uses Android 11 and will be available for devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 system on chip, needing a factory reset to install.
Features
Wear OS can show messages from a connected phone or tablet. Users can talk to the device by saying "OK Google" and can also use hand movements to give commands. It works with many Google services like Google Assistant, Google Mobile Services, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Wallet, as well as apps from the Play Store.
From the watch's main screen, users can swipe up to see messages, swipe down to change settings quickly, swipe left to see news and interests, and swipe right to check activity and health details with Google Fit. The watch can track walking or running and, if it has a heart sensor, can check heart rate when asked or at set times during the day. It can also control music or videos playing on the connected device.
Version history
Android Wear
Wear OS
Wear OS 1 and 2
Wear OS 3 and later
| Android Wear version | Android OS version | Release date | New features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4W1 | 4.4 KitKat | June 2014 | Initial release |
| 4.4W2 | October 2014 | Offline music playback over Bluetooth Watch GPS support (for watches with built-in GPS) New music control UI | |
| 1.0 (5.0.1W) | 5.0.1 Lollipop | December 2014 | Official watch face API Sunlight mode (brightness boost) Theater mode Settings shade from top Battery stats in Android Wear app Recently used actions added to the top in drawer Ability to undo dismissed notification |
| 1.1 (5.1.1W1) | 5.1.1 Lollipop | May 2015 | Wi-Fi support (for watches with built-in Wi-Fi) Drawable Emojis (as response to messages) Heads up notifications Pattern lock screen Ability to change font size Add swipe left from watch face to access app drawer Always on apps More wrist gestures |
| 1.3 (5.1.1W2) | August 2015 | Interactive watch faces Google Translate for Wear | |
| 1.4 (6.0.1W1) | 6.0.1 Marshmallow | February 2016 | More wrist gestures Speaker support for watches with built-in speaker Send voice messages directly from the watch |
| 1.5 (6.0.1W2) | June 2016 | Brought back restart watch option Added Android security patch level to About screen | |
| 2.0 (7.1.1W1) | 7.1.1 Nougat | Feb 2017 | Revamped UI with Material Design, darker colors, and a more circular user interface for round watches. Standalone apps with Google Play Store on watch Complications for watch faces Built-in keyboard Handwriting recognition Stackable notifications Smarter notifications Cellular Support |
| 2.6 (7.1.1W2) | Nov 2017 | Text size of notifications adapts to message length New download progress indicator New complication for launching previously used app | |
| 2.6 (7.1.1W3, 8.0.0 W1) | 8.0 Oreo | Dec 2017 | Brings Android 8.0 Oreo features to smartwatches Notification vibration strength setting Touch lock option for wet conditions Support for 7 new countries/languages Notification Channels Battery saving background limits |
| 2.7 (7.1.1W4, 8.0.0 W2) | Dec 2017 | Improved typefaces and font weights Complications now work with Talkback Text size of notifications adapts to message length Swipe down in Quick Settings to see connection type (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile) Download progress notifications Recent App complication Better prevention of accidental side-swipe and long-press gestures | |
| 2.8 (7.1.1W5, 8.0.0W3) | Jan 2018 | Improved notification glanceability with a new layout which shows more of the user's message at a glance Darker background for better readability and less battery usage | |
| 2.9 (7.1.1W6, 8.0.0W4) | Feb 2018 | New notification preview complication which allows you to preview messages Improved glanceability in notification cards with longer titles |
| Wear OS version | Android OS versions | Release date | New features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Android 8 Oreo | March 2018 | Rebranding to Wear OS Expand Google Pay Support in more countries |
| 1.4 | July 2018 | Faster Google Pay startup More glanceable design for events and appointments Time zone sync bug fix | |
| 2.0 | September 2018 | Swipe actions for faster access to Google Assistant and Google Fit Google Assistant feed with proactive personalized information New design for quick toggles and notifications stream New music controls with physical button support Bolder font in the app launcher | |
| 2.2 | Android 9 Pie H MR1 | November 2018 | New features for System version H MR1: Brings Android 9.0 Pie features to smartwatches Enables Battery Saver mode to only display the time once the battery falls below 10% Improves restoring the state of previously used apps Watches now enter a deep sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity Holding down the power button now provides options for shutting down or restarting the watch |
| 2.6 | May 2019 | Tiles functionality when swiping left, providing access to next calendar events, weather forecast, heart rate, news headlines and timer functionality | |
| 2.7 | June 2019 | Bug fixes | |
| 2.9 | July 2019 | Notifications | |
| 2.17 | April 2020 | New 'Wash hands' timer regarding coronavirus New UI and Tiles for Google Fit | |
| 2.23 | Android 9 Pie H MR2 | December 2020 | Changes in System H MR2: CPU core improvements: app launch and boot time up to 20% faster SysUI improvements: more intuitive controls for managing different watch modes and workouts Increased performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 and 4100+ platforms Improved LTE support Simplified pairing process Better battery life Support for an increased numbers of Tiles New Weather Tile Ability to turn off Long Press Power Button to activate Google Assistant Ability to set the screen off time limit New screen brightness layout YouTube Music App Google Fit: Workouts & Breathe Tiles + New home screen & New Sleep features Social share and challenge |
| Wear OS version | Android OS versions | Release date | New features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | Android 11 | August 2021 | Brings Android 11 features to smartwatches New UI design Health features to Google Fit: Stress management Compatible ECG app Skin temperature SpO2 levels Sleep tracking Wake up Hardware improvements: Long battery life with Bluetooth improvements (up to a week) Social integration: Social challenges |
| 3.2 | February 2022 | App drawer and notification tray icons tweaked | |
| 3.5 | October 2022 | Removed: Compatibility with iPhones | |
| 4.0 | Android 13 | July 2023 | Animated Tiles New XML watch face format Improved battery life Native backups App permission syncing with connected phone More granular permission handling for health data Improved golf tracking |
| 5.0 | Android 14 | 19 July 2024 | Grid-based app launcher Media output device choices Watch Face Format enhancements Screenshot detection Health Services updates |
| 5.1 | Android 15 | 19 March 2025 | Force Global AOD Experience Active watch face tweak New accent color Settings > Modes Improved step tracking algorithm Media Controls Upgrade |
| 6.0 | Android 16 | 22 July 2025 | Introduced Material 3 Expressive UI |
| 6.1 | Android 16 | 9 December 2025 | New gesture controls Improves Smart Replies |
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Wear OS, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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