Pixel Watch latest update may have broken one of the key features, Google says fix coming soon
Google has officially acknowledged a new software bug that is disrupting a daily essential feature for some Pixel Watch owners. Following a recent software update, a few users reported that the “Find My Phone” feature, which allows the smartwatch to remotely ring a misplaced smartphone, has stopped working entirely. The tech giant confirmed it is actively tracking the issue and promises a permanent fix will be deployed shortly.
According to a report by Android Authority, the issue first gained attention on Reddit after a user named Silent_Polak reported that their Google Pixel Watch 3 could no longer trigger their phone’s ringer. The user noted that the device had operated flawlessly for nearly a year, and the malfunction only appeared immediately after installing the watch’s latest system update.
The thread quickly flooded with complaints from other owners who realised they were facing the exact same problem. Many expressed annoyance, noting that while the remote ringer is a background tool, it is one they rely on constantly to locate phones slipped under blankets or lost between couch cushions.
The glitch appears to be tied to a deeper connectivity error as some users tracking the bug reportedly discovered that the Watch app on their smartphones became unusable after the update, crashing every time they tried to open it. Restarting both the Pixel Watch and a paired Google Pixel 10 smartphone failed to resolve the problem.
The Gemini Voice workaround
While the standard on-screen button shortcut is currently unavailable, tech-savvy users managed to uncover a temporary solution hidden within the watch's artificial intelligence (AI) settings. Citing several posters in the community thread, activating the Gemini voice assistant directly on the watch and verbally instructing it to find the phone successfully forces the misplaced handset to ring.
he Pixel Watch development team has stepped in. In a statement posted to the community forum, Google acknowledged the system flaw and confirmed that its engineers are coding a permanent resolution.
“We are actively working on a fix that will arrive in a future software update,” the Google team stated.
According to a report by Android Authority, the issue first gained attention on Reddit after a user named Silent_Polak reported that their Google Pixel Watch 3 could no longer trigger their phone’s ringer. The user noted that the device had operated flawlessly for nearly a year, and the malfunction only appeared immediately after installing the watch’s latest system update.
The thread quickly flooded with complaints from other owners who realised they were facing the exact same problem. Many expressed annoyance, noting that while the remote ringer is a background tool, it is one they rely on constantly to locate phones slipped under blankets or lost between couch cushions.
The glitch appears to be tied to a deeper connectivity error as some users tracking the bug reportedly discovered that the Watch app on their smartphones became unusable after the update, crashing every time they tried to open it. Restarting both the Pixel Watch and a paired Google Pixel 10 smartphone failed to resolve the problem.
The Gemini Voice workaround
While the standard on-screen button shortcut is currently unavailable, tech-savvy users managed to uncover a temporary solution hidden within the watch's artificial intelligence (AI) settings. Citing several posters in the community thread, activating the Gemini voice assistant directly on the watch and verbally instructing it to find the phone successfully forces the misplaced handset to ring.
he Pixel Watch development team has stepped in. In a statement posted to the community forum, Google acknowledged the system flaw and confirmed that its engineers are coding a permanent resolution.
“We are actively working on a fix that will arrive in a future software update,” the Google team stated.
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