Everything New In Wear OS 5.1 On The Pixel Watch

Google started rolling out Wear OS 5.1 to the Pixel Watch 2 and 3 (Wi-Fi) yesterday, and here’s everything new with the first update in four months. 

Android 15

Wear OS 5.1 is based on Android 15. It follows Wear OS 5 / Android 14, Wear OS 4 / Android 13, and Wear OS 3 / Android 11. It’s not yet available for the original Pixel Watch or any LTE models. Meanwhile, the next Pixel Watch update is coming in June, with Google continuing quarterly updates.

For app developers, Wear OS 5.1 brings two features:

• Credential manager support: The Credential Manager API provides a unified authentication solution, supporting sign-in flows using passwords, passkeys, and federated identity (such as Sign In with Google). A user’s credentials are stored in a credential provider, which syncs account information across devices.
• Watch speaker playback: On devices that support media playback through the watch speaker, users can select this speaker as their preferred media output option if your app integrates with the Wear Output Switcher.

Force Global AOD Experience 

A new Developer option lets you skip the blurred clock when you put your wrist down in apps. More details

Active watch face tweak 

The Active face on the Pixel Watch 3 has been tweaked. When the AOD is enabled, the time is no longer hollowed out, while it’s now placed in a pill-shaped container.

Active vs. AOD watch face

New accent color 

The default yellow accent color is being phased out. In its place is a gray of sorts that could be a precursor to proper Dynamic Color, or simply letting users select their own theme/hue.

Old vs. new

Settings > Modes 

Similar to Android 15 QPR2, Google is consolidating Do Not Disturb, Bedtime, and Theater under a new Modes menu in Settings. 

March 2025 Feature Drop

• More
• Auto Bedtime Mode on Pixel Watch 2, which was first introduced on the PW3
• Loss of Pulse Detection on Pixel Watch 3: Arriving later this month
• Menstrual tracking on Pixel Watch 3 to log periods, view cycle status, and predict your next period
• Improved step tracking algorithm for jogging with a stroller, pushing a shopping cart or wheelchair, and hiking with poles
• Media Controls Upgrade: “Make it easier to control audio content from the watch with control types based on content being played (such as Podcasts within YouTube music).”
  • We’re not seeing this yet

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