Google announces Wear OS 7 with Live Updates, widgets, more

Andrew Romero | May 19 2026 - 11:31 am PT

A significant lineup of changes is coming to Pixel Watches with Wear OS 7, as Google announces the new wearable version will come with features more closely aligned with Android’s design.

Wear OS 7 will be available later in the year, but Google’s announcement during Google I/O 2026 comes with a detail-rich preview of the new OS version. Google states Wear OS 7 will be 10% easier on battery than Wear OS 6 across the board, and “select watches” will get access to Gemini Intelligence for more personalized features.

Google details the familiar Live Updates feature, but in regard to what they will look like on the new version of Wear OS. Notifications will appear on the main watch face using a small notification icon. The notification page will showcase the Live Update notification with dynamic information, based on the app. Delivery apps, for instance, might show a countdown in the notification card. Expanded view will give more information as it becomes available.

Tiles are also getting a redesign. Google will roll out widgets with Wear OS 7 to replace full-screen tiles. A 2×1 or 2×2 block will display app information in a style that more closely resembles Android 16’s widgets. It doesn’t appear that the new design will allow users to stack widgets on top of each other in the same screen, like Samsung’s version of Wear OS allows Galaxy Watch users to do.

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Google further teases Gemini Intelligence with the AppFunctions API. The new API should allow developers to integrate their apps with Google Gemini so commands can work more seamlessly with third-party apps. That extends to task automation, allowing users to invoke Gemini to complete tasks like placing orders with DoorDash, and so on. Details are slim on these features at this stage of Wear OS 7’s development.

Google also announced that a universal, standardized workout-tracking experience will be built into Wear OS 7. Exercise apps can choose to use Google’s tracking experience and design language instead of building their own. It will include heart rate monitoring, media control, and other unnamed features. End users can expect to see a more universal exercise experience throughout their Pixel Watch’s software.

The universal media player experience is also seeing some changes. Users will be able to control auto-launch options in Wear OS 7. When media begins playing in apps, the user can enable/disable the media player’s auto-launch function.

Output options are being refined, too. The media controls page will get a new Remote Output Switcher to present the user with audio outputs. The list will include Google Cast options, alongside Bluetooth devices.

Deeper into the development side, Google announced a slew of new features that will make navigation and watchface development easier, in theory.

Overall, the small teaser for Wear OS 7 paints a picture of a more navigable and cleaner UI. Again, Google says Wear OS 7 will arrive “later this year,” though Wear OS 7 Canary will be available for developers starting today.