Google is retiring the built-in Weather app on smartwatches with Wear OS 6 and moving Pixel Watch owners to a new, first-party Pixel Weather experience. What the tweak does not mean is that “new downloads of Weather for Wear OS 6.0 will no longer be available,” because you can still install a version, and any existing install will also continue to work temporarily while Google moves you across.
What’s changing in Wear OS 6
On devices upgraded to Wear OS 6, the legacy Google Weather app will no longer be available for installation from the Play Store. Watches that already have the old app will not lose access right away, but the message is clear: Google is replacing one method of working with another as it retires the software.
The transition will feel gradual. If you had the old Weather app on your watch before it was updated to Wear OS 6, then you can continue using it for now. New installations, however, are blocked on the newest OS as a new sunset period begins.
Pixel Watch shifts to Pixel Weather
Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 users who are on Wear OS 6 (and higher) will be transitioned to the new Pixel Weather app by default. Pixel users, Google says don’t need to do anything — tiles, complications and app entry points will automatically be updated to the new experience during migration.
Look and feel can only get tighter to Pixel phones: leaner Material You design language, more depth in the at-a-glance cards, stronger integration with the wider Pixel ecosystem. Google has been all about consistency across devices in the last couple of product cycles, and this is no different.
What this means for Samsung, OnePlus and Mobvoi
Wear OS 6 watch owners in the Samsung, OnePlus and Mobvoi families can continue to use the old Google Weather app if it is already installed. If it’s not on the device itself, it won’t be DLable in OS 6. Many of these watches will come with their own weather solutions, after all—Samsung’s One UI Watch will have Samsung Weather — so most users will still have a native option in addition to third-party ones.
If you depend on Google’s complications, look at your watch face following updates: pre-existing complications associated with the now-legacy app should carry on displaying while it hangs about, but will eventually be replaced by, or need to be re-picked from a list of your possibilities when the new application or an alternative is present.
Why Google is switching
That’s what this consolidation is about — cutting out overlap and getting services on the same page under the Pixel flag. To keep up dozens of system weather apps across phones and wearables is heavy maintenance that a single Pixel Weather brand nails: we can synchronize updates, maintain UI parity and consistently roll out new features. Google has been condensing its product lines in other places too—think of the journey from Google Pay to Wallet or the move towards Health Connect for your fitness data—so it’s no surprise that there’s been a clear-out on the wrist.
It also jibes with the larger Wear OS strategy. Observers such as Counterpoint Research and IDC have said growth of Wear OS has been done on the backs of a few flagship partners, and fragmentation has been a constant frustration. Providing a consistent, Pixel-first weather experience lets Google control quality and cadence on its own hardware without dictating software choices for partners.
Practical tips and alternatives you can trust
If the old Weather app is already installed on your Wear OS 6 watch, don’t uninstall it unless you’re ready to give up—once uninstalled, it won’t be available again. Make sure Google Play Services and system apps are up to date, then look for the Pixel Weather app if you’re on a Pixel Watch. Tiles and complications sometimes will refresh after the app is moved with quick reboot.
For non-Pixel watches, there are still some great third-party options. Popular options including apps from big-name weather services and indie devs with hyper-accurate radar, minute-by-minute precipitation, and customizable complications. The majority of these provide free tiers with the option to upgrade for localized forecasts and severe weather alerts.
What it means for Wear OS users
Forecasts aren’t disappearing — they’re just dressing differently. Pixel Watch users will find a smoother, more contemporary Pixel Weather experience, and other Wear OS 6 owners can choose to stick with the legacy app if it’s already on their wrist or switch over to manufacturer or third-party options. It’s a pragmatic cleanup by Google, one that will prioritize more coherent and control-rich experiences on Pixel while not fully cutting off choice elsewhere within the Wear OS ecosystem.
