Google's set to push out a software patch to fix a battery draining issue that has left some Pixel Watch users upset. The software update focuses on one issue in particular that's causing battery to drain far too quickly on certain watches under everyday use. Anyone who's noticed their battery life suddenly dwindling can update to fix the problem and return to normal battery life.
Patch arrives for Watch 2 and 5 after users reported severe battery drain
The update will fix a bug in certain supported devices, namely the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 5. Google says the bug only affects a small amount of users, but feedback from the community suggests the issue stretches across a range of watches. We've seen similar chatter around stability when we covered the last update for the Pixel Watch. Balance and stability were major topics of conversation then, too.
A few users mentioned seeing battery drop down to around 12 hours in light use, much less than what was expected. It's unclear exactly which app or underlying problem caused this massive drainage issue. Google hasn't come out and said what the problem app is. Some users are frustrated with the lack of details around what caused the issue.
The patch might not roll out to everyone immediately. It's a staggered rollout, so you might need to check for the patch yourself. To do so, head to the Play Store and choose Manage apps.
Then hit Update all. That way, you'll make sure you don't miss the update, as it will happen in batches.
Source: NotebookCheck
Good news finally. My Watch 2 was dying by noon every day.
Does this patch address the background telemetry loop or just the symptom? I need to know if the kernel watchdog is still triggering.
It targets the specific background process causing the drain. The telemetry loop is resolved in this build. Check your battery stats after the reboot.
I always forget to check for updates manually. Does anyone else just wait for the nag screen?
I am skeptical about the small user base claim. The forum threads suggest this is widespread. Google is downplaying the scope.
staggered rollouts are always a pain 🤔 hope it hits my device soon
Good to see. I am in Europe and the update is not here yet. Waiting for the batch.
This fixes the core issue. I will hold off on any other updates until this one is stable for a week.