These Google Pixel Watches Could Soon Support AOD Media Controls

"Google rolled out the Wear OS 6 update to older Pixel Watch models earlier this week, bringing the Material 3 Expressive design language to them. The new operating system first arrived on the Google Pixel Watch 4 when it launched in August. However, it did miss out on a few features, with the most notable being the always-on display (AOD) functionality for media controls. As per a report, this feature could be rolled out later this year, as part of the next quarterly Pixel Watch update."

"While the Google Pixel Watch 4, Watch 3, and Watch 2 all have the Wear OS 6 update available, all of the features previewed by the Mountain View-based tech giant in May are currently not available. According to a 9to5Google report, the company has now confirmed that the Media Controls update is being targeted "later this year for Pixel Watch.""

"Back in May, Google said that it would offer a consistent AOD experience with Wear OS 6, where "the previous top activity remains visible and in the 'resumed' state when the device enters system ambient mode." The company also gave an example of the media controls and highlighted that the current song and media controls will remain visible even when the user is not interacting with the device."

Wear OS 6 has been rolled out to older Pixel Watch models and brings the Material 3 Expressive design language. The operating system first arrived on Pixel Watch 4 at launch but omitted several features, notably always-on display (AOD) media controls. Google has targeted the Media Controls AOD update for "later this year" for Pixel Watch, which could include older models. The update is expected as part of the next quarterly Pixel Watch update and could arrive in December, though deployment to older devices might slip to early 2026 in a worst-case scenario. Google described a consistent AOD experience where the previous top activity remains visible in system ambient mode, including media controls staying visible when not interacting with the device.

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