Google is bringing its Android earthquake alerts to Wear OS smartwatches. The update rolls out as part of Google Play Services version 25.21- adding a feature that could be a quiet lifesaver.
Earthquake alerts are no longer just for your phone
If you’ve ever had your phone buzz with a sudden earthquake warning, you know how jarring that can be. But it works. The moment a quake is detected, you get a quick notification with the estimated magnitude and distance to the epicenter. Now that same system is expanding to smartwatches.
The alerts will appear directly on your Wear OS device, which means you no longer need to have your phone in your hand to get the warning. That’s even more useful for anyone with a cellular model who leaves their phone behind during a run, workout or just a quick trip outside. You need to have experienced that type of situation to realise how much better it is to get that heads-up on your wrist.
The update is part of a bigger picture
This system isn’t new. Google first rolled it out back in 2020. It relies on accelerometers and other sensors built into Android phones to create a kind of distributed seismic network. When enough phones in an area detect shaking, Google triangulates that data and sends out alerts with the estimated size and proximity of the quake.
Until now, that alert stayed on the phone. But the Google System Release Notes now say you’ll get those same alerts on “Wear.” That means smartwatches running Wear OS, which come bundled with Google Play Services by default, will start displaying these notifications too.
What the alerts actually show
From what we know so far, the smartwatch version of the alert will closely mirror the phone version. You’ll see the estimated magnitude and how far you are from the epicenter. It won’t be fancy or detailed, but that’s not really the point. The goal is to give you those few critical seconds of warning.
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That can mean moving away from a window. Stepping out of a shower. Pulling over while driving. It won’t stop the shaking, but it might help you react in time.
This update is still in the process of rolling out, so don’t be surprised if it takes a bit to hit your device. The underlying support comes from Google Play Services 25.21, so if you’re not seeing anything yet, check that version first.
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