Wear OS smartwatches can now display earthquake alerts without being connected to a smartphone, thanks to a new Google Play Services update.
The feature removes the previous requirement of having a paired Android phone to receive emergency notifications, making it potentially life-saving for users.
Google's earthquake alert system uses built-in sensors like gyroscopes and accelerometers in devices to detect seismic activity. By analyzing anonymized data from multiple nearby devices, it determines if an earthquake is occurring and sends alerts to users in the affected area.
Google expanded this feature to Wear OS last June, but the latest update makes it independent. According to Droid-Life, the update arrives via Google Play Services v26.07 and rolls out server-side.
Google has not yet detailed how the feature will work on standalone watches, but it likely functions on cellular models or those connected to Wi-Fi. There is no clear information on manual activation, though it may be enabled by default.
The Play Services update is already available through the Google Play Store, but server-side rollout means users may need to wait for it to become active on their smartwatch.