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Your Pixel Watch 2 can show incoming message notifications and let you reply from your wrist. For Google Messages and SMS, make sure the phone is online, the Android messaging app is the phone’s default SMS app, and notifications are enabled in the Google Pixel Watch app. The exact reply choices depend on the app and notification.
Before you begin
- Your watch must be paired with a compatible Android phone and the Google Pixel Watch app. Google says Pixel Watch messaging works with most phones running Android 10 or newer; compatibility can vary by feature and region. The companion app manages watch notifications and setup: Google Pixel Watch app on Google Play.
- For Google’s SMS workflow, set the Android messaging app you want to use as the phone’s default messaging client. The phone must be online for texts to sync to the watch.
- A Wi-Fi/Bluetooth model relies on the phone being nearby for calls and texts. An LTE model can connect away from the phone when it has an active compatible cellular plan and mobile connection, but that does not remove Google’s phone-online requirement for text synchronization. Carrier availability and setup vary by country and carrier. See Google’s Pixel Watch calls and messages guidance and supported network information.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or LTE must be working for the connection you are using. Menu names may differ slightly by Wear OS version, phone, language and region.
Turn on message notifications
Enable notifications for the messaging app on both the phone and watch. On the phone, first confirm the messaging app itself is allowed to post notifications. Then use the watch companion app:
- Open the Google Pixel Watch app on your phone.
- Swipe up and tap Settings.
- Tap Notifications, then App Notifications.
- Turn on notifications for your messaging app. Google documents this path in its notification settings guidance.
Read and reply to an incoming message
- Send a test text to the phone and make sure the phone receives it.
- When the watch vibrates or displays the message notification, wake the watch and open the notification. If it has disappeared, open the watch’s notification list and select it.
- Tap the available Reply or compose control.
- Choose a suggested response, if one appears, or select an available input method such as voice dictation, the on-screen keyboard, emoji, or handwriting.
- Review the message and tap the send/check control.
Google documents Smart Reply for SMS/text messages in English; it is not available for email replies. The reply control and input options can vary by app, notification type, language and installed watch software. For details, see Google’s Pixel Watch messaging instructions.
Start a new text from the watch
If you dismissed the incoming notification or want to contact someone first, open the watch’s Contacts app:
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#1 Best Overall
Google Pixel Watch 2 with Fitbit Heart Rate Tracking, Stress Management, Safety Features - Android Smartwatch - Matt Black Aluminum Case - Obsidian Active Band - GPS (Renewed)
- The Pixel Watch 2 comes with three new advanced sensors for heart rate tracking, skin temperature, and stress management[1,2]; 100% recycled light aluminum housing makes it comfortable to wear[3]
- The all-new heart rate sensor and Google AI combine for Fitbit’s most spot-on heart rate tracking yet[4], so you can get more precise health and fitness info[5]
- Go even longer with the enhanced 24-hour battery and always-on display[6,7]; charge for 75 minutes to get a full day of battery life[8]
- Identify potential signs of stress with Fitbit’s body-response feature, so you can manage it in the moment[5]; and track variations in your skin temperature, blood oxygen levels, and sleep to help you spot possible changes[5,9,10]
- Get help with Emergency SOS and Fall Detection if you’re feeling unsafe or if you’ve had a hard fall[11,12]; and Safety Check alerts your close contacts if you don’t respond to a set check-in timer[13]
- Press the crown and scroll to Contacts.
- Select a contact or search for one, then tap the contact.
- Tap the message box or message icon beside the phone number.
- Compose the text and send it.
This is Google’s documented route for starting a new SMS conversation; it still depends on the phone’s default messaging app and connection requirements.
Use Google Assistant to text or reply
If Assistant is configured and available for your language and account, try voice requests such as “Hey Google, text [contact],” “Hey Google, read my messages,” or “Hey Google, reply to [contact].” Permissions, Assistant configuration, language support and connectivity affect which requests work. Google describes Assistant messaging in its Pixel Watch calls and messages help.
Rank #2
Google Pixel Watch 2 with the Best of Fitbit and Google - Heart Rate Tracking, Stress Management, Safety Features - Android Smartwatch, Matte Black Aluminum Case, Obsidian Active Band - LTE (Renewed)
- The Pixel Watch 2 comes with three new advanced sensors for heart rate tracking, skin temperature, and stress management[1,2]; 100% recycled light aluminum housing makes it comfortable to wear[3]
- The all-new heart rate sensor and Google AI combine for Fitbit’s most spot-on heart rate tracking yet[4], so you can get more precise health and fitness info[5]
- Go even longer with the enhanced 24-hour battery and always-on display[6,7]; charge for 75 minutes to get a full day of battery life[8]
- Identify potential signs of stress with Fitbit’s body-response feature, so you can manage it in the moment[5]; and track variations in your skin temperature, blood oxygen levels, and sleep to help you spot possible changes[5,9,10]
- Get help with Emergency SOS and Fall Detection if you’re feeling unsafe or if you’ve had a hard fall[11,12]; and Safety Check alerts your close contacts if you don’t respond to a set check-in timer[13]
How WhatsApp and other apps differ
Google Messages and SMS have the clearest first-party watch workflow. Other apps can show notifications, and some provide a reply action, but the app decides which actions and input methods appear. Wear OS lists WhatsApp messaging support on compatible watches; its experience and setup are app-specific. Email notifications may appear, but Smart Reply is not available for email replies. See Wear OS messaging information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix missing message notifications
Work through these checks in order before re-pairing the watch:
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Rank #3
Google Pixel Watch 2 (Previous Model) with the Best of Fitbit - Heart Rate Tracking, Stress Management, Safety Features - Android Smartwatch - Polished Silver Aluminum Case - Bay Active Band - Wi-Fi
- The Pixel Watch 2 comes with three new advanced sensors for heart rate tracking, skin temperature, and stress management[1,2]; 100% recycled light aluminum housing makes it comfortable to wear[3]
- The all-new heart rate sensor and Google AI combine for Fitbit’s most spot-on heart rate tracking yet[4], so you can get more precise health and fitness info[5]
- Go even longer with the enhanced 24-hour battery and always-on display[6,7]; charge for 75 minutes to get a full day of battery life[8]
- Identify potential signs of stress with Fitbit’s body-response feature, so you can manage it in the moment[5]; and track variations in your skin temperature, blood oxygen levels, and sleep to help you spot possible changes[5,9,10]
- Get help with Emergency SOS and Fall Detection if you’re feeling unsafe or if you’ve had a hard fall[11,12]; and Safety Check alerts your close contacts if you don’t respond to a set check-in timer[13]
- Confirm the phone receives the message and is online.
- In the Google Pixel Watch app, open Settings → Notifications → App Notifications and enable the messaging app. Also check the phone’s notification permission for that app.
- In notification settings, check whether Mute notifications from phone or Hide silent notifications is enabled; either setting can prevent the alert from appearing as expected.
- On the watch, check whether Bedtime, Do Not Disturb or Theater mode is suppressing alerts. Also check Settings → Vibration → Silence watch when not being worn.
- Check the connection on the watch: swipe down, open Settings → Connectivity, and confirm Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Mobile is available for your setup.
- Install available updates for the phone, watch, Google Messages and Pixel Watch app, then restart both devices.
- If the problem persists, Google lists unlinking and pairing the watch again as a troubleshooting option. Use it only after the simpler checks; pairing again can require setup steps.
Google’s full checklist is in Pixel Watch notification troubleshooting and its call and text troubleshooting.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Google Pixel Watch 2 with the Best of Fitbit and Google - Heart Rate, Stress Management, Safety Features - Android Smartwatch - Polished Silver Aluminum Case - Porcelain Active Band - LTE (Renewed)
- The Pixel Watch 2 comes with three new advanced sensors for heart rate tracking, skin temperature, and stress management[1,2]; 100% recycled light aluminum housing makes it comfortable to wear[3]
- The all-new heart rate sensor and Google AI combine for Fitbit’s most spot-on heart rate tracking yet[4], so you can get more precise health and fitness info[5]
- Go even longer with the enhanced 24-hour battery and always-on display[6,7]; charge for 75 minutes to get a full day of battery life[8]
- Identify potential signs of stress with Fitbit’s body-response feature, so you can manage it in the moment[5]; and track variations in your skin temperature, blood oxygen levels, and sleep to help you spot possible changes[5,9,10]
- Get help with Emergency SOS and Fall Detection if you’re feeling unsafe or if you’ve had a hard fall[11,12]; and Safety Check alerts your close contacts if you don’t respond to a set check-in timer[13]
Fix a reply that will not send
- Check the phone first: verify it is online and can send a message through the phone app.
- Check the watch connection: confirm Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or LTE is connected under Settings → Connectivity.
- For SMS, check the default app: make sure the intended Android messaging app is still the phone’s default messaging client.
- For a reply attempted away from the phone: a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth model needs the phone nearby. An LTE model needs an active compatible plan and mobile connection; text synchronization still requires the phone to be online.
- If there is no Reply control: the notification’s app may not offer inline replies, or the notification may be only a preview. Try starting an SMS from Crown → Contacts instead.
- If only one app fails: check that app’s notification and watch-app settings. Third-party reply support is app-specific.
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