9to5Google reports that since Google Pixel Watch received its January update (which updated the security patch on the watch), users have been complaining about a bug that freezes the device with the words “preparing update” frozen on the screen. Some features will still work and you will still receive notifications. Pressing the crown will still open the power menu, but touch inputs do not register and the update mentioned on the screen never completes.
This problem has surfaced before. At the Wear OS community page, a named Pixel Watch owner Barry Eckenthal wrote: “My watch is frozen and the face says ‘Updating Wear OS system’ and ‘Preparing update’; the watch cannot be turned off or reset. Everything is frozen.” It looks like it could have been written today, but it was actually released on December 6th.
A gentleman at the handle of Jim Vlahos 2342 recommended that Pixel Watch users experiencing this issue perform a force restart and try installing the update again. And lo and behold, it worked! Several posts thanked the author of the post who suggested doing a force restart and reinstalling the update. This post also recommended a video showing Pixel Watch users how to perform the force restart. You can watch the video in tapping on this link.
Pixel Watch owners say thank you for an article that explains how to unlock the Pixel Watch after the December update
We are more than happy to give you play-by-play. Or in this case, just the game. All you have to do is press the crown and the button above it for about 15 seconds. In fact, you have to keep pressing the buttons until the The Google logo appears on the screen. At this point, release your fingers. We should now note that it worked to unlock the watch after the December update, but there’s no reason not to expect it to work after the January update.
The first time you try the force restart, you might pass out when you see a red “Error” icon flashing on the screen. Your life could appear before your eyes. But if you regain your composure and take a deep breath, the watch eventually reboots and loads Wear OS.
This is an annoying bug and one user reported in December that their Pixel Watch display was frozen for two weeks. If this happens to you, try the force restart and you should get your Pixel Watch back to working.
