Imagine waking up to check the weather on your smartwatch, only to be met with frustrating error messages. This has been the reality for many users of Google Weather on Wear OS recently, especially for those with devices like the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch. The problem began in September when Google discontinued support for its Weather app on new Wear OS 6 devices, and now it seems that the app has completely stopped functioning on existing models as well, thanks to a perplexing bug.
As of December 15, there’s good news! Google has resolved the issue, and users can once again see the temperature displayed correctly on their watches. Interestingly, this fix was implemented server-side, meaning no updates to the app were required. If you are still experiencing issues, a simple restart of your watch might be all you need to restore functionality.
Earlier reports noted that when users attempted to open Google Weather, they were greeted with a "Loading..." screen, which would then change to an error message stating, "Can’t download weather data." Users were left feeling stuck, as the only option provided was a “Retry” button, leading to a frustrating loop of failed attempts. This glitch didn’t just affect the main app; similar loading errors appeared on related features such as the Forecast, Sun, and UV Index Tiles, which also displayed messages indicating they couldn't retrieve location data.
This widespread issue impacted all Google Weather users across various Wear OS devices, including the original Pixel Watch and Samsung's Galaxy Watch. Officially, Google had announced back in September that while the Weather app would still function for those who had it installed prior to upgrading to Wear OS 6, it would no longer be available for new installations. The company is nudging users toward utilizing the default weather applications offered by device manufacturers. For instance, the Pixel Weather app is accessible on newer models like the Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4.
It appears this malfunction is likely a bug rather than a planned discontinuation of the service. Customer support interactions have confirmed that Google is aware of this particular problem. It seems hopeful that a straightforward server-side update could be the key to resolving the ongoing difficulties.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for alternatives, consider downloading a third-party weather application like AccuWeather from the Play Store. Another quick workaround is to ask Gemini for the weather, which doesn’t require any additional downloads.
What do you think about Google's handling of its Weather app on Wear OS? Do you believe they should have continued supporting it for all devices? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
