Google Pixel Watch 4: New Hands-Free Gestures & Security Features

There’s a specific kind of panic that sets in when you pat your pocket and realize it’s empty. Did you leave your phone at home? Did it fall out at the restaurant?

Mobile trusted location via Watch understands the relationship between your devices.³ If your Pixel Watch is on your wrist and connected to your Pixel phone, it knows it’s in safe hands – literally.³ It constantly monitors its connection to your phone.² If you walk far enough away that they disconnect, the Pixel Watch will send you a notification – a gentle buzz on the wrist – to let you know you’ve left your phone behind.

Phone left behind reminders are a game-changer for travelers, saving you time, stress, and the cost of replacing a device. A potential disaster becomes a minor “oops” moment.

But what else happens if that connection breaks? This is where the Pixel Watch steps up its protection.

With phone lock on disconnect, the system is smart enough to know when your phone has left your personal space.² So if you’re sitting in a cafe and your phone is snatched, or if you leave it behind on a bus, as soon as the Bluetooth connection between them drops, your watch signals the phone to lock immediately. So if your phone won’t be accessible to anyone else. You get the convenience of quick access when you have your phone, and peace of mind when you don’t.

Get even more peace of mind knowing you have backup if things go wrong. Whether you’re on a solo hike in a national park or just walking to your car in a dark parking garage, Pixel Watches watch out for you.

Safety Check is designed for those times when you want someone to know you’re okay. You can set a timer for your activity – say, a 30-minute run or a 15-minute walk home.⁴ If you don’t confirm you’re safe when the timer ends, your watch can automatically alert your emergency contacts and share your location.

In more urgent situations, Emergency SOS allows you to contact emergency services quickly.^5,6 With just a few quick presses of the crown, you can get help even if you can’t reach your phone. It’s the kind of feature you hope you never have to use, but having it on your wrist makes every journey a little safer.

Taking a photo when traveling solo – or just trying to get a large group of friends into the frame at dinner – can be awkward. The result is usually an unflattering arm-length selfie or the hassle of asking a stranger to take the photo for you.

With Camera Remote, your Pixel Watch 4 acts as the ultimate photography assistant. Position your Pixel phone, then use your watch as a remote viewfinder.⁷ You can see exactly what the camera sees, right on your wrist. Fix your hair, check the framing, and zoom in or out. When you’re ready, tap the shutter button on the watch.

For an even smoother experience, use a one-handed gesture to trigger a countdown to an automatic snap. Once you’re posed, simply clench your fist.

From the grocery run to a global getaway, your Pixel Watch is there to handle the details, so you can focus on the destination.