Pixel Watch 4 gets new gestures as Google rolls out Wear OS 6.1
Wear OS 6.1 is now rolling out as part of the December 2025 update for Pixel Watch 2, 3 and 4. The release adds new gesture controls for the 4, faster AI-powered Smart Replies for the 3 and 4, and general improvements across all three models.
New gesture controls come to Pixel Watch 4
Pixel Watch 4 users now have two new ways to interact with their device without touching the screen. The first is Double pinch, which lets you tap your index finger and thumb together twice to trigger shortcuts. It can scroll through alerts, send a Smart Reply, start or stop timers, snooze alarms, control music or take a photo. A future update will also let you use it to answer and end calls.
Wrist turn is the second new gesture. A quick flick of the wrist away from you and back can now dismiss a notification or silence an incoming call. Both gestures are turned on by default and work out of the box once the update is installed.
Google is positioning these tools as part of a broader one-handed interaction system, particularly useful when your other hand is occupied. Think holding a bag, walking the dog or cooking.
To help users get comfortable with these changes, there’s now an in-watch tutorial for Raise to Talk. This system debuted earlier and remains part of the gesture toolkit. The tutorial provides guidance on how and when to use it.
Smart Replies now run directly on the watch
The last two generations of the watch can now generate Smart Replies using a new version of Google’s Gemma language model, running directly on-device. According to the company, this makes responses twice as fast and nearly three times more memory-efficient.
Because it no longer needs a phone connection, replies can be generated on the watch even when it’s untethered. This also makes the system more responsive and consistent when on the go. The model is optimized for the watch’s hardware and handles replies for Google Messages and other supported apps.
Smart Replies are integrated throughout the watch’s messaging interface. And they are designed to offer context-aware responses in a single tap.
Supported models and rollout details
The update is Wear OS 6.1 and it applies to Pixel Watch 2, Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 4. The global software version is BP4A.251205.005.W7.
As usual, the software is rolling out in phases, with availability depending on carrier and device. Users will get a notification on the watch once it’s ready to download from the Play Store. The rollout begins today and will continue over the next couple of weeks.
You can view the full change-log on Google’s website.
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