How to get Gemini running on your watch before the update hits
Gemini is technically rolling out to Wear OS, but most users aren’t seeing it yet. If you are feeling adventurous and don’t feel like waiting, there’s a working method that gets it running today.
This isn’t full release yet
The Gemini rollout was supposed to begin a few days ago, but it looks like it’s staggered. Some people have reported seeing it pop up on their Pixel Watches but the feature is not usable just yet. For most though, the Assistant icon is still there, doing the same old thing.
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If you don’t want to sit around checking daily to see if Gemini appeared, there is a workaround. It takes a few steps and isn’t officially supported, but if you’ve sideloaded apps before it’s pretty painless. Of course, there are the usual security issues to be aware of. But the process does work.
Here’s what to do
There’s a handy app on the Play Store called Geminiman Wear OS Manager. Install it on both your phone and your watch. It’s basically a shortcut to sideloading, without needing to set up full-blown ADB on your computer. You get a touch-friendly interface that walks you through pairing your devices, grabbing the watch IP, and pushing files all without a terminal window.
To make this work, you’ll need a very specific version of the Assistant APK. Version 1.22.5.780344288.release is the one that unlocks Gemini. That file is up on APKMirror. Just make sure you’re downloading the Wear OS version, not the standard phone APK. Save it somewhere easy to find on your phone. The Downloads folder works fine.
Now for the slightly fiddly bit. On the Pixel Watch, go into Developer Options and toggle both ADB debugging and Wireless debugging. Then turn off Bluetooth and make sure the phone and watch are both on the same Wi-Fi network. You’ll need to pair them manually. The watch will show a six-digit pairing code. In the Geminiman app on your phone, tap Get Watch IP Address, hit Proceed, and then enter that code when prompted.
Once paired, scroll down in the app to the Install APK section. Point it to the file you downloaded from APKMirror. After a few seconds, it should say the install succeeded. If you’ve followed the steps right, that’s all there is to it.
And then Gemini showed up
Battery life is still the question mark. The uncertainty is whether Gemini ends up draining more power than the previous solution. It’s doing more in the background, especially if you’re using it regularly for things like calendar checks, weather lookups or smart home control. And if it’s relying on your phone’s connection for every request, that constant sync could add up.
For now, you might not notice much of a hit. But over a full day with heavier use, it could tip things. Especially on smaller watches like the Pixel Watch, which already lean on the short side for endurance. So if you do install it early, just keep an eye on how your battery holds up.
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