Google Prepares to Remove Safety Signal From Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 LTE

Android Authority reported that app version 5.1.0.990450614 contains a prompt card titled "Safety signal is going away" and a subtitle saying, "This feature will no longer be available soon. To learn how this affects your watch and find other ways to stay safe, read the full article." The strings confirm the feature is being discontinued, but Google has not disclosed a shutdown date or said what will replace it.

Safety Signal is a Google Health Premium subscription service. It gives LTE connectivity to supported Pixel Watches without a separate carrier plan for the watch. The connectivity supports calls to and from emergency contacts, Safety Check, Emergency Sharing, Emergency SOS, and Fall Detection. The service is currently available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

The change means Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 LTE owners who rely on Safety Signal will need to find other ways to keep the watch connected when they leave their phones behind. According to the report, Google notes that users who already have a carrier plan on their watch do not need Safety Signal, because the carrier connection supplies the connectivity required for emergency calls when the phone is not nearby. It is not yet clear whether Google intends to offer a replacement service or end the benefit entirely.

Google has not provided a specific date for when Safety Signal will stop working. The Pixel Watch app warning only states that the feature will no longer be available soon. Android Authority said the code strings were found in the latest app update, and no further details about the shutdown were included.

Editor's Summary

Google is moving to discontinue Safety Signal on Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 LTE, according to Android Authority, after warning strings appeared in the Pixel Watch app. The feature provides LTE connectivity for safety tools when users leave their phones behind and do not have a watch carrier plan. Google has not announced a shutdown date or a replacement, leaving affected users to seek other connectivity options.