Google has enabled earthquake alerts to be sent directly to Wear OS smartwatches even when they are not connected to a smartphone. This could be useful for a quake-prone country like the Philippines.
In its latest Google Play Services v26.07 release notes this week, Google said Wear OS devices can now receive earthquake alerts even when not paired with a phone, allowing the smartwatch to deliver quake warnings on its own for the first time.
Before, smartwatch alerts depended on notifications mirrored from a connected Android handset.
The Philippines sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent seismic activity.
State seismologists from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) regularly remind the public that early warning and preparedness can reduce injuries from tremors.
Google’s earthquake alerts system, first introduced in 2020, uses motion sensors in smartphones to detect shaking and estimate quake magnitude.
When significant tremors are detected, the system pushes alerts to users in affected areas, giving them second to take cover before strong shaking arrives.
By extending the feature directly to Wear OS devices, Google enables users to receive warnings even when they are outdoors.
Google has not detailed the full list of supported smartwatch models or clarified regional availability. As with Android earthquake alerts, coverage depends on whether the feature is supported in a specific country.
