Live Updates Are on the Way for Galaxy Watch, Just Not Immediately

Google’s I/O 2025 turned out to be a pretty solid event, with a bunch of big announcements. If you’re a Samsung user, there’s a quick rundown worth checking out that covers some of the key highlights. One of the more exciting reveals is that Android 16’s Live Updates feature is coming to Wear OS, which means it’s on its way to the Galaxy Watch.

Live Update coming to Galaxy Watches in 2026

Google has confirmed (h/t: Android Authority) that Live Updates will be coming to Wear OS smartwatches in 2026. This means your Galaxy Watch will get the feature too, but not right away. Samsung will likely launch the Galaxy Watch 8 series at the upcoming Summer Unpacked event. These watches will run One UI Watch 8, since Samsung seems to be skipping One UI 6.5 Watch and One UI 7 Watch. However, Live Updates will likely arrive only with One UI Watch 8.5 or later. So, the earliest we might see it on Galaxy Watches is early 2026. Keep in mind, this is an educated guess.

Live Updates show real-time info from apps as ongoing notifications. For example, if you order food or call an Uber, the update will display your order or ride status right on your watch screen. You won’t need to open the app. The updates can also show directions or a shared location if someone lets you track them.

Since smartwatches are made for quick, glanceable info, Live Updates fit perfectly. They help users stay updated with less hassle. This feature should make managing daily tasks easier and more convenient on your wrist. Apple also has a similar on Watches, which was released last year in September.

Having said that, here’s an important piece of news in case you haven’t caught up recently. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch 8 series will likely include two models, Galaxy Watch 8 and the Watch 8 Classic. We recently revealed exclusive renders of the latter, which is how we know that the iconic rotating bezel could be making a comeback.