Latest news with #watchfaces
The Verge
4 hours ago
- The Verge
Posted Jun 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM EDT
Google is moving on even more from legacy Wear OS watch faces. Developers are already barred from publishing new AndroidX or Wearable Support Library on the Play Store, and starting January 14th, 2026, users will no longer be able to install new legacy watch faces, nor will developers be able to publish updates for them, Google says.
Phone Arena
13 hours ago
- Phone Arena
If your favorite Android watch face disappears next year, this might be why
Google introduced WFF back in 2023 as a new way to design watch faces using XML templates. Since then, it has allowed both WFF and non-WFF designs to exist on the Play Store. But starting in early 2025, Google began tightening the rules. Developers could no longer publish new watch faces using the older AndroidX or Wearable Support Library (WSL), although updates were still allowed. That grace period is now coming to an end. Here's what will happen in January 2026: Users won't be able to install legacy watch faces from the Play Store. Developers won't be able to update existing legacy watch faces. Monetization features like one-time purchases, in-app items, and subscriptions will no longer be available for these older watch faces. Existing purchases will continue to work, but auto-renewals will stop. Examples of Wear OS watch faces using the Watch Face Format (WFF). | Image credit — Google Google says that any developers who want to keep their watch faces available must migrate them to the Watch Face Format before the deadline. This includes developers who use Watch Face Studio, who will need to update to version 1.8.7 or later when resubmitting. WFF brings some clear benefits. Because it's based on XML templates, it helps watch faces run more efficiently, uses less power, and keeps animations smoother. But it's not without downsides. Some users and developers feel the new format limits creative options, especially for more complex or interactive designs. Still, this change has been coming for a while. Google's goal is to make the watch face experience more consistent across devices, which could be helpful as Wear OS continues to expand. Compared to Apple's limited watch face options and Samsung's increasing focus on AI-based designs, Google is trying to strike a balance between openness and stability. That said, users who prefer older watch faces should install them before the cutoff. While already-installed designs will continue to work, they may not receive updates or support going forward, so — you have been warned. For some, this shift could mean saying goodbye to their favorite designs unless developers act in time, so time is of the essence.
Android Authority
21-05-2025
- Android Authority
Wear OS 5 killed Facer watchfaces, but Wear OS 6 will bring them back to life
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Facer announced it will be returning to Wear OS devices this fall. Wear OS 6 will support compatibility with the app's custom watch faces in Watch Face Format. The updated Facer experience will include more than 500,000 faces, instant syncing, and a versatile pricing structure. In the wake of Google I/O 2025, long-running watch face customization platform Facer has announced a major update. With a revamped app, Facer watch faces will make a full return to Wear OS smartwatches. Alongside Wear OS 6, the app's update aims to resolve compatibility issues introduced by Google's Watch Face Format transition in 2024. When Google launched Wear OS 5 and made Watch Face Format mandatory, it left users without access to long-favored custom watch face apps like Facer, WatchMaker, and many more. As of today, users can expect the return of at least one of these apps: Wear OS 6 will offer expanded support for third-party watch faces, including a full Facer experience. The loaded custom watch face platform promises more than 500,000 watch faces, with the most popular options ready by this fall. Thanks to Google's new Watch Face Push feature, the platform will also offer instant syncing via the Facer app, eliminating the need for users to download separate apps from the Play Store. Meanwhile, Facer will also offer simplified pricing for its customizable designs. Watch faces will be available for free, through one-time purchases, or via a full-access subscription. According to Google, Wear OS 6 will roll out this fall, and Facer says it will share more details as the launch approaches. In addition, the company teased upcoming features, new brand partnerships, and launch promotions. Users can sign up for updates at Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Phone Arena
20-05-2025
- Phone Arena
Facer is making a big comeback with Wear OS 6. Here's what's changing.
Facer is getting ready for a big return. The popular watch face platform just announced a major update that will roll out later this year, timed with the launch of Wear OS 6. As we recently covered, Google is bringing new tools and performance upgrades to smartwatches with Wear OS 6. Facer plans to take full advantage of these changes to bring back fan-favorite features and introduce a smoother, more powerful experience. Facer for Wear OS 6 announcement. | Image credit — Facer Here's a quick look at what to expect once the update goes live: A massive catalog of watch faces: Facer says thousands of faces will be ready for Wear OS 6, using Google's new Watch Face Format. The goal is to bring back nearly all the most popular designs by this fall. Right now, the platform includes over 500,000 watch faces from top brands and independent creators. Facer says thousands of faces will be ready for Wear OS 6, using Google's new Watch Face Format. The goal is to bring back nearly all the most popular designs by this fall. Right now, the platform includes over 500,000 watch faces from top brands and independent creators. Flexible pricing options: Whether you like trying out free faces, buying a few premium ones, or going for a full subscription, Facer will support it. Everything will be built into the Facer app, so you won't need to install separate apps for each face. Whether you like trying out free faces, buying a few premium ones, or going for a full subscription, Facer will support it. Everything will be built into the Facer app, so you won't need to install separate apps for each face. Instant syncing: Wear OS 6 adds a new feature called Watch Face Push, which lets you send faces straight to your watch from the Facer app. No more opening the Play Store or downloading extras. Wear OS 6 adds a new feature called Watch Face Push, which lets you send faces straight to your watch from the Facer app. No more opening the Play Store or downloading extras. Even more to come: Facer says new features, brand partnerships, and special discounts are on the way. You can sign up at to stay in the loop. Wear OS 6 is expected to roll out later this year. It will be available on new smartwatches and some older models that get the upgrade. Facer will share more updates once watch brands confirm their release plans. With big updates coming from both Google and Facer, smartwatch users can look forward to a much better experience in 2025.
Android Authority
11-05-2025
- Android Authority
I want every smartwatch to copy this Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 feature
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority Regardless of what smartwatch you wear, there's no shortage of attractive faces available. From sleek minimalist designs to data-packed dashboards, the appeal of a smartwatch face lies in how much you can tailor your look. But if the watch face is my wearable's outfit, I rarely change its clothes. Swapping is just clunky enough that weeks go by before I realize I've been stuck on the same one, even though I've downloaded dozens. That's why rumored face randomization on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has me genuinely excited, and I hope other brands are paying attention. Based on Android Authority's APK teardown of leaked One UI 8 Watch software, Samsung appears to be testing a feature that would let users automatically rotate between saved Galaxy watch faces. Text strings in the software suggest the watch will be able to shuffle between users' watch faces, as long as two or more are saved. This could take place at set intervals or each time the screen wakes, we can't confirm exactly how it will work, but it's a setting no major smartwatch currently offers out of the box. Most platforms, including Wear OS and watchOS, simply let you store and swap between multiple faces, but switching between them is a manual, sometimes even buried task. Samsung is rumored to be bringing randomized watch face shuffling to the Galaxy Watch 8, and I want it on every wearable. In other words, watch face randomization would provide a layer of effortless personalization. A robust watch face library is great in theory, but mine is more of a graveyard than a gallery. I infrequently remember to switch things up. Automatically utilizing more faces would give real meaning to the hours I've spent scouring the Play Store for fresh builds from indie developers. Our teardown also revealed that Samsung may even make suggestions based on users' existing collections, making the feature even more dynamic. Randomizing watch faces may not be a sweeping hardware upgrade or a novel addition, but it's the kind of overlooked, quality-of-life tweak that could easily become a standard feature across the landscape. I wear a lot of different devices. I don't wear a lot of faces per device, but Samsung is willing to help. When you consider how many unique Wear OS faces you can find from third-party developers, I appreciate it. The Wear OS platform, in particular, has too many good developers to let watch faces go stale. As of now, automation capabilities aren't clear. There's no sign (yet) of setting specific faces to specific times, for example, but that's a logical next step. Personally, I'd love to wake up to a data-packed option including sleep insights and weather, and by the time I hit my desk, have my watch automatically swap to a less distracting, calm aesthetic. In the evening, a fitness-focused pick may nudge me to get moving. And so on. Via Apple's Focus modes, I can create this pattern on my Apple Watch, and it's genuinely useful (though the joy I get from seeing my 'sleep' watch face suggests I am not going to bed early enough). Yet Apple doesn't offer nearly the same watch face support and can't compete with the experience offered by Wear OS watches. Smartwatches don't always get huge innovation leaps, but thoughtful, user-centric updates like this can definitely improve daily use. Once it hits Samsung, I hope the idea sticks and spreads.
