Pixel Watch scam detection arrives early with surprise April update

Pixel Watch scam detection is rolling out earlier than expected. Google had initially planned the next update for June, but a few leftover bugs from Wear OS 5.1 changed that. Now, Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 owners are getting a surprise April update — and it brings a handy new feature.

Scam detection, which first landed on Pixel 9 phones back in March, is making its way to your wrist. If you’ve got a Pixel 9 paired with your watch, you’ll get a notification during calls if Google’s AI spots something suspicious. The system listens for common scam phrases and alerts you in real-time, which could save you from a shady conversation.

According to Google, “This AI-powered feature helps detect conversation patterns commonly used by scammers, right as they happen.* Your Pixel Watch alerts you to a scam mid-call when it receives a Bluetooth signal from your Pixel 9+ Phone. So if you’re on the go, you can be alerted to a scam call without needing to take out your phone.”

On the phone side, Google added this AI-powered scam detection as part of the March Pixel Feature Drop. Now, with Pixel Watch scam detection, you’ll get that same alert directly on your watch. This is especially useful if you’re taking calls with headphones and haven’t picked up your phone yet.

To enable it, just head over to your Pixel 9:

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Tap More Settings > Scam Detection.

3. Flip the switch on.

April’s update might not have been planned, but it’s a solid bonus for Pixel Watch users. Keep an eye on your wrist.