Summary of How to get Pixel Watch 5 watch faces on your Pixel Watch 4: A simple sideloading guide
- You can install Pixel Watch 5 watch faces on a Pixel Watch 4 by sideloading the latest Pixel Watch Faces APK.
- The method gives you access to five new watch faces: Weave, Chronograph, Steph Curry edition, Multicolor Reveal, and Multicolor Modular.
- This sideloading trick only works on the Pixel Watch 4. Older models like the Pixel Watch 3, 2, and original are not supported.
- The process uses the free GeminiMan WearOS Manager app and wireless ADB, no cable required.
Which watch faces can you get? The full list
If you own a Google Pixel Watch 4 and have been eyeing the fresh watch faces that arrived with the Pixel Watch 5, there is a way to bring them over without buying a new device. The trick involves sideloading the latest Pixel Watch Faces app, and it works today.
The Pixel Watch 5 launched earlier this month with a bigger battery, a faster processor, double the storage, and two new watch faces called Weave and Chronograph. Google also added the ability to create your own custom watch face. Until now, those designs were locked to the newer hardware. A Reddit user named m0rr0ng0 shared a sideloading method that lets Pixel Watch 4 owners install the same watch faces using a free app called GeminiMan WearOS Manager.
This is not an official update from Google. It requires a few steps and a bit of patience, but the result gives your Pixel Watch 4 a visual upgrade that matches the latest model.
What you need before you start
What this means for get Pixel Watch 5 watch faces
Once you complete the sideloading process, your Pixel Watch 4 will gain access to five watch faces from the Pixel Watch 5:
- Weave– a textured, woven design
- Chronograph– a classic stopwatch-style face
- Steph Curry edition– a special collaboration face
- Multicolor Reveal– a face that changes colors as you interact
- Multicolor Modular– a customizable face with multiple color options
These faces appear in the watch face picker after installation, just as if they came preloaded. You can set any of them as your active watch face and switch between them whenever you like.
Step-by-step: How to sideload Pixel Watch 5 watch faces onto your Pixel Watch 4
Before you begin, gather these items:
- A Pixel Watch 4 (the method does not work on Pixel Watch 3, 2, or the original Pixel Watch)
- An Android phone
- The latest version of the Pixel Watch Faces app (v5.0.231.924930285)
- The GeminiMan WearOS Manager app installed on both your phone and your watch
- Both devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network
Make sure your Pixel Watch 4 has Developer Options enabled. Go to Settings > System > About > Version, then tap Build number seven times. You will see a message that Developer Options are now available.
Why older Pixel Watches are left out
Follow these steps carefully. The process uses wireless ADB (Android Debug Bridge), so no cable is needed.
- Enable Wireless Debugging on your Pixel Watch 4. Go to Settings > Developer Options and turn on ADB Debugging and Wireless Debugging.
- Generate a pairing code. Under Wireless Debugging, tap Pair new device. A pairing code and your watch's IP address will appear.
- Open GeminiMan WearOS Manager on your phone. Enter the IP details and pairing code to connect your watch to your phone.
- Select the APK file. In GeminiMan, scroll down and choose Install APK file. Pick the Pixel Watch Faces APK you downloaded earlier.
- Wait for the installation. GeminiMan will transfer and install the APK over wireless ADB. This takes a minute or two.
- Check your watch. Once the installation finishes, go to your watch face picker on the Pixel Watch 4. The new Weave, Chronograph, Steph Curry edition, Multicolor Reveal, and Multicolor Modular faces should appear.
If the faces do not show up, try restarting your watch and checking again. The sideloading method only works on the Pixel Watch 4. Older models are not supported, likely because the new watch faces require the Watch Face Format that the Pixel Watch 4 supports.
What this means for your Pixel Watch 4
Google's Pixel Watch 5 introduced the Weave and Chronograph faces, along with the custom face creator. The Pixel Watch 4 shares enough software compatibility to run these faces when sideloaded. The Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 2, and the original Pixel Watch do not load the new faces at all. The reason appears to be the Watch Face Format requirements. Older models lack the necessary framework to render these designs, so the sideloading trick simply does not work on them.
If you own a Pixel Watch 4, you are in luck. The process gives you a fresh set of watch faces without spending money on a new device. If you own an older Pixel Watch, your only option to get these faces is to upgrade to a Pixel Watch 5 or wait for Google to possibly bring them to older models through an official update.
Give your Pixel Watch 4 a fresh look today
Sideloading the Pixel Watch Faces app is a practical way to refresh your Pixel Watch 4's look. You get five new watch faces that were designed for the Pixel Watch 5, and the process takes only a few minutes. The catch is that the method requires a few manual steps and only works on the Pixel Watch 4. Older models are out of luck.
If you are comfortable following the steps above, you can give your smartwatch a visual upgrade today. For more tips on getting the most out of your wearable, check out our mobile guides and mobile apps coverage. If you are thinking about upgrading your phone to match your watch, our phone finder and phone comparison tool can help you decide. And for the latest news on smartwatches and other gadgets, visit our mobile news section.