Google Pixel Watch 2: How to use the security features

In the Pixel Watch 2, Google has introduced Safety Check and Safety Signal — two personal safety features that are slightly different from the typical SOS emergency call functions found on smartwatches.

Safety Check and Safety Signal — two personal safety features that are slightly different from the typical SOS emergency features found on smartwatches.

Safety Check — is a proactive timer that alerts pre-designated contacts to your location if you don’t make it to where you’re going in time. And Safety Signal lets you use the SOS emergency calling features without an active LTE plan on your smartwatch.

Safety Check ⁚ is a proactive timer that alerts pre-designated contacts if you’re on time to get where you’re going.

Check out your Google Pixel Watch

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Google just started rolling out Wear OS 4 to watches — that means both the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 are Safety Check compatible. If you have a first-generation watch, make sure you’ve updated to the new software.

And if you have a first-generation watch, make sure you’ve updated to the new software.

The Safety Signal feature is limited to the new Pixel Watch 2, however, as it requires a second eSIM, which isn’t included. And while having an active LTE data plan isn’t necessary, you’ll need an LTE-enabled watch model and an active Fitbit Premium subscription. When you buy the Pixel Watch 2, you get a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium, so you don’t have to do anything right away. Then you can decide if it’s worth paying $10 a month.

And then you can decide if it’s worth it.

Use Safety Check

First of all, there are a few things to note about Safety Check. It is not an automatic timer — you have to start it yourself when the occasion calls for it. We therefore recommend that you try and familiarize yourself with the Safety Check function before you use it.

The first time you use Safety Check, you will be prompted to set up your emergency contacts if you have not already done so.

When it’s time to use a feature:

• Press the crown.
• Scroll down and select Safety & Emergencies.
• Select Security Check.
• You will be prompted to select an activity such as riding public transportation, walking or running alone, etc. Select the desired option.
• At the bottom you will be given the option to set the duration of the timer. Then click Next.
• Select the contacts you want to notify of your location. There is also a toggle to notify contacts when the security check timer starts, but this is optional.
• Click the Start Timer button.
• If you do not turn off the timer after it starts, your emergency contacts will be notified of your location. At any time while the timer is active, you can immediately report your location if you feel the situation warrants it.

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Safety Signal Setup

Safety Signal — is a bit of a niche feature. It’s mainly for those who have a Fitbit Premium and want SOS emergency calling features, but don’t want to purchase a separate carrier LTE plan for the smartwatch. It allows you to make emergency calls, check security, share emergency messages, emergency SOS, and detect falls when your phone isn’t around. However, it does not allow you to make and receive regular calls or go online without your phone as you would with a full LTE plan. This service is for emergencies or personal safety only.

Allows you to make and receive emergency calls or access the internet without your phone, as you would with a full LTE plan.

Once again, you’ll need an LTE version of the Google Pixel Watch 2 and an active Fitbit Premium subscription. Having an LTE data plan for the smartwatch from your carrier is not required. If you have an LTE plan, the Safety Check feature won’t be available, and you don’t need it, as any features that require LTE, not just emergency features, will be available on that plan. Safety Signal is available in the US, the UK, Canada and Germany.

Since this feature is dependent on Fitbit Premium, an active subscription is required. Longtime Fitbit users of the new Pixel Watch 2 will need to transfer their Fitbit data to their Google account if they haven’t already done so.

Fitbit users who have been using the new Pixel Watch 2 for a while will need to transfer their Fitbit data to their Google account if they haven’t already.

To turn on Safety Signal, follow these steps:

• Open the Google Pixel Watch app on your phone.
• Tap Security & Emergencies and select Safety Alarm.
• When prompted, log in to your Fitbit account.
• The security alert will be activated. This may take some time and you may need to restart your device.
• The watch’s phone number will be shown to you so you can share it with your contacts. You can also access it in the Pixel Watch app by going to «Security & Emergencies» > «Security Alert».
• An alert is also available in the Pixel Watch app.

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The Safety Signal icon will appear on the screen and a notification that the feature is ready to use when you’re away from your phone. According to Google, it can take up to 15 minutes for the notification to appear, but during our testing of the Pixel Watch 2, it appeared much faster.