Wear OS 5.1 Unveils ‘Force Global AOD’ for Pixel Watch: Keep Your Apps Alive Without Lifting a Wrist

Wear OS 5.1 Adds 'Force Global AOD' Developer Option for Pixel Watch

• Wear OS 5.1 introduces a new developer option called 'Force Global AOD Experience' on the Pixel Watch, allowing users to maintain their last screen visible even when the wrist is down.
• Most Wear OS apps currently do not support always-on display (AOD), causing the screen to blur and show the time when the wrist is put down.
• The new option dims the display and makes text blockier but keeps the last screen active, similar to how the watch face behaves.
• To enable this feature, navigate to Settings > System > About > Versions, tap 'Build number' multiple times, and then select 'Developer options' to find 'Force Global AOD Experience'.
• The option is available on Pixel Watch 2 and should also be on Pixel Watch 3.
• Enabling this feature may reduce battery life, so users should consider this impact.
• Google is encouraged to update its first-party apps to support AOD for better efficiency.