Backing up the Google Pixel Watch is an automatic process and largely out of the user’s hands, except for the option to choose how the backup is triggered. Unlike Pixel smartphones, Pixel Watch models don’t let you trigger a backup manually with the press of a button. But that could be changing soon.

Thanks to some digging within Google Play Services for Wear OS (v25.28.34), app researcher and Android Authority contributor AssembleDebug located strings in the code that specify a “Backup now” option. This should enable manual triggering of the Pixel Watch backup when you’re not near a charger.

This manual backup option won’t apply to all Wear OS smartwatches

We don’t know what this button/toggle will look like, though it’s safe to assume it will appear under Settings > System > Backup on the Pixel Watch, where the existing backup option is currently located. As Android Authority rightly notes, this Backup now toggle would only apply to Google Pixel Watch models, and not other Wear OS smartwatches from brands like Samsung or OnePlus.

This is because Galaxy Watch and OnePlus Watch models rely on companion apps (Galaxy Wearable and OnePlus OHealth) for backups, whereas the Pixel Watch uses Play Services for Wear OS. This fundamental difference in backup systems means these upcoming changes to Play Services for Wear OS will only impact users of the Pixel Watch.

It’s unclear when this particular update will be widely available, though the upcoming release of the Pixel Watch 4 seems as good a time as any to roll out this feature to the masses.

Since data backup is automated, smartwatch users typically don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it. But there may be some merit in giving users the control to trigger a backup on their own, especially if they’re not around a charger.

It will be interesting to see if Google offers a battery consumption warning for manual backups when the device is not connected to the charger. Alternatively, users may be required to have their Pixel Watch’s battery at a certain level before backing up their data in this fashion.

Would this addition impact the way you initiate backups on the Pixel Watch?

Google Pixel Watch 3 on a white background

Case size

41mm; 45mm

Case Material

Aluminum

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 with Cortex M33 co-processor

RAM

2GB

The Pixel Watch 3 is bigger, brighter, smarter, and more full-featured.