Wear OS watches including the Pixel Watch 3 are now getting offline Google Maps

Google Pixel Watch 3
The Pixel Watch 3 in two sizes (Image credit: Future)

Google Maps is even more useful when it works offline, because it means it can help in places with poor or no cellular coverage – and offline support for Google Maps is now rolling out to smartwatches running Wear OS, including the new Pixel Watch 3.

This is an upgrade that had previously been announced, and as 9to5Google reports, is now showing up for users. It's not clear what limits there will be on which models get an offline mode for Google Maps, but it's also showing up on the Pixel Watch 2.

According to SamMobile, the update is also now reaching Galaxy watches running Wear OS, including the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and going at least as far back as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 that launched in 2021.

Once the update has arrived, opening Google Maps on the watch brings up a new message: "Offline maps on the phone are auto-downloaded to the watch." There's also an extra Offline maps page added in the Settings in Google Maps for Wear OS.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is also getting the update (Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

It looks as though maps for your home area are downloaded to the watch automatically, while offline maps synced to Google Maps on your phone are transferred across too. If you want more offline maps, it seems as though you have to save them on your phone first.

All of this means that if you have a Wi-Fi only Wear OS watch without a phone nearby, you'll still be able to navigate around areas covered by offline maps. If you have a Wi-Fi+LTE Wear OS but no cellular signal, offline maps will help here too.

Of course even on the best smartwatches, storage space is more limited than it is on smartphones, so you might not be able to keep as many maps stored. You can delete maps you no longer need right from your wrist.

Head to our Google Pixel Watch 3 hands-on for our first impressions of the smartwatch, Google Maps features and all. It'll be Apple's turn to launch new smartwatches next month, specifically the Apple Watch 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

You might also like

David Nield
Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Read more
Google Pixel Watch 3
Google rolls out major Pixel Watch upgrade for all users – here's what's new in Wear OS 5.1
Google Pixel Watch 3 side dial and button
Wear OS could soon get an Apple Watch feature that makes commuting effortless
Google Pixel Watch 3 side dial and button
The Pixel Watch just got a secret display upgrade in Wear OS 5.1, but here’s why you probably shouldn’t use it
An image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from a hands-on event
The Samsung Galaxy S25's best software feature just got Google Maps support
OnePlus 13 loOnePlus 13ck screen with Never Settle wallpaper
The OnePlus 13 borrows a very useful Find My Device trick from Pixel phones
Google Pixel Watch 3 side dial and button
Google Pixel Watch 3's potentially life-saving Pulse Detection feature finally gets cleared for launch in the US
Latest in Smartwatches
Garmin Instinct 3 in Neotropic Green
"I'm an idiot": Garmin user reveals how fixing one setting completely changed their training after months of making no progress
A garmin forerrunner 55 on an orange background with the phrase lowest price
Sprint! The best cheap Garmin for runners is back down to its lowest-ever price
Half-Life running on a smartwatch
This Redditor installed a game engine on their smartwatch, and now it runs Doom, Quake, and Half-Life
Apple Watch Series 10 experience
How can we make wearables more sustainable, and is it even possible?
Apple watch pair with iphone
I've been wearing an Apple Watch for 10 years – these are the 5 settings I change right out of the box
Garmin Instinct 3 next to the Apple Watch Ultra 2
New figures claim the smartwatch market just shrunk for the first time ever, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is to blame
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough