If you’ve noticed a massive jump in the number of steps taken on your Pixel Watch over the past few weeks, you’re not alone – but the latest update should fix things.
Since the launch of the March 2025 update, some owners have complained of massively inflated, inaccurate step counts displayed on their Pixel smartwatches.
This is down to the updated step count algorithm introduced with the update, though it seems the updated tech had issues that could lead to an unusually high step count in certain scenarios.
This has forced Google to revert to the older, more reliable system with its second April update – version BP1A.250305/019.W8, to be more specific – now rolling out to Pixel Watch 1, 2 and 3 owners around the world.
However, as with other Pixel Watch updates, the rollout is a little spotty, with a phased rollout based on carrier and device type. Still, it should appear on your smartwatch sometime in the next few weeks, and you’ll be notified once it’s available to download.
Along with the much-needed step tracker fix, the second April update should also bring the updated Wear OS 5.1, based on Android 15, to all Pixel Watches.
The update actually launched back in March 2025, but rather inexplicably, some Pixel Watch owners were left on the November 2024 security patch with no upgrade available to download.
For those affected, the new update should bring all the new features introduced in the latest Wear OS update.
That includes headline features like Loss of Pulse Detection for Pixel Watch 3 owners in the US following FDA approval, along with elements like new Menstrual Health support, boosted Media Controls, enhancements to the Auto Bed-Time Mode on the Pixel Watch 2 and more.
It doesn’t include the much-anticipated Gemini upgrade some Pixel Watch users saw briefly over the last few weeks, with the more intelligent LLM-based assistant completely replacing Google Assistant on the wrist.
However, it’s equally possible that Google will reserve the tech for the Pixel Watch 4, expected to launch later this year.
For now, though, it’s a much-needed update that’ll not only fix the Pixel Watch’s step tracking inaccuracies but introduce huge new features to those who were left out during the initial rollout.
If this is enough to consider leaving Team Google, take a look at our roundup of the best smartwatches for capable alternatives.
