Google recently launched the Google Pixel Watch 2, one of the best Android smartwatches due to its fantastic suite of features and charming profile. It is more or less the same as the first-generation Pixel Watch. The biggest upgrade is the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 chipset. Apart from Google Assistant integration and Google's exclusive watch faces, you also get new fitness tracking hardware in the form of the continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor. This helps the Pixel Watch 2 approximate stress levels and gives it a skin temperature sensor.

Besides carrying forward all the health tracking features from the previous gen Pixel Watch, the availability of the Emergency SOS and Fall Detection features make the Google Pixel Watch 2 value proposition even better. This guide shows you how to turn on these features so that you can live a little more safely.

What are Emergency SOS and Fall Detection?

The Pixel Watch 2's Emergency SOS feature allows you to call emergency services in an emergency. When you turn on Emergency Location Services, emergency services may be able to find you using your location. You can add emergency contacts to be contacted instead of emergency services. To activate this feature, press the crown five times in rapid succession.

The Google Pixel Watch 2 shwing the time on the watch face

The Fall Detection feature uses the Google Pixel Watch 2's accelerometer and machine learning to detect potential falls. When Fall Detection is triggered, your Pixel Watch alerts you and asks if you want to call emergency services. If you don't respond, your Pixel Watch makes an assisted emergency call on your behalf. You can set an emergency contact to be called instead of emergency services.

Now that you know more about these features, here's how to turn them on.

If you have a Google Pixel Watch 2 with LTE service, Emergency SOS and Fall Detection attempt to make an assisted emergency call from the wearable. If your Pixel Watch is Wi-Fi only, it must be within range of your phone and paired with it via Bluetooth.

Please read the Google Pixel Watch documentation for these features, as they may work differently or be unavailable outside the US.

Setting up Emergency SOS on your Pixel Watch does not set up the feature on your phone. You'll set up Emergency SOS on your Google Pixel phone separately.

How to activate Emergency SOS on your Pixel Watch

Emergency SOS is a great feature to have in case something happens. You can activate this feature via your Pixel Watch or the Pixel Watch app on your phone.

How to turn on Emergency SOS using your Pixel Watch

  1. Swipe down from the top of your watch screen.
  2. Tap Settings from the list of options.
  3. Select Safety & Emergency.
  4. Tap the Emergency SOS option.
  5. Scroll down and choose whether you'd like the alarm to play.
  6. To turn on Emergency Location Services, swipe to the right, scroll down until you see the name, and turn on the feature.
The Google Pixel Watch 2 with a blue band.

How to turn on Emergency SOS using the Google Pixel Watch app

If you want to activate the feature through your phone instead of your watch, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Pixel Watch app on your phone.
  2. Tap Watch preferences.
  3. Select Safety and Emergency from the list of options.
  4. Tap Emergency SOS.
  5. Toggle on the Safety Features.

And easy as that, you're now set up for an emergency.

How to turn on Fall Detection on your Google Pixel Watch

Fall detection began rolling out to the Google Pixel Watch in January 2023 and comes loaded on the newest Pixel Watch 2. You can turn on the feature from your watch or the Pixel Watch app on your phone.

How to turn on Fall Detection using your Google Pixel Watch

  1. Swipe down on your Pixel Watch screen.
  2. Select the Settings tile.
  3. Tap Safety & Emergency.
  4. Tap the Emergency SOS option.
  5. Swipe to the right and scroll down until you see Fall Detection.
  6. Tap the name to activate the feature.

The Google Pixel Watch 2 showing health and wellness metrics

How to turn on Fall Detection using your Google Pixel Watch app

  1. Launch the Google Pixel Watch app.
  2. Select Watch preferences.
  3. Tap the Safety & Emergency option.
  4. Tap Fall Detection.
  5. Toggle on the feature​​​.

Now, you're prepared if you take a hard fall.

How to add or change an emergency contact on your Pixel Watch

If you want to add a contact to call instead of emergency services, you can do so from your Pixel Watch. You can also remove a contact if you don't want that person notified when you have an emergency.

Add an emergency contact on your Pixel Watch

  1. Swipe from the top of your screen.
  2. Tap the Settings tile.
  3. Tap Safety & Emergency.
  4. From the list of options, select Emergency SOS.
  5. Tap Add Contact.
  6. Tap Allow to give your watch access to the contacts on your phone.
  7. Select your desired person to add as an emergency contact.
  8. To change this contact to your emergency contact, tap their name so that it's highlighted.

The Google Pixel Watch 2 displaying an analog watch face

How to delete an emergency contact

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Settings tile.
  2. Select Safety & Emergency.
  3. Tap Emergency SOS.
  4. Tap the Edit contacts button.
  5. When you find the contact you want to delete, tap the Delete button next to their name.

What if I accidentally call emergency services?

You might accidentally set off one of these features and call emergency services. If you accidentally activate one of these features, do not hang up. Stay on the call with emergency services and let them know you made the call by accident. Answer any questions they may have and go about your day.

Be safe wherever you go

The Emergency SOS and Fall Detection features on the Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2 are useful in emergencies. Activating these features is easy and makes sure you get the help you need in an emergency. It may also be a good idea to set up Emergency SOS on your Android phone for times when you don't have your watch on you.

google pixel watch 2 white background angled
Google Pixel Watch 2

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is the sequel to Google's first self-branded smartwatch. The second generation doesn't reinvent the wheel, instead offering a handful of low-key improvements like a redesigned digital crown, Wear OS 4 out of the box, and a newer chipset that should offer better performance and battery life. 

Google Pixel Watch with a chalk positioned at an angle
Google Pixel Watch

The Google Pixel Watch features Fitbit integration, a robust selection of apps, all-day battery life, as well as other health and wellness features like Emergency SOS and Fall Detection. Google offers LTE and Wi-Fi-only models of the wearable.