Posted by François Deschênes Product Supervisor – Put on OS
At this time, we’re saying essential modifications to Put on OS watch face growth that can have an effect on how builders publish and replace watch faces on Google Play. As a part of our ongoing effort to reinforce Put on OS app high quality, we’re shifting in direction of supporting solely the Watch Face Format and eradicating help for AndroidX / Wearable Assist Library (WSL) watch faces.
We launched Watch Face Format at Google I/O in 2023 to make it simpler to create watch faces which are customizable and power-efficient. The Watch Face Format is a declarative XML format, so there is no such thing as a executable code concerned in making a watch face, and there’s no code embedded within the watch face APK.
What’s altering?
Builders might want to migrate printed watch faces to the Watch Face Format by January 14, 2026. Builders utilizing Watch Face Studio to construct watch faces might want to resubmit their watch faces to the Play Retailer utilizing Watch Face Studio model 1.8.7 or above – see under for extra particulars.
When are these modifications coming?
Beginning January 27, 2025 (already in impact):
Beginning January 14, 2026:
- Availability: Customers will be unable to put in legacy watch faces on any Put on OS units from the Play Retailer. Legacy watch faces already put in on a Put on OS machine will proceed to work.
- Updates: Builders will be unable to publish updates for legacy watch faces to the Play Retailer.
- Monetization: The next gained’t be doable for legacy watch faces: one-off watch face purchases, in-app purchases, and subscriptions. Present purchases and subscriptions will proceed to work, however they won’t renew, together with auto-renewals.
What ought to builders do subsequent?
To organize for these modifications and to proceed publishing watch faces to the Play Retailer, builders utilizing AndroidX or WSL to construct watch faces should migrate their watch faces to the Watch Face Format and resubmit to the Play Retailer by January 14, 2026.
Builders utilizing Watch Face Studio to construct watch faces might want to resubmit their watch faces to the Play Retailer utilizing Watch Face Studio model 1.8.7 or above:
- Remember to republish for all Play tracks, together with all testing tracks in addition to manufacturing.
- Take away any bundles from these tracks that had been created utilizing Watch Face Studio variations previous to 1.8.7.
Advantages of the Watch Face Format
Watch Face Format was developed to help builders in creating watch faces. This format supplies quite a few benefits to each builders and finish customers:
- Simplified growth: Streamlined workflows and visible design instruments make constructing watch faces simpler.
- Enhanced efficiency: Optimized for battery effectivity and easy interactions.
- Elevated safety: Strong safety features defend person information and privateness.
- Ahead-compatible: Entry to the most recent options and capabilities of Put on OS.
Sources to assist with migration
To get began migrating your watch faces to the Watch Face Format, take a look at the next developer steerage:
We encourage builders to start the migration course of as quickly as doable to make sure a seamless transition and continued availability of your watch faces on Google Play.
We perceive that this modification requires effort. In case you have additional questions, please seek advice from the Put on OS group announcement. Please report any points utilizing the situation tracker.
