Google has introduced a major change in how watch faces function in Wear OS 5, resulting in compatibility issues for Facer, a popular watch face marketplace. Facer has been a significant provider of various watch faces for Android smartwatches, including Wear OS and Tizen before Samsung’s transition. These watch faces, often designed by third parties, offered features such as animations and additional functionalities.
The incompatibility stems from Google’s introduction of a new “Watch Face Format” last year. This XML-based format aims to reduce maintenance and updates while improving battery life. However, it prohibits any executable code or embedded code within the watch face APK, rendering many older watch faces unusable.
By 2025, Google will further tighten regulations, blocking new watch faces from the Play Store if they don’t adhere to the new format. Facer currently houses over 500,000 watch faces, and transitioning them to the new format necessitates individual submissions to the Play Store.
Wear OS 5 update challenges
This process poses a challenge, especially for paid watch faces, as users might have to repurchase faces they already own. Additionally, Facer’s subscription model is incompatible with the new requirements. Even if these hurdles are navigated, the shift to the Watch Face Format could lead to a “loss of functionality in a number of cases,” according to Facer.
Despite ongoing discussions with Google, a comprehensive solution has yet to be reached. As a result, smartwatches like the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 7, which have been updated to Wear OS 5, are currently unsupported by Facer. Users of existing watches are advised to delay upgrading to Wear OS 5 to continue utilizing Facer.
For newer watches, Facer plans to gradually bring some of its popular watch faces to the Play Store under the new format, though specific details remain unconfirmed. The changes have been challenging for Facer and its user base, and the company is actively seeking a resolution with Google. In the meantime, users can look forward to select Facer watch faces progressively appearing in the Play Store as compliance issues are addressed.
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
