The Pixel Watch pulls weather from Google's location services by default

Your Pixel Watch shows weather based on where Google thinks you are, using GPS, Bluetooth connections, and Wi-Fi networks to figure out your location. You can change this to show weather for a different city, or switch to a different weather data source altogether. The process takes about two minutes and lives in the watch settings, not the phone app.

Most people want to change their weather location because they work in one city and live in another, or because the automatic location is off by several miles. Some want weather from a specific source — like a local news station's data instead of Google's — though the Pixel Watch has limited options here compared to other smartwatches.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings on your Pixel Watch, go to Apps, then Weather, and tap Location to change which city the weather shows.
  • You can set a fixed city instead of using automatic location, which is useful if GPS keeps placing you in the wrong neighborhood.
  • The Pixel Watch uses Google Weather as its only built-in source; you cannot switch to Weather.com, AccuWeather, or other third-party services through settings.
  • If you want weather from a different source, you can install a third-party weather app from Google Play on the watch itself.
  • Changes you make on the watch take effect when ready and do not require syncing with your phone.

Changing your weather location in watch settings

Swipe down from the top of your Pixel Watch screen to open the quick settings menu. Tap the gear icon to enter full Settings. Scroll down and select Apps, then find and tap Weather.

Inside the Weather app settings, you will see a Location option. Tap it. The watch will show you two choices: Use device location (which uses GPS and nearby networks) or Set location manually. If you choose manual, type in the city name or zip code you want weather for. The watch will confirm the location and save it when ready.

If you keep automatic location on but it keeps showing the wrong city, the problem is usually that your watch's GPS is picking up a nearby cell tower or Wi-Fi network instead of your actual position. In that case, switching to manual location is faster than trying to recalibrate GPS.

Why the Pixel Watch only uses Google Weather

Google Weather is the only weather data source built into the Pixel Watch. You cannot change it to pull from Weather.com, AccuWeather, the National Weather Service, or any other provider through the settings menu. This is different from some Android phones, which let you pick between multiple weather sources in the system settings.

Google Weather itself pulls data from multiple sources behind the scenes — including the National Weather Service in the United States — so the information is generally accurate. But if you have a strong preference for a specific weather service, the Pixel Watch does not give you that choice in settings.

Installing a third-party weather app on your watch

If you want weather from a different source, you can install a separate weather app directly on the Pixel Watch. Open Google Play on the watch, search for a weather app (Weather Underground, Carrot Weather, and Weather by Yahoo all have Wear OS versions), and tap Install. The app will read to your watch and appear in your app list.

Third-party weather apps work independently of the built-in Weather app, so you can have both. The downside is that third-party apps use more battery and take up storage space on the watch. They also may not integrate with your watch face — some watch faces only pull weather from the system Weather app, not from third-party apps you install.

Before installing a third-party app, check the reviews on Google Play to see whether it actually works on Wear OS 3 or later (the operating system the Pixel Watch runs). Some older weather apps have not been updated and may not function properly.

Fixing weather that shows the wrong location after an update

If your weather location suddenly changed after a Pixel Watch software update, the watch may have reset your location setting back to automatic. Go back into Settings > Apps > Weather > Location and check whether it is set to Use device location or your manual city. If it switched back to automatic, set it to manual again and re-enter your city.

This happens occasionally when Google pushes a major update to the watch. It is not a bug — it is the watch resetting certain settings to defaults. Checking your weather location after an update takes 30 seconds and prevents a week of looking at the wrong forecast.

How weather location affects other watch features

Changing your weather location in the Weather app settings does not change your actual device location for other purposes. Your GPS location, used for fitness tracking and maps, stays the same. Only the weather display uses the location you set in the Weather app.

If you use your watch for running or walking routes, those activities will still record your real GPS position, not the city you set for weather. This is useful if you want to see weather for your office while your fitness data still tracks your actual movements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different weather locations for different times of day?

No. The Pixel Watch shows weather for one location at a time. You can change it manually whenever you want, but there is no scheduling or automation. If you commute between two cities, you would need to manually switch the location each time.

Will changing my weather location drain my battery faster?

Using manual location (typing in a city) actually uses less battery than automatic location, because the watch does not have to run GPS constantly. If you switch from automatic to manual, you may see slightly better battery life.

What happens to my weather if I turn off location services on the watch?

If you turn off location services entirely, the Weather app will stop working unless you have set a manual location. If you have a city entered manually, weather will still show. If you were using automatic location, the weather app will show no data until you turn location back on or set a manual city.

Can I see weather for multiple cities at once?

The built-in Weather app shows one location. Some third-party weather apps available on Google Play support multiple cities, but you would need to install one of those apps separately and check it instead of using the system Weather app.

Does my phone's weather location setting affect the watch?

No. Your Pixel Watch weather location is independent from your phone's weather settings. You can have different cities set on each device, and changing one does not change the other.