Google appears to be taking a leaf from Apple’s playbook to give Pixel Watch users a handy new feature. The company is reportedly working on its own version of Apple’s “Notify When Left Behind” feature, which alerts users when they accidentally leave their iPhone behind.
Samsung already offers a similar disconnection alert on its Galaxy Watch models that notifies users when their Galaxy smartphone disconnects from the watch. According to Android Authority, the Pixel Watch is next in line to receive this functionality.
While digging through a system app, the publication discovered new code pointing to an in-development feature called “Notify when left behind.” As the name suggests, the feature will push a notification on the Pixel Watch when the connected phone is left behind.
What to expect from the new alert
The code reveals that for the feature to work, the Pixel Watch must be on the user’s wrist, and both the watch and phone should have Bluetooth turned on. Once enabled, the feature will also automatically lock the connected phone when it disconnects from the watch.
Additionally, the report states that users will have the option to disable the alert on their Pixel Watch when they’re in a trusted location. This will prevent unnecessary notifications when they’re at home, work, or other familiar places. It adds that the feature may not reach all Pixel Watch models, though it’s not yet clear which devices will be compatible.
Newer models, such as the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Watch 3, will most likely receive support via a Wear OS update. For now, it’s best to wait for Google to confirm the full details when the feature is ready for release.