Google's connection article lists what must be true before advanced steps: Bluetooth on, Airplane Mode off on both the phone and the watch, the phone connected to the internet and the Pixel Watch app's nearby-devices permission allowed. The watch uses Bluetooth to the phone; an LTE watch away from the phone for a long time uses the LTE network if activated, and a Wi-Fi watch needs the phone near for calls and texts.
A Network error in the Pixel Watch app can mean the phone is not on Wi-Fi: as long as the watch's Wi-Fi is on it joins networks saved on the phone, but it cannot use hotel or coffee-shop networks with a login page or 5 GHz networks. Restart the watch first (crown for 3 seconds, Restart), hard reset with the crown and side button for about 35 seconds if unresponsive, then factory reset only if nothing else works. Google's guide for upgrading a phone or watch without losing data covers moving to a new device.
Differential
Likely causes of “Google Pixel Watch will not sync activity or data”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Bluetooth is off
What separates it The watch shows disconnected because Bluetooth is off on a device
How to confirm Turn Bluetooth on on both devices, and try again
- 2
Airplane Mode is on
What separates it There is no connection at all because Airplane Mode is on
How to confirm Turn Airplane Mode off on the phone and the watch
- 3
The phone has no internet
What separates it A Network error appears because the phone has no internet
How to confirm Connect the phone to Wi-Fi or mobile data
- 4
Nearby devices permission is off
What separates it The app cannot see the watch because the nearby devices permission is off
How to confirm Allow the permission for the Pixel Watch app
- 5
A 5 GHz or login-page Wi-Fi network
What separates it The watch will not join because it is a 5 GHz or login page Wi-Fi network
How to confirm Use a 2.4 GHz network without a login page
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The phone model and Android version
- The exact error, for example Network error
- Whether the watch has LTE and the Wi-Fi network type
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the basics
ReversibleCheck the basics, with Bluetooth on, Airplane Mode off on both devices and the phone online.
Check permissions
ReversibleCheck permissions, by allowing the Pixel Watch app's nearby devices permission on the phone, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check Wi-Fi
ReversibleMake sure the watch's Wi-Fi is on and the network is 2.4 GHz with no login page.
Restart the watch
ReversibleHold the crown for 3 seconds and tap Restart, which restarts the watch without erasing anything if it is responsive enough.
Hard reset
ReversibleHard reset, by holding the crown and the side button for about 35 seconds if unresponsive.
Back up
ReversibleBack up, and back up your data before any reset of the watch, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Factory reset
ReversibleFactory reset, and only if nothing else works, since it erases the watch, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Connectivity by model
- Google's specifications list Bluetooth 6.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4 and 5 GHz on the newest models and 4G LTE on LTE versions; Google's connection article warns that a watch cannot use login-page networks.
- LTE versus Wi-Fi models
- An LTE model can connect to a network without the phone; a Wi-Fi model needs the phone nearby for calls and texts.
- Repair cost
- Reconnecting costs nothing. A watch that never connects after a reset is a hardware fault; Google does not repair a Pixel Watch 3, and Preferred Care is $4 a month or $89 for two years plus a $49 service fee, per 9to5Google.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Pixel Watch 2.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the watch never reconnects after a factory reset, contact Google support
- !If only calls fail, use Google's call and text troubleshooting
- !If you are moving to a new phone, use the upgrade guide first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Checks, Wi-Fi limits, restart and reset.
Restart and factory reset.
Moving to a new device without losing data.
Nearby-phone requirements for calls and texts.
The Pixel Watch line and its generations.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my watch show disconnected?+
Bluetooth or Airplane Mode is usually the cause.
Why do I see Network error?+
The phone may not be on Wi-Fi; check the phone's connection.
Can it use hotel Wi-Fi?+
No, Google says it cannot join networks with a login page.
Does it use 5 GHz?+
Google says it cannot connect to 5 GHz networks in this article; check your model.
Do I need my phone nearby?+
For a Wi-Fi watch, yes for calls and texts; an LTE watch can work away from the phone.
Will a factory reset lose data?+
Yes, all apps, settings and data are erased.
Can I move to a new phone?+
Yes, Google has an upgrade guide.
What if it takes too long to set up?+
More than 20 minutes needs the setup troubleshooting.