Google's notification article separates the three places that must be right. On the Android phone: system and watch updates, unlink and re-pair the watch in the Pixel Watch app, and in Settings, Notifications, App notifications, Google Pixel Watch, turn on All Google Pixel Watch notifications and General notifications, with Show notifications set to Default so they are not silent. In the Pixel Watch app on the phone:
under Notifications, Manage watch notifications, make sure Mute notifications from phone and Hide silent notifications are off, because notifications set to silent on the phone are hidden and notifications received while you use your phone do not appear on the watch if muted. On the watch: settings such as notifications being silent when the watch is not worn can hide them. Google also says confirm the watch is connected by Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or LTE and the phone is on, and check each app's own notification settings on the phone.
Differential
Likely causes of “Google Pixel Watch notifications are missing or delayed”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Phone notifications for the Pixel Watch app are off or silent
What separates it There are no alerts at all because phone notifications for the Pixel Watch app are off
How to confirm Turn on All Google Pixel Watch notifications and General notifications, set to Default
- 2
Mute notifications from phone is on
What separates it Alerts appear only while you are not using the phone
How to confirm Turn it off in the Pixel Watch app
- 3
Hide silent notifications is on
What separates it Silent alerts never reach the watch because Hide silent notifications is on
How to confirm Turn Hide silent notifications off, and send a test alert
- 4
The watch is not connected
What separates it There are no alerts and a disconnected icon because the watch is not connected
How to confirm Check Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or LTE and that the phone is on
- 5
A stale pairing
What separates it The alerts stopped after an update because of a stale pairing
How to confirm Unlink the watch in the app and pair again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which apps are missing and their settings in the app
- Whether the watch is connected and whether it is worn
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUpdate
ReversibleUpdate, by updating the phone and the watch to the latest software, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check connection
ReversibleCheck the connection, with Bluetooth on, or Wi-Fi or LTE, and the phone on, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check phone settings
ReversibleCheck phone settings, by opening Settings, Notifications, App notifications, Google Pixel Watch, and turning all on.
Check app settings
ReversibleIn the Pixel Watch app turn off Mute notifications from phone and Hide silent notifications.
Check each app
ReversibleCheck each app, by opening the app and making sure that its notifications are on.
Unlink and pair again
ReversibleUnlink and pair again, by unlinking the watch in the Pixel Watch app and setting it up again.
Contact support
ReversibleContact support, and if it still fails, contact Google support with the model number, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Where settings live
- Google splits the fixes across the Android phone's notification settings, the Pixel Watch app and the watch itself, and the steps are the same for the Pixel Watch, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- Silent while not worn
- Google lists a watch setting that makes notifications silent when the watch is not worn.
- Repair cost
- Notification settings cost nothing. A watch that never vibrates after every setting is correct 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 a connected watch gets nothing after every setting is correct and a re-pair, contact Google support
- !If only one app fails, contact that app's developer
- !If alerts are silent only off the wrist, check the watch setting
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Phone, app and watch settings tables.
Setting up notifications.
The connection checks notifications rely on.
Re-pairing.
The Pixel Watch line and its generations.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why do I get no notifications?+
Check the phone's Pixel Watch app notification settings, the app's mute settings and the connection.
What is Mute notifications from phone?+
A setting that stops alerts appearing while you use your phone; turn it off to see them on the watch.
What is Hide silent notifications?+
It hides silent phone notifications from the watch; turn it off.
Why are alerts silent off my wrist?+
A watch setting can silence notifications when the watch is not worn.
Does one app fail?+
Check that app's settings on the phone.
How do I set up notifications?+
Google's article on alarms and notifications covers setup.
Do older models differ?+
The Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 need an Android phone.