Google's calls article says you can make and receive calls with the Pixel Watch using the built-in microphone and speaker or Bluetooth-connected headphones. An LTE watch does not need the phone nearby; a Wi-Fi watch needs the phone close and cannot make or receive calls or texts without it. Requirements: cellular service for the phone, and for an LTE watch cellular service for the watch, using the same carrier as the phone. Check under Settings, Connectivity, Mobile; if there is no Mobile setting the watch has no cellular service.
On a Wi-Fi watch, check Settings, Connectivity, Bluetooth is on and the phone is connected too. To place a call, press the side button next to the crown, scroll to Contacts, choose a contact and tap the phone icon; to move a live call to the watch tap the phone at the bottom of the screen and Pull call audio to watch. For missed calls check that the modes that pause notifications are off. For quiet or muffled sound, the care article says clean only with a dry lint-free cloth, never insert items into the mic hole and never use compressed air or heat.
Differential
Likely causes of “Google Pixel Watch speaker or microphone is muffled”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Debris or moisture on the ports
What separates it The sound is muffled or quiet because of debris or moisture on the ports
How to confirm Dry with a lint-free cloth and never poke the mic hole
- 2
The phone is not nearby on a Wi-Fi watch
What separates it Calls will not connect because the phone is not nearby on a Wi-Fi watch
How to confirm Keep the phone close with Bluetooth on, and try the call again
- 3
A modes-that-pause-notifications setting is on
What separates it There are missed calls with no alert because a mode that pauses notifications is on
How to confirm Turn those modes off, and try the call again
- 4
No cellular service on the phone or watch
What separates it Calls fail because there is no cellular service on the phone or the watch
How to confirm Check the plan; the watch and phone must use the same carrier
- 5
Setup was not completed
What separates it You cannot make outgoing calls because setup was not completed
How to confirm Confirm that all setup steps were completed, and try the call again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the speaker, the microphone or both fail
- Whether the watch has been wet
- Whether Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or LTE is connected
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the connection
ReversibleCheck the connection, with Bluetooth on and the phone connected, or LTE active, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the plan
ReversibleCheck the plan, by opening Settings, Connectivity, Mobile, and looking at the plan, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check pause modes
ReversibleCheck pause modes, by swiping down and turning off modes that pause notifications, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Try headphones
ReversibleTry headphones, by testing with Bluetooth headphones to isolate the speaker, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Dry the watch
ReversibleDry the watch, by wiping it with a lint free cloth and letting it air dry.
Restart
ReversibleHold the crown for 3 seconds and tap Restart, which restarts the watch without erasing anything if it is responsive enough.
Contact Google
ReversibleContact Google, and if it stays muffled, 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
- Calls by model
- Google says the built-in microphone and speaker work on the Pixel Watch line; the Pixel Watch 3 and later can take calls without a phone on LTE versions, and Wi-Fi versions need the phone nearby.
- The mic hole
- Google warns not to insert items into the mic hole on the side of the watch.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Pixel Watch 2.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If sound stays muffled after drying, contact Google support
- !If calls fail with a good connection and plan, contact your carrier then Google
- !If the watch has no Mobile setting, it has no cellular service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Requirements, the built-in microphone and speaker, missed calls and pulling call audio.
Cleaning, the mic hole warning and drying.
Do not insert items into the mic hole.
Connection checks calls depend on.
The Pixel Watch line and its generations.
Exact questions
Common questions
Can a Pixel Watch make calls?+
Yes, with the built-in microphone and speaker or Bluetooth headphones.
Does an LTE watch need the phone?+
No, Google says a nearby phone is not required for an LTE watch.
Does a Wi-Fi watch need the phone?+
Yes, it cannot make or receive calls or texts unless the phone is nearby.
How do I start a call?+
Press the side button, Contacts, choose a contact and tap the phone.
How do I move a call to the watch?+
Tap the phone at the bottom of the watch screen and Pull call audio to watch.
Why am I missing calls?+
Check that modes that pause notifications are off.
How do I clean the speaker?+
A dry lint-free cloth; never insert items into the mic hole.
Do the watch and phone need the same carrier?+
Yes, for full talk, text and data.