Posted by François Deschênes Product Supervisor – Put on OS

As we speak, we’re asserting vital modifications to Put on OS watch face growth that can have an effect on how builders publish and replace watch faces on Google Play. As a part of our ongoing effort to boost Put on OS app high quality, we’re transferring in the direction of supporting solely the Watch Face Format and eradicating help for AndroidX / Wearable Assist Library (WSL) watch faces.

We launched Watch Face Format at Google I/O in 2023 to make it simpler to create watch faces which might be customizable and power-efficient. The Watch Face Format is a declarative XML format, so there isn’t a executable code concerned in making a watch face, and there’s no code embedded within the watch face APK.

What’s altering?

Builders might want to migrate printed watch faces to the Watch Face Format by January 14, 2026. Builders utilizing Watch Face Studio to construct watch faces might want to resubmit their watch faces to the Play Retailer utilizing Watch Face Studio model 1.8.7 or above – see under for extra particulars.

When are these modifications coming?

Beginning January 27, 2025 (already in impact):

Beginning January 14, 2026:

• Availability: Customers won’t be able to put in legacy watch faces on any Put on OS gadgets from the Play Retailer. Legacy watch faces already put in on a Put on OS gadget will proceed to work.
• Updates: Builders won’t be able to publish updates for legacy watch faces to the Play Retailer.
• Monetization: The next received’t be attainable for legacy watch faces: one-off watch face purchases, in-app purchases, and subscriptions. Present purchases and subscriptions will proceed to work, however they won’t renew, together with auto-renewals.

What ought to builders do subsequent?

To organize for these modifications and to proceed publishing watch faces to the Play Retailer, builders utilizing AndroidX or WSL to construct watch faces should migrate their watch faces to the Watch Face Format and resubmit to the Play Retailer by January 14, 2026.

Builders utilizing Watch Face Studio to construct watch faces might want to resubmit their watch faces to the Play Retailer utilizing Watch Face Studio model 1.8.7 or above:

• Make sure you republish for all Play tracks, together with all testing tracks in addition to manufacturing.
• Take away any bundles from these tracks that have been created utilizing Watch Face Studio variations previous to 1.8.7.

Advantages of the Watch Face Format

Watch Face Format was developed to help builders in creating watch faces. This format gives quite a few benefits to each builders and finish customers:

• Simplified growth: Streamlined workflows and visible design instruments make constructing watch faces simpler.
• Enhanced efficiency: Optimized for battery effectivity and easy interactions.
• Elevated safety: Sturdy security measures shield person information and privateness.
• Ahead-compatible: Entry to the most recent options and capabilities of Put on OS.

Assets to assist with migration

To get began migrating your watch faces to the Watch Face Format, take a look at the next developer steering:

We encourage builders to start the migration course of as quickly as attainable to make sure a seamless transition and continued availability of your watch faces on Google Play.

We perceive that this alteration requires effort. In case you have additional questions, please check with the Put on OS neighborhood announcement. Please report any points utilizing the problem tracker.