Google has issued a warning to Wear OS users regarding the installation of legacy watch faces, specifying that from January 14, 2026, users will no longer be able to download these watch faces from the Play Store. However, any legacy watch faces already installed on devices will continue to function. It’s important to note that developers will also be prohibited from publishing updates for these legacy watch faces after this deadline. This shift follows the introduction of the Watch Face Format (WFF) in 2023, which initially allowed both WFF and non-WFF watch faces to coexist.
Over time, Google has gradually phased out support for non-WFF faces, culminating in this significant announcement. Wear OS users who prefer custom watch faces should be aware that support for AndroidX and Wearable Support Library (WSL) formats is being removed, restricting the publication of new watch faces using these formats as of January 2025. By early next year, the situation will evolve further, with specific changes coming into effect. Notably, users will lose the ability to install new legacy watch faces from the Play Store.
Developers will also find it impossible to monetize these legacy faces through one-off purchases, in-app payments, or subscriptions. While existing purchases will remain functional, they will not renew automatically. Despite these challenges, there is still an avenue for developers. They can migrate their legacy watch faces to the WFF format, but they must resubmit their updated creations to the Play Store before the January 2026 deadline.
Using the Watch Face Studio version 1.8.7 or newer is also essential for these resubmissions. The WFF allows for the creation of efficient and battery-friendly watch faces, but this transition comes with certain losses in terms of creativity and available options for users.
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