Google Pixel Watch owners are running into an annoying problem after a recent software update: the Find My Phone shortcut has stopped working for some users. That leaves a feature that many people rely on every day suddenly unavailable at the exact moment it is needed most.
The issue matters because the watch-based phone finder is often the fastest way to locate a handset buried in a couch, hidden under blankets, or left somewhere around the house. For affected users, the usual quick tap on the wrist now turns into a manual search instead.
Reports first surfaced on Reddit, where one Pixel Watch 3 owner said the phone-finding feature had worked normally for nearly a year before breaking immediately after the latest update. Other users in the same discussion backed up that experience, saying the problem appeared right after their watches were updated as well.
The complaints also show how much people depend on the tool in everyday use. Several owners said Find My Phone is not just a convenience feature but a regular part of how they keep track of a misplaced device.
A temporary path still works
While the standard shortcut is failing, one workaround appears to remain available. Users in the discussion reported that asking Gemini directly from the watch can still trigger the phone-finding process.
One participant also said the Watch app on the phone began crashing as soon as it was opened after the update. That user tried restarting both the Google Pixel 10 and the Pixel Watch, but the normal Find My Phone function did not return.
Even so, the Gemini route on the watch was still described as functional, and other users in the thread confirmed the same behavior. That suggests the problem is tied more closely to the regular shortcut path than to the entire phone-finding feature itself.
Google has acknowledged the problem
Google has now responded to the complaints on Reddit and confirmed that a fix is being worked on for a future software update. In the meantime, the company is pointing users to the same temporary method that owners discovered on their own.
The advice is straightforward: use Gemini on the Pixel Watch to help locate the phone until the official repair arrives. Google has not said when that update will be released.
For now, anyone affected will need to rely on that workaround or search for the phone manually if the usual shortcut fails. The situation has spread quickly because it affects a feature many users treat as one of the most practical parts of owning a smartwatch.
The response in the community also shows why the issue gained attention so fast. People often notice a missing phone only when they need it urgently, and a broken shortcut can be more disruptive than it first appears.
With the update-related problem still unresolved, Gemini remains the most reliable temporary option reported by users. Until Google ships a fix, that is the main way Pixel Watch owners can still make their phones ring from the wrist.
Source: www.androidauthority.com
