Google could soon take away an important Pixel Watch 2 and 3 safety feature

It looks like Google is getting ready to remove the Safety Signal feature from the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 LTE models.

Safety Signal is a Google Health Premium subscription service that provides LTE connectivity to supported Pixel Watches when they don’t have an active carrier plan. It’s designed to keep certain safety features working when you’re away from your phone and don’t have cellular service on your watch.

The service can provide connectivity for calls to and from emergency contacts, Safety Check, Emergency Sharing, Emergency SOS, and Fall
Detection.

We’ve spotted code strings in the latest Google Pixel Watch app update, version 5.1.0.990450614, warning users that the feature is being discontinued. Google hasn’t yet revealed exactly when Safety Signal will stop working.

Safety Signal is currently available in the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany. On the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 LTE, users could use the service without signing up for a separate carrier plan for their watch.

The upcoming change means owners who rely on Safety Signal will need to look at other options for connectivity. Google notes that users with an existing carrier plan on their watch don’t need Safety Signal, since their carrier connection provides the connectivity required for emergency calls when they’re away from their phone.

It isn’t clear yet whether Google plans to replace Safety Signal with another service or simply discontinue the benefit. The new Pixel Watch app strings only confirm that the feature is going away and don’t provide a specific shutdown date.