Losing My Mind Over This Essential Feature for Wear OS 6

Understanding Wear OS 5 and Its Timer Issue

Overview of Wear OS 5

In 2025, Google has made significant strides in its Wear OS smartwatch platform, now known as Wear OS 5. This version shows considerable improvements in speed, reliability, and user experience compared to older versions. As someone who began using smartwatches with the Samsung Galaxy Gear back in 2013, I can appreciate how far Wear OS has come.

Despite these advancements, there’s one frustrating feature still missing in Wear OS 5: the ability to set multiple timers. This has been a long-standing issue for users who rely on their smartwatches for convenience in daily tasks.

The Frustration with Timers on Wear OS

Timers are essential for many activities, like cooking, laundry, or monitoring work tasks. I often juggle several timers at once—one for the oven, another for boiling potatoes, and sometimes even one for laundry. Using my phone is an option for setting timers, but accessing them on my smartwatch is much easier and quicker.

Imagine this: You’re in the kitchen, your hands are busy, and you just want to quickly raise your wrist and say, "Hey Google, set a timer for 20 minutes." Easy, right? But what if you need two timers? Here lies the problem with Wear OS.

The Single Timer Limitation

At present, Wear OS only allows you to have one active timer at a time. If you try to set a new timer while an old one is still running, it cancels the first one. This lack of functionality can be quite frustrating when cooking multiple dishes simultaneously or simply trying to keep track of several tasks.

User Opinions on Timers

A recent poll asked smartwatch users if they wanted the ability to set multiple timers on Wear OS, and the response showed a clear demand for this feature. Many users feel that being able to run multiple timers is not just a convenience; it’s almost a necessity for those who multitask.

Why Aren’t Multiple Timers Available?

While it is possible to download third-party timer apps that support multiple countdowns, this should ideally be a part of the core Wear OS features. There are also Samsung watches that come with a built-in Clock app capable of managing multiple timers, which raises the question: if other brands can do it, why can’t Wear OS?

A Call to Action for Google

It’s evident that users are eager for Google to rectify this limitation. With the upcoming Wear OS 6 update, there is hope for improvements, especially since rumors suggest that new features will enhance Google Assistant’s capabilities on smartwatches. If Google can innovate in areas like artificial intelligence, surely implementing multiple timers should be a priority as well.

Comparison with Competitors

Interestingly, Apple faced a similar challenge with its Apple Watch. For many years, users could only have a single timer active. However, with the release of watchOS 8 in 2021, Apple finally introduced multiple timer support. Considering that Google had a lead in the smartwatch game, it’s astonishing that they still don’t offer such a basic feature.

The User’s Dilemma

As it stands, many Wear OS users want a straightforward feature: the ability to run several timers at once. Whether it’s for meal prep or managing tasks throughout the day, the need for multiple timers is clear. The frustration of having to pause or cancel ongoing timers to start new ones can disrupt workflow and productivity.

What Users Expect from Wear OS 6

As Wear OS 6 makes its approach, users anticipate significant enhancements, particularly in the timer department. If Google is working to upgrade Google Assistant with new features, it makes sense to also include something as critical as multiple timer support. A smartwatch should be about convenience, and this feature absolutely enhances that.

In summary, users have expressed their desire for multiple timers on their Wear OS devices, and it seems clear that this should be a feature that Google addresses in future updates. The advancements in wearables should continue to focus on usability, making everyday tasks as simple as possible. It’s time for Google to listen to user feedback and improve this fundamental function in the next iteration of Wear OS.