In 2020, Google rolled out an early earthquake alert and detection system for Android, harnessing the vast number of devices in the wild. Initially, the feature was only available in a handful of markets, but Google eventually expanded it to most countries by 2022. It’s one of Android’s best safety features, as a few seconds of early warning before an earthquake strikes can make a big difference. And now, Google is bringing Android’s earthquake alert system to Wear OS.
Related
6 hidden smartwatch safety features (and why they matter)
Do you know how your smartwatch can help in an emergency?
Google’s official release notes for the June 2025 Google Play services (v25.21) update mentions adding earthquake alerts to Wear OS watches when shaking is expected (via Android Authority). Typically, the system sends out alerts for earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater.
- [Wear] You’ll get alerts on Wear when an earthquake is expected to cause shaking.
Google has not officially announced the feature’s rollout, so it’s possible the earthquake safety alert may not go live just yet. It’s common for the company to mention some features ahead of time in its Google Play services changelog, only to clarify later that they’ll arrive with a future software update.
If not the June 2025 Play services update, the alert system might roll out as part of Wear OS 6 later this year.
Android’s early earthquake alerts can be a real lifesaver
Android phones send out two different earthquake alerts based on the severity. If you are far from the epicenter and light shaking is expected, it will only send a “Be Aware Alert.” This alert will not override your phone’s Do Not Disturb, volume, or notification settings.
The “Take Action Alert” is more serious: it goes out a few seconds before an earthquake that can cause moderate to heavy shaking hits. It overrides your phone’s Do Not Disturb and volume settings, triggering a red screen with a loud alarm and safety instructions.
The earthquake alert system on Wear OS should function similarly, providing early warnings and displaying the earthquake’s magnitude and an estimated distance from the epicenter.
While earthquake alerts on Wear OS might not seem like a big deal, it’s one of those features that can potentially save lives in an emergency.
