Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Alongside the Pixel 11 series, Google has published factory images of the Pixel Watch 5.
- However, unlike in years past, there’s only one image for the cellular and Wi-Fi variants of the Pixel Watch 5.
- Flashing factory images on the Pixel Watch 5 will be as tricky as on the Pixel Watch 4, as it still requires an invite-only debug adapter distributed by Google.
The Pixel 11 series is gradually reaching customers beginning this week, and Google has obliged by publishing factory images for these smartphones. At the same time, the company has also posted factory images for the Pixel Watch 5. However, there’s one crucial change with the new smartwatch.
Much like last year, Google offers the Pixel Watch 5 in both 4G LTE and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi variants. While it has traditionally published separate images for these variants, the manufacturer is offering only one build this time (via 9to5Google).
- 17.0.0 (CD5A.260611.008, Aug 2026)
This consolidation of Pixel Watch 5 models should help Google speed up development on future releases, while also making it easier for developers. That said, flashing factory images on the Pixel Watch 5 isn’t particularly straightforward.
As the Pixel Watch 5 factory images page notes, the process “requires a debug adapter that Google distributes by invitation only.” This was also the case for the Pixel Watch 4, while the Pixel Watch 3 and 2 supported image flashing thanks to their supplied charging cables. Google revamped the charging setup on the Pixel Watch 4 and carried that design forward with its successor.
To make matters trickier, this invite-only debug adapter appears to be hard to come by, at least according to a Google product expert in the Pixel Watch community forum. This basically means you’re at Google’s mercy if you need to flash your Pixel Watch 5 firmware.
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