Technology

How to get more battery life out of your Wear OS smartwatch

Published

2 years ago

March 18, 2024

How to get more battery life out of your Wear OS smartwatch

Some days away from the home or office can seem like a constant battle against battery life: your phone is dying, your laptop is dying, and your smartwatch is dying. Despite all of the advances we’ve seen in tech in recent years, battery life doesn’t seem to be getting much beyond the standard 24 hours of use for a lot of devices.

Limited by the physical restrictions of their hardware, manufacturers are putting battery-saving tweaks into software instead, like the Low Power Mode you’ll find on the Apple Watch and the iPhone. These settings can actually make a difference, and they’re available on Wear OS, too.

In Victoria Song’s Pixel Watch 2 review last year, she mentioned being impressed by the improved battery life compared to the original — but today, that 24-hour ceiling is still in place. With my own Pixel Watch 2, I’m usually anxious about running out of juice before the end of the day if I didn’t charge it overnight — though I have found a few ways to eke out extra battery life. I’ll get into those below.

These steps apply to the Pixel Watch 2 with the latest Wear OS 4.0 installed. If you’re using a different Wear OS watch (like the OnePlus Watch 2 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6) these tricks should work the same way. You might find that the screens and menus you see vary in places because of the way different companies have adapted Wear OS.

Start with the screen

There’s lots to tweak in the Wear OS Watch app for Android.

To save battery, you can keep the screen dark for longer periods of time.

A lot of smartwatch battery drain is due to the screen, so it helps to have the display on as little as possible. Start by going to the Wear OS Watch app on your phone and tapping Watch preferences > Display and gestures to make changes.

Reduce the screen timeout delay so the display turns off earlier after you’ve stopped interacting with it.
Turn off the always-on screen option so the display isn’t using battery life when you’re not looking at it.
Turn off the tilt-to-wake option — this can be handy for checking the screen, but it can also be activated accidentally, which uses battery power.

With the always-on screen and tilt-to-wake options turned off, you’ll need to tap on the screen to see the time or anything else. It’s a compromise, but just about every battery-saving measure is, one way or another.

You can also adjust the brightness of the screen by swiping down on the watchface and tapping the brightness icon (the sun symbol). There’s also an Adaptive Brightness option here, which adjusts the brightness for you, depending on the ambient lighting — this can save you battery life, but not as much as having the display dimmed permanently.

Choose a new watchface

You can customize watchfaces to have as little on-screen activity as possible.

You’ll find plenty of different watchfaces to choose from.

Speaking of the screen, your watchface can make a real difference to battery life. It dictates how many pixels are illuminated, after all. Switching to a less busy, more minimal look is something you can try. Not only can you look for watchfaces with as little on screen as possible but you can also reduce the number of complications on each one.

Tap Watch faces inside the Watch app on your phone.
Swipe left and right to browse the watchfaces already set up. If you choose one of these, tap Edit to modify it (perhaps with fewer on-screen elements) or Use on watch to apply it to your wearable.
Choose Add new to pick another watchface from the gallery. When one is selected, you can edit its colors and complications before tapping Add to apply it to your watch.

Tone down notifications

Wear OS gives you full control over the notifications you get.

Only turn on alerts for the watch apps you really want to hear from.

Having your watch buzzing and beeping all day can be a drain on battery life, so if you can do without some of these notifications — or at least have them be less audible — you can get extra time between charges.

From the Watch app on your phone, tap Notifications.
Tap See all apps from last seven days, then change the Most recent drop-down menu entry to All apps.
Turn off the toggle switch for the phone apps you don’t want to hear from on your watch.

There are more features on your watch that you can edit. Swipe down on the main watchface, then tap the gear icon to get to Settings.

Tap Apps & notifications from Settings to change which apps installed on your actual watch can send notifications.
Under Sound and Vibration in Settings, you can control notification, call, and alarm volume and vibration levels. Dial these down to save battery life.

Turning off Wi-Fi can give you some extra battery life.

If you’re not expecting a call, you can limit watch vibrations.

If you head into the Settings page on your watch by swiping down from the top of the watchface and tapping the gear icon, you can disable a few more features to reclaim some battery life. There are trade-offs in each case, which you might (or might not) be willing to put up with. However, they could come in handy if you’re running low on battery.

Tap Location from Settings, then turn off Use location. This disables the GPS, so your watch won’t know where it is (for navigation, for example) if it’s not connected to your phone.
Tap Connectivity from Settings, then Wi-Fi, then turn off Wi-Fi. With this off, your watch won’t be able to connect to Wi-Fi directly — everything will have to come through your phone.
If you’re using an LTE watch, tap Connectivity, Mobile, and Mobile again, then Off. Your watch will no longer be able to get online via cellular networks.
Tap Google from Settings, then Assistant, and disable “Hey Google.” You won’t be able to wake up Google Assistant with your voice with this turned off, though you can still press and hold the side button.

You might need a bit of trial and error to work out which features give you the biggest boosts in battery life and which features you can live without if it means less recharging — but you should find at least some of them helpful.

Technology

AI photo match reunites Texas woman with lost cat after 103 days

Published

23 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

AI photo match reunites Texas woman with lost cat after 103 days

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Holiday gatherings and year-end travel often lead to a spike in missing pets. Doors open more often, routines shift and animals can slip outside in a moment of confusion.

New Year’s Eve creates loud fireworks, and shelters report some of their busiest nights of the entire year. Amid all that, one Texas family just experienced a heartwarming reunion thanks to an AI photo matching on Petco Love Lost.

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FIND A LOST PHONE THAT IS OFF OR DEAD

An AI photo-matching on Petco Love Lost helped reunite a Texas family with their missing cat after 103 days. (ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)

How AI photo matching kept the search going

Pam’s 11-year-old indoor cat, Grayson, had never been outside alone. She believes he slipped out while she unloaded groceries at their home in Plano, Texas. The moment she realized he was gone, she acted fast.

She said, “We went up and down the streets day and night. We went online in the neighborhood and on Love Lost. We put up flyers all over the neighborhood. Friends and neighbors were looking for him. I went to the animal shelter, posted him there, and went every day for over a month, hoping to find him.”

Pam uploaded Grayson’s photo to Petco Love Lost right away. She checked her daily match alerts and hoped she would see his familiar face pop up. She told CyberGuy, “I received match alerts almost every day from Lost Love, but never saw Grayson. His profile had been on their site for over 90 days.”

The moment everything changed

Missy, a nearby resident, spotted a thin cat in an alley near her home. She brought him inside, took a picture of him and then turned to Love Lost to see if anyone had reported a missing cat like him.

Missy explained how simple the process felt. “I used Lost Love to reunite them,” she said. “I uploaded a photo of the cat that we found, and it was matched through AI with the photo that the owner uploaded.”

She soon received an AI match alert and learned that the cross street Grayson’s owner, Pam, had listed in her lost post was only a mile from her home. Missy contacted Pam right away.

That message changed everything. “I am sure that if we had not posted his picture and enabled the ability to match the images, we would never have known what happened to Grayson,” Pam said. “And we would not have connected with Missy.”

AI TECH HELPS A SENIOR REUNITE WITH HER CAT AFTER 11 DAYS

Grayson, an indoor cat from Plano, Texas, was finally found thanks to a neighbor who uploaded his photo to an AI search tool. (DANIEL PERRON/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

A long road for an aging cat

Grayson is almost 12 and has never lived outdoors. That made this reunion feel even more emotional, Pam said.

“I am still amazed at Grayson’s journey,” she added. “I look at him and cannot believe he made it through those 103 days. He is almost 12 years old, so he is not a young kitty.”

Pam said she still thinks about what those months were like for him. “[I] guess I will always wonder where he was and how many stops he made before he reached Missy’s loving home,” she said. “He must have known she would take care of him. It takes a special person to take the time to reunite a beloved pet with their family. Missy and her family went above and beyond to reunite us with Grayson.”

Why pet tech matters during the holidays

This season brings joy but also risks for pets. Visitors, travel and loud celebrations create more chances for animals to slip out or feel spooked. Tools like AI photo matching help families act fast when a pet goes missing. Love Lost connects shelters and neighbors in one place so that people like Pam and Missy can find each other.

What to do if your pet goes missing

Losing a pet can feel overwhelming, but taking fast action helps. These steps guide you through what to do right away.

1) Search your home and neighborhood right away

Look in closets, garages and under furniture. Walk your street and ask neighbors to check yards and sheds.

2) Upload your pet’s photo to Petco Love Lost

Take a clear photo and post it on the site. AI photo matching alerts you when a possible match appears. It also helps others contact you fast.

3) Visit your local shelters in person

Shelters update kennels throughout the day. Staff can guide you and help flag your pet’s profile. Go often until you get updates.

4) Post on local community groups

Use neighborhood apps, local Facebook groups and community forums. Include your pet’s photo, last known location and your contact info.

5) Put up flyers right away

Use a large photo and simple details. Place flyers at busy intersections and near schools, parks and businesses.

6) Contact your pet’s microchip registry

If your pet is microchipped, call the registry or log in to your account. Make sure the chip is registered to you, update your contact info and mark your pet as missing so shelters and vets can reach you fast.

7) Stay consistent with your search

Check Love Lost alerts often. Visit shelters and follow up on every lead. Persistence made the difference for Pam and Grayson.

LOST DOGS ON FOURTH OF JULY: HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET SAFE

A pet owner is seen cradling a cat on their lap. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)

How AirTags can help you find a lost pet faster

While tools like AI photo matching are invaluable after a pet goes missing, prevention and real-time tracking can make an enormous difference during the first critical hours. That’s where Apple AirTags come in. An AirTag isn’t a GPS tracker, but it can still be a powerful recovery tool when used correctly. When attached securely to your pet’s collar, an AirTag uses Apple’s vast Find My network. That network consists of hundreds of millions of nearby iPhones, iPads and Macs that can anonymously and securely relay the AirTag’s location back to you.

If your pet wanders into a neighborhood, apartment complex or busy area, the chances are high that another Apple device will pass nearby and update the location automatically. You won’t know who helped, and they won’t know it was them, but the location can show up on your map within minutes. For indoor cats or dogs that don’t usually roam far, this can be especially helpful. Even a rough location can narrow your search area and save precious time.

Important limits to know: AirTags work best in populated areas. They rely on nearby Apple devices, so coverage may be limited in rural or remote locations. They also don’t update continuously like true GPS pet trackers. That’s why AirTags should be seen as a backup layer, not a replacement for microchipping or dedicated pet trackers.

How to use an AirTag safely with pets

Use a secure, pet-specific AirTag holder that won’t break easily.
Attach it to a breakaway collar for cats and dogs to reduce injury risk.
Make sure Find My notifications are turned on so you get alerts quickly.
Combine it with microchipping and ID tags for the best protection.

Used together, these tools give you multiple ways to reconnect with your pet, whether minutes or months have passed.

For a list of the best pet trackers, go to Cyberguy.com and search “best pet trackers.”

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Grayson’s reunion is a reminder that tech works best when caring people put it to use. AI matched the photos, but Missy took action, and Pam never stopped looking. Their persistence helped a senior cat get home after a long and risky journey.

If your pet went missing today, would you know the first step to bring them home fast? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

TikTok ban: all the news on the app’s shutdown and return in the US

Published

12 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

TikTok ban: all the news on the app’s shutdown and return in the US

After briefly going dark in the US to comply with the divest-or-ban law targeting ByteDance that went into effect on January 19th, TikTok quickly came back online. It eventually reappeared in the App Store and Google Play as negotiations between the US and China continued, and Donald Trump continued to sign extensions directing officials not to apply the law’s penalties.

Finally, in mid-December, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew told employees that the agreements to create TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, which includes Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX as part owners, have been signed, and the deal is expected to close on January 22nd, 2026. His letter said that for users in the US, the new joint venture will oversee data protection, the security of a newly-retrained algorithm, content moderation, and the deployment of the US app and platform.

Read on for all the latest news on the TikTok ban law in the US.

Technology

Secret phrases to get you past AI bot customer service

Published

12 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Secret phrases to get you past AI bot customer service

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You’re gonna love me for this.

Say you’re calling customer service because you need help. Maybe your bill is wrong, your service is down or you want a refund. Instead of a person, a cheerful AI voice answers and drops you into an endless loop of menus and misunderstood prompts. Now what?

That’s not an accident. Many companies use what insiders call “frustration AI.” The system is specifically designed to exhaust you until you hang up and walk away.

Not today. (Get more tips like this at GetKim.com)

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS SAY GO SLOW ON AI DEVELOPMENT — BUT DON’T KNOW WHO SHOULD STEER

Here are a few ways to bypass “frustration” AI bots. (Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Use the magic words

You want a human. For starters, don’t explain your issue. That’s the trap. You need words the AI has been programmed to treat differently.

Nuclear phrases: When the AI bot asks why you’re calling, say, “I need to cancel my service” or “I am returning a call.” The word cancel sets off alarms and often sends you straight to the customer retention team. Saying you’re returning a call signals an existing issue the bot cannot track. I used that last weekend when my internet went down, and, bam, I had a human.

Power words: When the system starts listing options, clearly say one word: “Supervisor.” If that doesn’t work, say, “I need to file a formal complaint.” Most systems are not programmed to deal with complaints or supervisors. They escalate fast.

Technical bypass: Asked to enter your account number? Press the pound key (#) instead of numbers. Many older systems treat unexpected input as an error and default to a human.

OPENAI ANNOUNCES UPGRADES FOR CHATGPT IMAGES WITH ‘4X FASTER GENERATION SPEED’

“Supervisor” is one magic word that can get you a human on the other end of the line. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)

Go above the bots

If direct commands fail with AI, be a confused human.

The Frustration Act: When the AI bot asks a question, pause. Wait 10 seconds before answering. These systems are built for fast, clean responses. Long pauses often break the flow and send your call to a human.

The Unintelligible Bypass: Stuck in a loop? Act like your phone connection is terrible. Say garbled words or nonsense. After the system says, “I’m having trouble understanding you” three times, many bots automatically transfer you to a live agent.

The Language Barrier Trick: If the company offers multiple languages, choose one that’s not your primary language or does not match your accent. The AI often gives up quickly and routes you to a human trained to handle language issues.

Use these tricks when you need help. You are calling for service, not an AI bot.

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Long pauses and garbled language can also get you referred to a human. (iStock)

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