Wear OS 8 is getting a system status bar, and here’s our first look at it

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Google Pixel Watch 5 on its charging dock.
Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR
  • Google has confirmed that status bar icons are coming to Wear OS 8.
  • This feature will show the time and system icons at the top of your smartwatch apps.
  • The company also showed off status bar icons for the first time, giving us a better idea of what to expect.

Google quietly announced that a system status bar was coming to a future version of Wear OS. This feature will show the time and system icons at the top of your watch apps. Now, the company has confirmed more details about the feature.

Google revealed in an Android Developers blog (h/t: Mishaal Rahman) that the system status bar would launch in Wear OS 8. This comes a few days after the company first revealed the feature, while allowing developers to test it in a Wear OS 7.1 emulator. However, Google noted at the time that this feature wouldn’t actually launch with Wear OS 7.1 and would instead be available in a later Wear OS release. This latest news means we now have a better idea of when it’s coming.

News, Google, Google Wear OS, Smartwatches