The Moto 360 and other older Wear OS watches can now download YouTube Music

By Michael Allison October 13, 2021

Google is further expanding YouTube Music’s availability on Wear OS to even more older watches. The company initially launched the app on Wear OS 3, with exclusivity to the Galaxy Watch 4, but rolled it out to a selection of older smartwatches powered by the Snapdragon Wear 4100 platform last month. A new report notes that smartwatches like the Moto 360 can now get it, too.

Google has confirmed the expanded selection, but the company did not share exactly which watches were eligible. Instead, Wear OS users are encouraged to check the Play Store and see if their device is eligible. As it has been seen on the Moto 360 and TAG Heuer Connected watches, 9to5Google speculates it could be rolling out to watches powered by the Snapdragon Wear 3100. This should encompass quite a few Wear OS watches, including the Fossil Gen 5, the Montblanc Summit, and the Suunto 7.

Google brings YouTube Music to Wear OS 2 watches. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google announced YouTube Music for Wear OS at its Google I/O event in May. The app offers users streaming of their YouTube Music libraries, access to playlists, and support for offline playback while on the go if you’re a premium subscriber. It was at first thought the app would be exclusive to Wear OS 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, but Google later announced that it would slowly be rolling it out to older devices. The rollout started last month with Snapdragon Wear 4100. Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 watches were among the first of the older batch to access the new app.

Google had earlier courted controversy by removing the older Google Play Music app from Wear OS before preparing a replacement. While alternatives existed in Spotify, that app did not support offline music streaming and wasn’t a perfect replacement for some of the most dedicated Wear OS customers. As Spotify has now added offline playback to Wear OS, users of the platform now have options going forward.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Michael Allison

Mobile News Writer

A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…

Mobile

Android 12L and Wear OS 3 show Google still isn’t serious about tablets and smartwatches

Onn Android Tablet on Table

Late last year, Google introduced Android 12L, its operating system optimized specifically for tablets and foldables. After years of neglect, Google showed it was finally taking the form factor seriously. The same went for Wear OS 3, with Google breathing new life into smartwatches. There's just one problem for both.

As of the time of writing, not one tablet, foldable, or smartwatch has been updated to either of these operating systems. Google has planned to overhaul how its smartwatch and tablet platforms work for the better, but the company's rollout has undermined its ambitious plans.
Google's lofty ambitions

Mobile

Google finally adds streaming to YouTube Music on Wear OS

Fossil Gen 5 Wear OS

Google is finally bringing streaming to its YouTube Music app on Wear OS. It now joins Spotify as the main method of streaming music on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and other Wear OS-powered smartwatches.

"We’re excited to share that the YouTube Music app on your Wear OS watch is rolling out two new features. First, starting this week you will be able to stream music over LTE or Wi-Fi, so you can listen to your favorite playlists wherever you go, even when your phone isn't nearby. Second, you can now add a new YouTube Music tile to your watch that allows quick access to your recently played playlist or to the browse page of the YouTube Music app," the Wear OS team shared.

Mobile

Google is killing off its lightweight YouTube Go app

Three phone screens showing the new Android 12 Go Edition.

Google is killing off its lightweight YouTube Go app, an app designed for phones with low storage and limited access to robust LTE and 5G networks. The company cites improvements to the mainstream YouTube app that rendered this service redundant. The app will remain available for download in the Play Store until August. The app boiled down YouTube to its essentials and stripped away things that weren't necessary like commenting, posting, or creating videos.

"When we launched YouTube Go in 2016, it was designed for viewers in locations where connectivity, data prices, and low-end devices prevented us from delivering the best experience in the main YouTube app. Since then, YouTube has invested in improvements to the main YouTube app that make it perform better in these environments, while also delivering a better user experience which is inclusive of our entire community," the YouTube team said.