Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- A restart fixes freezes, errors, and update issues.
- A reset clears all data to fix major glitches.
- Use restart first, reset only as a last resort.
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Like every other piece of tech, our smartwatches can get sluggish after continual use. Maybe you’re waiting several seconds for your smartwatch to load functionalities, or you’re experiencing annoying glitches that distract you from using the watch.
By continually using the smartwatch, regularly switching between apps, or running too many apps at the same time, you’re bogging it down with data that clutters it and slows performance. This could result in frozen or unresponsive screens, or lag.
Also: How to clear your Android phone’s cache
You can do a few things to address this, like initiating a restart or a reset. In this article, I’ll walk you through when you should perform a restart and when you should reset.
Why should I restart my Pixel Watch?
Restarting your Pixel Watch can correct issues like the frozen “G” logo that won’t go away, an error message stating that something went wrong, timed-out updates, or a forgotten PIN, Google writes in an article.
How do I restart my Pixel Watch?
There are two ways to initiate a restart on your Pixel Watch.
First way to restart your Pixel Watch
- Press and hold the crown of your watch for three seconds.
- Scroll until you see “Restart.”
- If this doesn’t work, Google suggests performing a hard reset. To do so, press and hold the crown and side button for at least 35 seconds, or until the “G” logo appears.
Another way to restart your Pixel Watch
- Tap your Pixel Watch to wake it up.
- Swipe down on the top of the screen to activate the Settings.
- Tap into Settings.
- Once you’re in Settings, tap into System. (If you don’t see System right away, Google says to swipe left on the watch to access Settings.)
- Scroll until you see Restart. Activate Restart.
Also: The best smartwatches 2025: I wore these for weeks and found the perfect one for your wrist
What’s the difference between restarting and resetting?
If your smartwatch were a room, a restart would be like someone washing the windows, vacuuming the floors, and changing the bed linens. A reset is like someone emptying the room and scrubbing it clean of its tenant. The restart refreshes your smartwatch to make it cleaner, fresher, and faster, while a reset clears the watch of every bit of data on it to start anew.
Why should I reset my Pixel Watch?
Resetting your smartwatch should fix major issues and clear it completely of its data. You would typically do this if you’re giving your smartwatch away or if a restart didn’t fix a glitch you’ve been seeing.
One Redditor said his Pixel Watch was “a bit janky for a while,” so he performed a reset. He said that not only did resetting the watch fix a battery drain issue, but it also removed an additional feature that was seemingly causing glitches.
How do I reset my Pixel Watch?
- Tap your Pixel Watch to wake it up.
- Swipe down on the top of the screen to activate the Settings.
- Tap into Settings.
- Once you’re in Settings, tap into System. (If you don’t see System right away, Google says to swipe left on the watch to access Settings.)
- Scroll until you see Disconnect and reset.
Also: I wore the best smartwatches from Samsung, Apple, and Google – here’s how Galaxy Watch 8 wins
