Google embraces the future, mandates 64-bit apps for Wear OS

It seems like 2026 is the year that Google’s other platforms will embrace the 64-bit era. Android TV and Google TV will require 64-bit app versions from August, and the company has now announced similar plans for Wear OS.

Google has announced that all new Wear OS apps and app updates hosted on the Play Store must have a 64-bit version alongside the existing 32-bit version from September 15, 2026. The company says Google Play will start blocking non-compliant apps after the deadline.

“We are not making changes to our policy on 32-bit support, and Google Play will continue to deliver apps to existing 32-bit devices,” the company noted in its blog post. That’s good news as many smartwatches are equipped with a 32-bit version of Wear OS, preventing them from running 64-bit apps.

Google also notes that the “vast majority” of Wear OS developers have already implemented 64-bit versions of their apps. However, there are inevitably dormant or abandoned apps that get caught up in the 64-bit transition, so our fingers are crossed that these developers provide the necessary 64-bit update.

What does this mean for Wear OS?

History suggests that the requirement for 64-bit app versions alongside 32-bit versions will eventually lead to a 64-bit-only future. After all, Google mandated 64-bit app versions for Android in 2019 before Android 14 switched to a 64-bit-only architecture in 2024. So don’t be surprised if Wear OS eventually drops 32-bit support altogether in the coming years.

In any event, Google says 64-bit architectures enable performance improvements and potentially “faster and richer experiences” for users. This should also bring security upgrades, as features like memory tagging extensions require a 64-bit platform. Switching to a 64-bit-only architecture is also a boon for chipmakers, as they can use the silicon area that would’ve been devoted to 32-bit operations. Finally, it’s worth noting that a 64-bit architecture allows smartwatches to address more than 4GB of RAM. This much RAM seems like overkill for a watch, but it could be handy in the wake of chips like the Snapdragon Wear Elite, which offer local AI smarts.