[Google Pixel Watch] bernarbernuli:
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Currently, in Wear OS there are four methods (that I know of) for installing apps on the watch, each more convenient to use depending on the situation:

The first method, is the obvious one, that is, through the Play Store of the watch, you search for the app you are interested in, install it and that's it. In the watch's search engine, only apps optimized for Wear OS will appear.

The second method, is installing apps from a computer and through ADB commands. This method should be used when you want to install from your computer applications that are not found in the Play Store. With this method you could install any android application whether it is optimized for Wear OS or not. I explain this method in the section "Install apps from a computer (ADB commands)". You can use "Wear OS Tools" for Windows to facilitate the whole process.

The third method, is installing apps from the phone, using an app called "Bugjaeger Mobile ADB". The app is an ADB command emulator that can be run from an android phone. This method is recommended when you want to install an app that is not found in the Play Store, or the app is not optimized for Wear OS. Below, I explain in more detail in the section "Install apps from the phone (Bugjaeger Mobile ADB)".

There are other apps that are recommended in the same situations as for Bugjaeger, they are "Wear Installer 2" or "Easy Fire Tools".

The fourth method, is installing apps from the phone, using an app called "Wear Installer" (by the developer u/malbry). This method is recommended when the application not found in the Play Store and you want to install uses the old embedded application model, which means that the version of an app for Wear OS is added inside the version for Android phones. This application filters the applications installed on the phone (or simply downloaded to the internal memory) that contain the app optimized for Wear OS. When you choose to install, it sends it over Wi-Fi and installs the Wear OS-specific module that is contained within the phone app. In the section "Install apps from the phone (Wear Installer)" I explain how to install it. A help page for Wear Installer is here.

Important when you want to use the installation methods: "Allow Debugging"

When you first connect your watch via apps like Wear Installer, Bugjaeger, Wear OS Tools, or even with ADB commands, the watch will show a notification asking "Allow debugging?", select "Always allow from this computer". If you do not allow debugging you will not be able to connect.

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If the notification is not displayed, go to Settings > Developer Options, and select "Revoke debug authorizations" and try to connect again.

2nd Method. Install applications from a

computer

(ADB commands)

This method should be used when you want to install from your computer applications that are not hosted on the Play Store. With this method you could install any android application whether it is optimized for Wear OS or not. The steps for Windows environment are as follows:

1. If you have not done it yet, prepare watch for advanced functions:​

- On the watch, go to Settings > system > About and repeatedly tap "Build number" until You see a message that says 'You are now a developer'. Then go to Settings > developer options and enable 'ADB debugging' and 'Debugging over Wi-Fi '.​

- On your computer, download and install the ADB tools, such as Tiny ADB & Fastboot.​

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2. On your computer, open a command window, to do this in Windows type 'cmd' in the toolbar.​

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3. Then enter the following command to connect to the watch. Then accept a message on the clock that allows the computer to connect.​

adb connect watch_ip:5555

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4. Now, it is the step to send the APK application to the watch, install it and delete APK file finally. Make sure to enter the path correctly in the following commands.​

adb -e install filename.apk

Alternatively, you can use Wear OS Tools for Windows, which will make it easy to install apps via ADB commands.

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3rd method. Install apps from the phone (Bugjaeger Mobile ADB / Wear Installer 2)

Another alternative, in this case from the phone and via Wi-Fi, is to use the Bugjaeger Mobile ADB app (also Wear Installer 2" or "Easy Fire Tools"). You don't need to install anything on the watch, the app is an ADB command emulator that can be run from an android phone. To connect and be able to run the functions, just do the following:

On the phone, download Bugjaeger here and install from Play Store.

On the watch, If you have not yet done so, go to Settings > System > About and tap "Build number" several times until you see a message that says "you are now a developer". Then go to Settings > Developer options and enable "ADB debugging" and "Debugging over Wi-Fi".

Make sure both your watch and mobile are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, momentarily disable Bluetooth on your watch if Wi-Fi is not enabled on the watch. Now go to Settings > Connectivity > Wifi, click on the network you are connected to and enter the IP of your network.

In the Bugjaeger app on your phone, click on the plug icon, enter the IP of your network and click "Connect".

When connected, you will see a notification appear on your watch where you have to give permission to link the phone to the watch, so click on "Always allow from this computer". Now in the app you will see the notification "Connected".

Now go to the "Packages" tab, click on the "+" icon at the top, and choose to install on the watch an APK file that is downloaded to the phone, or an application installed on the phone.

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4th Method. Install apps from the

phone

(Wear Installer).

This method should be used when you want to install from the phone applications that are not hosted on the Play Store, however these apps must be optimized for Wear OS. The steps for installing and using Wear Installer are as follows:

On the phone, download Wear installer here and install from Play Store.

On the watch, If you have not yet done so, go to Settings > System > About and tap "Build number" several times until you see a message that says "you are now a developer". Then go to Settings > Developer options and enable "ADB debugging" and "Debugging over Wi-Fi".

Make sure both your watch and mobile are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

On the phone, open "Wear installer" app, enter the IP of your network and press OK. You will see 2 tabs, the first one is the list of all the apps installed on your phone, and the second tab is the list of the apps you have downloaded to the phone (APK files) and found in the "Download" folder.

Select the app you want to install on the watch, it must have the Wear OS APK inside for it to be installed. Accept the debugging on the watch and Wear Installer will extract the component, send it and install it on the watch.

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