Google rolls out Apple Watch-like ‘School Time’ feature for Wear OS smartwatches

The wearables segment today is booming with possibilities, and brands are exploring every opportunity to accommodate new features for their users. Right in time for the upcoming academic year, Google has announced its latest Wear OS feature called ‘School Time’ which will help parents manage and modify a child’s smartwatch usage better. Here’s everything you need to know about it. 

Wear OS School Time feature: What's there to know?

According to a Google System release note for May 2024, the School Time feature is specially built for parents. Its primary usage will centre around modifying and limiting watch usage during school hours, ensuring little to no distraction for a child. 

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Apart from limiting time spent on apps, the new feature will most likely allow parents to silence app notifications remotely during school hours. While Google has not mentioned how to go about this, parents might be able to access these features via their individual Wear OS apps. If that’s not all, they may also be able to change or tweak their child’s school timing, based on requirements.  

Meanwhile, a similar feature with the same name already exists for Apple Watch users. It allows parents to block apps, schedule breaks, and activities and set Do Not Disturb for their children when needed. The watchOS School Time feature, however, was introduced with its watchOS 7 update back in 2020.

Which smartwatches will get the Wear OS School Time update?

As of today, it remains to be seen as to which smartwatches are cut out for the Wear OS update. Google also hasn’t set a timeline for this feature to roll out for its users. 

However, we may not have to wait too long for clarity with the Google I/O announcement only being a day away for most of us. Until then, don’t forget to watch this space for any more news.