Double pinch is finally configurable
Google has widened the usefulness of the double pinch hand gesture on Pixel Watch 5. The gesture is now available in more apps and, more importantly, it can be remapped through a new Customize actions menu that covers music, alarms and the watch face.
On Pixel Watch 4 the double pinch was limited to alarms and it was locked to snooze. Pixel Watch 5 changes that. Owners can now decide whether a double pinch snoozes or dismisses an alarm, which is a welcome quality-of-life improvement for people who want an alarm gone rather than delayed.
The change is part of a broader effort to make hand gestures feel less prescriptive. The menu is called Customize actions and it sits inside the gesture settings. It does not add new gestures, it gives the existing double pinch more purpose.
How to change double pinch actions
The option lives at Settings > Gestures > Hand gestures. Scroll down to the Customize actions section to see the three categories that can be edited.
Media controls can be set to Play/pause or Skip. Skip is the new option that Pixel Watch 4 owners did not have. It makes it quicker to move to the next track without raising the wrist or opening the media app.
Alarm behaviour can be set to Snooze or Dismiss. Dismiss is the new choice that replaces the previous snooze-only behaviour on the older watch.
Watch face behaviour can be set to Open ongoing notification or Always scroll notification tray. The always scroll option keeps the tray moving so recent items stay visible, which helps ensure nothing important is missed on a small screen.
The settings description hints at future wrist turn customisation, but as of now only double pinch options are exposed in the menu.
Watch face and notification tweaks
The watch face option is subtle but useful in daily use. Opening an ongoing notification with a double pinch is handy when a call or timer is active. Always scroll notification tray is better for a quick glance at the day's activity without having to swipe manually.
Skipping music with a pinch is convenient during workouts or when the phone is in a pocket. The alarm dismiss option removes the frustration of having to tap the screen to clear an alarm that you have already woken up for.
Together these three toggles make double pinch feel personalised rather than a one-size-fits-all shortcut.
At a Glance media display option
Alongside gesture changes, Pixel Watch 5 owners will find a small tweak to the At a Glance media controls. Long-press the media widget in At a Glance to choose between showing just an icon or both Icon and text.
The Icon and text mode displays the song name alongside the playback controls. The larger type is readable but can cover a noticeable portion of the watch face, so it pairs best with minimalist faces that have a lot of negative space.
The icon-only mode keeps the face cleaner while still providing quick access to playback. It is a minor preference setting, but it shows Google is continuing to refine how information density is handled on the small display.
Overall, the Pixel Watch 5 update makes double pinch more practical and gives owners more control over how notifications and media are handled at a glance.
