If you're wondering how to set up your Samsung Galaxy Watch, this is your one-stop guide.
Although it would be fantastic to take your brand-new Samsung smartwatch out of the box and immediately check notifications or monitor your heart rate, there are several steps you must complete before your smartwatch is fully operational.
If you’ve unboxed a Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch 7, or an older Samsung smartwatch and want to ensure a hassle-free smartwatch experience, we outline the essential steps to achieve that.
This is your step-by-step guide on setting up your Samsung Galaxy Watch.
How to set up the Samsung Galaxy Watch on Android
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is Samsung’s latest version of its flagship smartwatch. Like the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch FE, these smartwatches are only compatible with Android phones.
That’s for Samsung and non-Samsung Android phones. If you’re setting up with the former, you’ll enjoy some extra features and functionality, such as access to additional health and smartwatch features.
If you own any of these watches, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Watch 5, and Watch 6, the following should apply.
1. Download the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app
This is the most important app you need to have downloaded on your smartphone to pair and set up your smartwatch and access features like watch faces and watch settings.
Go to the Google Play Store and search Samsung Galaxy Wearable.
If you own a Samsung smartphone, you may already find this app on your home screen in a Samsung folder or in the main app tray screen.
2. Search for your Galaxy Watch
In the Galaxy Wearable app, tap the icon with the two circles and squares, then press the + button to begin scanning for nearby devices.
Ensure your Samsung smartwatch is powered on and that the Bluetooth on your phone is also activated so your smartwatch can be successfully discovered.
You should see a passkey displayed on both your phone and watch. Ensure the passkeys match, then tap OK on both devices to continue the setup process.
3. Download Samsung Health
While this app isn’t essential for setting up your Samsung smartwatch, it is the app you’ll need to view your health and fitness stats, so it’s worth downloading if that’s the kind of data you want to monitor.
- Go to the Google Play Store and search Samsung Health. Download and install the app.
- If you have a Samsung smartphone, try searching for the Health app on your phone as it’s likely to already be pre-installed.
Download Samsung Health Monitor app (Samsung phones only)
If you own a Samsung smartwatch that includes Samsung’s latest ECG and blood pressure monitoring features, you will need a different app to access those functions, which is only available for download on Samsung smartphones.
To download the Samsung Health Monitor app, follow these steps:
- Go to the Samsung Galaxy Store app on your Samsung smartphone and search for the Samsung Health Monitor app. Download and install.
- Open the Samsung Health Monitor app and follow the setup process. You will need to make sure your phone has a SIM card installed and is connected to a cellular network to complete the process of installing the app. After that, the app will function without it.
How to set up Samsung Galaxy Watch on iPhone
As noted, Samsung’s latest smartwatches now only work with Android phones, although that hasn’t always been true.
If you’ve picked up an older Samsung smartwatch, like the Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active, or Watch Active 2, these models are compatible with iPhones.
Here’s how to set up those Samsung smartwatches mentioned with an iPhone:
- Go to the Apple App Store, search for the Samsung Galaxy Watch app, and download.
- In the Samsung Galaxy Watch app on your iPhone. Tap ‘Start the Journey‘. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your iPhone to successfully pair your watch.
- Once your watch is detected, follow the setup process to get the two devices connected.
