Do you want to use your Apple Watch and Android phone together? In our article, we will show you how to connect Apple Watch to Samsung. So keep reading!
Let’s be honest; people love Android and its features, but considering all things, Apple has them beat at the smartwatch game. Every Youtube video of an eating challenge or some sort of training video is a subtle commercial about the watch.
Despite not being talked about and advertised by the developers, pairing an Apple Watch with an Android phone is 100% possible. There may be some limitations along the way, but that should not discourage you from not pairing the two worlds together.
Now scroll down to learn how to connect Apple Watch to Samsung, what you will need for the process, and other useful tips!
What Will You Need to Start the Process?
On the official website, the Apple developers state that their watch can only be paired with an iPhone. While being mostly true and the pairing app is only available on iOS, connecting your Apple Watch to an Android device can also be achieved with a couple of steps.
Something worth mentioning is that if you have an LTE Apple Watch, you can use a couple of shortcuts and easily connect your watch with an Android smartphone. Here’s the thing, though: You should not go out and purchase an Apple Watch just for this, but if you are already committed and you have one, our article is perfect for you.
Before making the connection, let’s dive into things you need to do to connect your phone to an Android device.
To connect your Samsung phone or any other Android device with an Apple watch, you will need to:
- Unlock your Samsung device
- Unlock the LTE Apple Watch
- Unlock iPhone 6 or a newer version
- Download a tool that you can use to remove the SIM card
- Be connected to a mobile network that can support the Apple Watch
How to Connect Apple Watch to Samsung
The technological accessories from Apple have come into their own. With its edge-to-edge flashy display and customer-friendly interface, the Apple Watch looks amazing on everyone’s wrist.
From tracking calories and steps to multiple other functions, people with Android are eager to find out if they can purchase the watch and connect it to their smartphone. Although the Galaxy and OS watchers have some extraordinary features and are adored by many people worldwide, the Apple Watch offers some of the most advanced features on Google’s side of things. In addition, it has more battery life.
In this scenario, we ensure everything is set up and fully working. You need an iPhone on the side to connect your Apple Watch with Samsung. Take the iPhone and set it in airplane mode. Afterward, remove the SIM card from the Apple device and place it in your Samsung. Now that you have successfully placed the card, find a strong LTE signal. There is no guarantee that this will work, but we did our test, and everything went fine.
Guideline
Because you are swapping SIM cards around, you need two unlocked phones, iPhone and Samsung. This is the only way the connection will work unless you have two cards for the same carrier.
After setting up your Apple Watch and configuring it with your selected iPhone device, the connection to the LTE network is crucial. Once you have the watch ready, proceed with the following steps.
- Turn off the three devices, the Apple Watch, your Samsung, and the iPhone
- Use your chosen tool for removing the SIM card(we recommend a paperclip or something similar)
- Remove the SIM card and place it in your Samsung
- Turn on your Samsung and connect it to your carrier’s network
- Now you can power on the Apple Watch
You will notice that your Android device is connected to the watch and your carrier, as usual. Despite having an Android phone, you can begin your journey with the Apple Watch and receive calls, texts, and notifications.
Also read: Does Apple Watch Work With Android?
Security Tips for Using an Apple Watch with Samsung
The security measures for an Apple Watch don’t change much, regardless of whether you use it on iPhone or Android. Once linked to your Samsung, the watch can give you access to your social media accounts, contacts, messages, calendars, and much more.
If you lose the watch or it gets stolen, your personal information will be at risk. For that reason, we made a list of the essential things you can do to enable all the security and privacy settings.
Set a passcode
Even in the first setup of your Apple Watch, you, as a user, are prompted to create a passcode for unlocking the watch. Although it seems like a basic security measure, the passcode can prevent anyone from taking your device and its content. The passcode can stop people from using your Wallet and going on a shopping spree.
To enable this feature, you can go to Settings on your device, find the Passcode menu, and select the ‘Unlock With Phone’ button. Also, you can open the Settings application on your watch and do the same thing. To enhance the strength of your passcode, you can do so in the same menu by tapping Change Passcode.
Enable the ‘Notification Privacy’ feature
Checking your phone’s notifications from your wrist is very convenient and easy; however, it may not always be beneficial.
If you are a private person with some concerns, we advise you to turn off the notifications and not worry about pop-ups in the depth of your Apple Watch. Apple and other Android developers allow a feature called ‘Notification Privacy’.
With the help of this feature, you can still receive notifications on your watch without any visible details. You can see the notification once you tap the alert on your Apple Watch. This great feature can be enabled in the ‘My Watch’ menu. Enter the ‘Notifications’ button, and scroll down on ‘Notifications Privacy’.
After 10 failed passcode attempts, erase the data
This is another feature that goes hand in hand with setting up a Passcode. If you have safety concerns about the data on your Apple Watch, there is an option that offers you peace of mind. The ‘Erase Data’ option will automatically delete all the information if someone tries to enter your Apple Watch after 10 failed passcode attempts.
To enable this feature, go into your watch’s settings, find the ‘Passcode’ menu we previously mentioned, and toggle on ‘Erase Data’.
Enable the ‘Fitness Tracker’ and ‘Heart Rate Privacy’ options
If you have concerns about sharing the data that is produced by the Apple Watch, like its fitness tracking characteristics and the heart rate monitor, there is something that you can do. To restrict these pieces of information, you need to go to ‘Privacy’ menu on your watch and tap ‘Health’. In this menu, you can switch on and off the ‘Heart Rate’. The same thing can be done for enabling the ‘Fitness Tracking’ option.
Read More: How To Delete Text On Apple Watch
Functionalities to Expect After Connecting the Apple Watch to Samsung
Now that you know how to connect Apple Watch to Samsung and the security measures you can take to keep your data safe, let’s explain some of the functions you can expect after the operation. Once the connection is made, all the previously installed apps and data on the watch will be kept thanks to the cellular connection. The applications that only operate on iPhones may function surprisingly.
The phone calls will stay the same but messaging can be clumsy. The iMessages will work on Samsung, but the standard SMS texts may trouble you. This can be a crucial problem because everyone enjoys the occasional text messages that require no internet connection.
Next, since you don’t have access to an iPhone anymore, you cannot keep your device’s software eligible up to date. You will need an iPhone to install any new app on your watch and complete the process.
Something else worth mentioning is that you cannot connect your Apple Watch with an Android device and have them both paired over Bluetooth. Using the typical way and pairing the two devices, only one will pair over Bluetooth. The other one will refuse to connect.
Related: How To Update Apple Watch Without Pairing
Setbacks and Limitations
From a technical perspective, your Samsung phone and the Apple Watch are not communicating with each other. The two devices are still incompatible. However, setting the watch with LTE means that the device does not need an iPhone to function normally and operate with its primary functions.
We already explained how to connect Apple Watch to Samsung above, but also you may expect a loss in functionality. Constant LTE usage will drain your Apple Watch’s battery life much faster.
While everyone loves Android devices and it is a fun experiment, the Apple Watch works better on iPhones. If you are a Samsung user, it would be advisable to pick a dedicated smartwatch that is eligible with your phone model.
Final Verdict
Hopefully, after reading our article, you will know how to connect Apple Watch to Samsung and what to expect afterward. Since, officially, Apple Watches cannot be paired with any Android device, your only option is to follow the guidelines we provided above.
While not ideal and having certain limitations and setbacks, you can still enjoy the features of your Apple Watch with the help of Samsung or any other Android. Although the market overflows with smartwatches with Android compatibility, they all admittedly fall short compared to the Apple Watch.