How to Reset Samsung Galaxy Watch: Step-by-Step Guide for All Models

Your Samsung Galaxy Watch is more than just a timepiece. It tracks your your fitness. It also keeps you connected and even controls it from other devices. But sometimes, everything doesn’t go as smoothly as you like. Maybe your watch needs to be synced correctly, or it’s running slower than usual. That’s when knowing how to reset Samsung Galaxy Watch becomes essential.

Resetting your watch can solve a large number of issues, such as minor glitches, and major software problems. It’s like giving your watch a fresh start, and who doesn’t love a fresh start?

Types of Resets

Before diving into the how-to, it’s important to understand the different types of resets available for your Samsung Galaxy Watch. Each type serves a different purpose and knowing which one to use can save you a lot of time and frustration.

Soft Reset

A soft reset is the gentlest of all resets. Think of it as turning your watch off and on again.

Hard Reset

A hard reset goes a bit deeper. It’s used when your watch is unresponsive and you can’t access the settings menu.

Factory Reset

A factory reset is the most thorough reset. It wipes all data from your watch, returning it to its original factory settings.

Soft Reset of Samsung Galaxy Watch

What is a Soft Reset?

A soft reset is essentially a restart. It clears out any temporary bugs or glitches without affecting your data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Perform a Soft Reset

1. Press and hold the Power button until the Power off menu is seen.
2. Tap on “Power off”.
3. Once the watch is off, press and hold the Power button again so long you see the Samsung logo appear.

And that’s it! Your watch should now be reset.

Hard Reset

What is a Hard Reset?

A hard reset is more forceful than a soft reset. It’s used when your watch isn’t responding to any commands.

When to Use a Hard Reset

Use a hard reset if your watch is frozen, unresponsive,  won’t turn off, or isn’t performing correctly despite a soft reset.

Step-by-Step Guide to Perform a Hard Reset (for all models)

1. Press and hold the Power button along with the Back button simultaneously.
2. Keep holding both buttons until the Samsung logo becomes visible to you.
3. Now Release the buttons and then wait for the watch to restart.

Factory Reset

What is a Factory Reset?

A factory reset erases all data from your watch. It’s like starting over from scratch.

When to Perform a Factory Reset

Perform a factory reset if you’re planning to sell your watch, give it away, or if you’re experiencing persistent issues that other resets haven’t resolved.

Step-by-Step Guide to Perform a Factory Reset

On the watch:

• Open the Settings app on your watch.

• Scroll down and tap on “General”.

• Tap on “Reset”.

• Confirm by tapping on “Factory Reset”.

Using a Wearable app on the phone:

• Open the Galaxy Wearable app.
• Tap Watch settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap Reset.
• Confirm the reset.

Important: Resetting your smartwatch will erase all data and restore it to factory/ original settings. You should back up any important data before proceeding with a reset.

Backing Up Your Data

Importance of Data Backup

Before performing any reset, it’s important to back up your data. This ensures that you won’t lose important information like your fitness records, contacts, and settings.

How to Back Up Your Samsung Galaxy Watch

1. First, Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone.
2. Tap on “Account and Backup”.
3. Tap on “Backup and restore”.
4.  To back up your data, follow the prompts.

Restoring Your Data

How to Restore Data After Reset

After resetting your watch, you’ll want to restore your data to get back to normal.

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app.
2. Tap on “Account and Backup”.
3. Tap on “Restore”.
4. Select the data you want to restore and follow the prompts.

Common Issues and Solutions

Resetting When Your Watch is Unresponsive

If your watch is unresponsive, a hard reset usually does the trick. Follow the steps mentioned above to get it working again.

Dealing with Software Glitches

If you’re dealing with persistent software glitches, a factory reset might be necessary. Ensure you’ve backed up your data first!

Precautions Before Resetting

Checking Battery Level

Make sure your watch has at least 50% battery before starting any reset process. This prevents the watch from dying mid-reset, which can cause further issues.

Disconnecting from Other Devices

Disconnect your watch from other devices like Bluetooth headphones or your phone to avoid any interruptions during the reset process.

What to Do After Reset

Reconnecting to Your Phone

To complete the resetting of your watch, you’ll need to reconnect it to your phone.

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app.
2. Follow the prompts to pair your watch.

Restoring Settings and Preferences

Once paired, you can restore your settings and preferences from your backup.

Maintaining Your Samsung Galaxy Watch

Tips for Optimal Performance

To keep your watch running smoothly, regularly clear out unused apps and data, and perform a soft reset occasionally.

Regular Software Updates

Always keep your watch’s software up-to-date. This practice will help you to keep the latest features and security updates on your watch.

Resetting Different Models

How many Types of Samsung Galaxy Watches are there?

  As of June 2024, Samsung offers several models in its smartwatch lineup. These typically fall under the Galaxy Watch series. The main types of Samsung smartwatches include:

1. Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic: The latest in the series with advanced health tracking and Wear OS.
2. Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro: Focused on fitness and health features, with a more rugged Pro version.
3. Galaxy Watch 4 and 4 Classic: The first to run on Wear OS, offering a range of health and fitness features.
4. Galaxy Watch 3: Stylish design with a rotating bezel, robust health features.
5. Galaxy Watch Active 2: Lightweight, sporty design, focused on fitness and wellness.
6. Galaxy Watch Active: Compact and fitness-focused, predecessor to the Active 2.
7. Galaxy Watch: The original model, features a classic design with a rotating bezel.

Differences in Resetting Galaxy Watch Models

While the reset process is similar across different Galaxy Watch models, slight variations might exist. Always refer to the user manual for model-specific instructions.

How to Reset Samsung Galaxy Watch For Different Models

Here is the step-by-step guide for resetting different models of Samsung smartwatches

For model-specific instructions, please visit Samsung’s official support page or consult your watch’s user manual.

Galaxy Watch Series

Models: Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro

Via the Watch Settings

1. Open the Settings app: Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon.
2. Go to General: Scroll down and tap “General”.
3. Tap Reset: Scroll down and select “Reset”.
4. Confirm Reset: Confirm by tapping “Reset” again and wait for the process to complete.

Via the Galaxy Wearable App

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app: On your paired phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app.
2. Go to Watch Settings: Tap “Watch settings”.
3. Select General: Tap “General”.
4. Tap Reset: Select “Reset” and confirm.

Using Hardware Buttons (if the watch is unresponsive)

1. Power Off: Press and hold the Home/Power button until you see “Power off” on the screen.
2. Power On: Press and hold the Home/Power button until you see the Samsung logo.
3. Enter Recovery Mode: Immediately after the Samsung logo appears, press and hold both the Home/Power button and the Back button until you see “Rebooting” on the screen.
4. Select Wipe Data/Factory Reset: Use the Home/Power button to navigate to “Wipe data/factory reset” and select it by pressing the Home/Power button. Use the same button to confirm.

Galaxy Watch Active Series

Models: Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Watch Active 2

Via the Watch Settings

1. Open Settings: Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon.
2. Scroll Down to General: Tap “General”.
3. Tap Reset: Select “Reset”.
4. Confirm Reset: Confirm by tapping “Reset” again.

Via the Galaxy Wearable App

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app: On your paired phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app.
2. Go to Watch Settings: Tap “Watch settings”.
3. Select General: Tap “General”.
4. Tap Reset: Select “Reset” and confirm.

Using Hardware Buttons (if the watch is unresponsive)

1. Power Off: Press and hold the Home/Power button until you see “Power off” on the screen.
2. Power On: Press and hold the Home/Power button until you see the Samsung logo.
3. Enter Recovery Mode: Immediately after the Samsung logo appears, press and hold both the Home/Power button and the Back button until you see “Rebooting” on the screen.
4. Select Wipe Data/Factory Reset: Use the Home/Power button to navigate to “Wipe data/factory reset” and select it by pressing the Home/Power button. Use the same button to confirm.

Gear Series

Models: Gear S3, Gear Sport

Via the Watch Settings

1. Open the Settings app: Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon.
2. Go to Gear Info: Scroll down and tap “Gear Info”.
3. Tap Reset Gear: Select “Reset Gear”.
4. Confirm Reset: Confirm by tapping “Reset” again.

Via the Galaxy Wearable App

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app: On your paired phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app.
2. Go to About Watch: Tap “About watch”.
3. Tap Reset Gear: Select “Reset Gear” and confirm.

Using Hardware Buttons (if the watch is unresponsive)

1. Power Off: Press and hold the Home/Power button until you see “Power off” on the screen.
2. Power On: Press and hold the Home/Power button until you see the Samsung logo.
3. Enter Recovery Mode: Immediately after the Samsung logo appears, press and hold both the Home/Power button and the Back button until you see “Rebooting” on the screen.
4. Select Wipe Data/Factory Reset: Use the Home/Power button to navigate to “Wipe data/factory reset” and select it by pressing the Home/Power button. Use the same button to confirm.

Gear Fit Series

Models: Gear Fit 2, Gear Fit 2 Pro

Via the Watch Settings

1. Open the Settings app: Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon.
2. Go to Gear Info: Scroll down and tap “Gear Info”.
3. Tap Reset Gear: Select “Reset Gear”.
4. Confirm Reset: Confirm by tapping “Reset” again.

Via the Galaxy Wearable App

1. Open the Galaxy Wearable app: On your paired phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app.
2. Go to About Band: Tap “About band”.
3. Tap Reset Band: Select “Reset band” and confirm.

Remember to back up any important data before performing a factory reset, as it will erase all data on the watch.

Conclusion

Resetting your Samsung Galaxy Watch can resolve various issues and restore the device to its original settings. Whether you’re troubleshooting problems or preparing to sell your watch, knowing how to reset Samsung Galaxy watch is essential. This guide has provided clear, step-by-step instructions for resetting different models, including the Galaxy Watch, Watch Active, Gear, and Fit series. Remember to back up your data before resetting to avoid losing important information. With these simple steps, you can ensure your watch runs smoothly and remains a reliable companion for your daily activities.

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