How to Pair Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 with Your Phone
The Galaxy Watch 5 pairs with Android phones running Android 8.0 or higher using the Galaxy Wearable app. The watch is not compatible with iPhone.
Before You Start
Prepare both devices for a smooth pairing process.
- Charge watch to at least 30% battery
- Enable Bluetooth on your phone
- Install
Galaxy Wearableapp from the Google Play Store - Keep devices within 1-2 feet of each other during pairing
Pairing Steps
Follow these steps to connect your Galaxy Watch 5 to your Android phone.
- Turn on the watch by pressing and holding the Home button for 2-3 seconds
- Select your language and accept terms on the watch
- Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone
- Tap Start the journey (or tap the + icon if you've paired devices before)
- Select Galaxy Watch5 from the device list
- Verify the 6-digit passkey displayed on both devices matches
- Tap OK on your phone and the checkmark on your watch
- Sign in to your Samsung account for backup and sync features
- Grant permissions for contacts, calls, messages, and notifications
- Wait for initial sync (5-10 minutes) to complete
After Successful Pairing
Verify the connection and complete initial setup.
Check connection status:
- Watch face should show a solid blue Bluetooth icon
- Galaxy Wearable app should display "Connected"
- Send yourself a text to test notifications
Initial configuration:
- Update software:
SettingsSoftware update - Set up
Samsung Payfor contactless payments - Customize watch faces and tiles
- Configure health tracking preferences in
Samsung Health
Pairing Bluetooth Accessories
You can pair earbuds and other Bluetooth accessories directly with the watch.
To pair Bluetooth earbuds:
- Put earbuds in pairing mode
- On watch:
SettingsConnectionsBluetooth - Tap Audio under Available devices
- Select your earbuds and confirm
This allows you to listen to music stored on the watch without your phone nearby.
Troubleshooting Pairing Issues
If pairing fails, try these solutions.
Watch not found:
- Restart both devices
- Turn Bluetooth off and on again on your phone
- Move devices closer together
- Ensure no other device is currently paired to the watch
Pairing fails repeatedly:
- On your phone's Bluetooth settings, forget any existing "Galaxy Watch5" entries
- Update the Galaxy Wearable app to the latest version
- Factory reset the watch:
SettingsGeneralResetFactory data reset
Connection drops after pairing:
- Disable battery optimization for Galaxy Wearable: Phone
SettingsAppsGalaxy WearableBatteryUnrestricted - Ensure all permissions are granted to the app
Remote Connection
Enable Remote Connection in the Galaxy Wearable app to maintain connectivity over Wi-Fi when Bluetooth is out of range. This keeps notifications syncing even when your phone is in another room.
See Also: How to Connect Galaxy Watch 5|Not Pairing Troubleshooting