A smartwatch is a perfect companion for checking all notifications without having to pick up the phone from time to time. But what if your smartwatch stops showing notifications? This is exactly what happens to many Samsung Galaxy Watch users. That is, notifications do not arrive on their Samsung Galaxy smartwatches. Here we will tell you 16 solutions for when Galaxy Watch is not receiving notifications.
In this post, we will talk about the solutions for the Galaxy Watch not receiving notifications from both Android and iPhone. The troubleshooting guide will also work on almost all Galaxy smartwatches like Galaxy Watch 2, Galaxy Watch 3, Galaxy Active Watch, Active Watch 2, etc. So let’s get started and bring the notifications back to your Galaxy Watch.
1. Restart your phone and watch
Sometimes, restarting your phone and Samsung Galaxy Watch is enough to fix notification problems. To restart the watch, you will need to turn it off. Press and hold the watch’s power button until you see options. Tap Power off. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the power button again until the Samsung logo appears. Then release the power button to turn it on.
2. Keep your phone on
The phone connected to the Galaxy Watch must be turned on to receive notifications on the watch. If your phone is off or in airplane mode, you won’t get notifications on your watch.
3. Enable notifications in the Wearable app
Enable notifications in the Wearable app to receive them on your Samsung Watch.
Follow these steps to enable notifications:
Step 1– Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone.
Step 2: Tap on Notifications on the Home tab.
Step 3- Make sure the top switch is enabled. This switch can enable or disable notifications on your watch. If it is off, you will notice that other settings are disabled. If the switch is on, turn it off for a while and then enable it again.
Tip– In the Galaxy Wearable app, open the left sidebar on Android. Tap App notifications. Make sure all notifications are enabled in it.
4. Check the individual app notifications
In addition to enabling the previous setting to turn on notifications, you need to check and enable notifications for each app separately. Open the Wearable app on your phone, tap Notifications.
You will see various apps listed under “Recently Sent Notifications”. Enable the switch next to the apps you want to receive notifications from on your watch.
Tip: Tap View All to see all apps.
You may also notice that some apps have a straight bar next to them just before the switch. This means that those apps offer more notification settings. Tap the app name to view the settings. First, enable the Alert option instead of Silent. So, try using a different notification sound.
Tip– On iPhone, make sure the problematic app isn’t added to the app’s blocked notifications list.
5. Grant access to notifications (Android only)
The Galaxy Wearable app or associated plug-in app must have access to your phone’s notifications to display them on the watch. For this, you will need to grant special permission. While it is granted when you set the clock, it may have been turned off accidentally or with a software update.
To grant permission to access notifications, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Settings on your Android phone and go to Apps.
Step 2: Look for special apps. If you don’t see it, tap the three-dot icon at the top, and select Special apps.
Step 3: Tap Notification Access. Enable the switch next to the Wearable app and the Watch plug-in app, whichever is available.
6. Enable app notifications (Android only)
Another setting that could hinder notifications on the watch is the notification settings of the individual apps.
Here’s how to fix it.
Step 1: Open Settings on your Android phone and go to Apps.
Step 2: Tap on the problematic app from which you are not receiving notifications on your watch. Let’s say the Message app.
Step 3: Tap Notifications.
Step 4- You will find various notification categories related to this. First, make sure the toggle at the top that turns on notifications is enabled. Basically, if app notifications are disabled on your phone, you won’t get them on Watch as well.
Step 5: Tap the text of each notification category one by one and enable the notifications. Also, select Importance as High or Sound. Then make sure a tone is selected under the Sound option.
7. Enable sharing system notifications (iPhone only)
After connecting your Galaxy Watch to your iPhone, you need to allow it to access notifications. For this, launch Settings on your iPhone and go to Bluetooth. Tap the (i) icon next to your watch. Enable the switch next to Share system notifications.
8. Enable notification preview (iPhone only)
If you are not receiving notifications on your iPhone, you need to enable notification preview to show Galaxy Watch notifications. To do this, open iPhone Settings and go to Notifications. Tap Show Previews. Select Always or When Unlocked.
9. Enable app notifications (iPhone only)
If you’re not receiving notifications from a specific app like Messages, make sure it can send notifications.
To check, open Settings on your iPhone and go to Notifications. Tap Messages. Enable the switch next to Allow Notifications. Also, make sure Always or When Unlocked is selected for Show previews options.
10. Disable various notification settings
Galaxy watches come with various features to enhance user experience. Often these features are responsible for other problems. For example, you will find notification settings such as “Show only when you wear the device”, “Show notifications while on phone”, etc. You will need to enable/disable them. This is because often the required sensors do not work properly and therefore cause problems.
Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your smartphone. Tap Notifications.
Step 2: Here you will have various notification settings. Expand them by tapping the “View all notification settings” option.
Step 3– Turn off the switch next to “Show only while wearing device”. Enable the switch next to “Show while using phone” and “Enable for new apps”.
Tip: If you get notifications on your watch but not on your phone, turn off the “Turn off connected phone” setting.
11. Disable the notification modes
Galaxy Watch comes with three notification modes- Do Not Disturb, Goodnight, and Cinema Mode. If any mode is enabled, you will not receive notifications. So you need to disable them. You can do this from the watch or the Wearable app.
On your watch, open Settings and go to Advanced.
Make sure all three options are turned off.
Alternatively, open the Wearable app on your phone and go to Advanced. Turn off the switch for all three options.
12. Check the storage space available on the watch
The Galaxy Watch must have free space to receive notifications. If your storage is full, you will have problems. To check the available storage space, open Settings on your watch. Go to Watch Information. You will find the Storage option.
13. Update app
Since the wearable app (and the plug-in app) plays an important role in the normal functioning of your watch, they need to be bug-free. So check if there is an update available for any of them from the App Store and install it ASAP.
14. Clear cache and data (Android only)
If your watch is connected to an Android phone, try clearing the cache and clearing wearable app data.
To do this, open Settings on your phone and go to Apps. In All apps, tap Galaxy Wearable. Tap Storage.
Tap Clear cache. Restart the phone. If the problem persists, tap Clear data / Clear memory.
Tip: Repeat the process for the Watch plug-in installed on your phone.
15. Uninstall the app
If clearing the cache or data didn’t fix the problem, you need to reinstall the Galaxy Wearable app (and associated plug-in app) on your phone. To do this, first, uninstall the Galaxy Wearable from your Android phone or iPhone. Then install it again from the respective app store. After reinstalling the app, pair it with your Galaxy Watch again. Skip the backup restore option when prompted.
Tip– For your Galaxy Watch to work properly, make sure you install the watch plug-in when prompted on an Android phone.
16. Reset the clock
If nothing works, you should reset your Galaxy Watch. Go to Settings on the watch followed by General> Reset and confirm on the next screen. You can do this from the Wearable app by going to General> Reset. Once reset, pair it again with a compatible phone.
