Samsung Gear Manager: What It Is & How to Use It
Samsung Gear Manager is the official companion app that connects and manages Samsung smartwatches (Gear series and early Galaxy Watch models) with your Android phone. You use it to pair the watch, customize watch faces, install apps, manage notifications, and update the watch’s software. While newer Galaxy Watch models use the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app, Gear Manager remains essential for older devices like the Gear S3, Gear Sport, and Gear Fit2.
Background: Why Gear Manager Exists
Samsung introduced the Gear smartwatch line in 2013, starting with the Galaxy Gear. Early models ran on a proprietary operating system called Tizen, which required a dedicated phone app to handle communication between the watch and the phone. Gear Manager was that bridge. It handled Bluetooth pairing, transferred notifications, and provided a hub for installing watch apps from the Samsung Galaxy Apps store (now Galaxy Store). Over time, Samsung refined the app and split it into two versions: Gear Manager for Android phones and Gear S Plugin (a companion that enables certain features on non-Samsung phones). When Samsung transitioned to the Galaxy Watch line in 2018, it replaced Gear Manager with the Galaxy Wearable app, which supports both new and some older devices.
What Gear Manager Does
The app serves as the control center for your Gear watch. After installing it on your phone, you open it to initiate pairing via Bluetooth. Once connected, you can:
- Change watch faces – Browse and apply hundreds of downloadable watch faces, or customize the ones you have.
- Manage notifications – Choose which apps send alerts to your wrist and how they appear (e.g., sound, vibration, or silent).
- Install apps – Browse the Galaxy Store for watch-specific apps like fitness trackers, weather, and music players.
- Transfer media – Copy music and photos from your phone to the watch’s internal storage.
- Update software – Download and install firmware updates for the watch.
- Adjust settings – Configure Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, location, display, and security options on the watch remotely.
Without Gear Manager (or the newer Galaxy Wearable app), you cannot pair a Tizen-based Samsung watch to a phone, and many features remain locked.
How to Use Gear Manager
Setup is straightforward:
- Install Gear Manager from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store on your Android phone (Android 5.0 or later).
- Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and on the watch (swipe down from the top of the watch screen and tap the Bluetooth icon).
- Open Gear Manager. It will scan for nearby devices. Select your watch from the list.
- Confirm the pairing code that appears on both screens.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to grant permissions (e.g., access to contacts, call logs, and notifications).
- Once connected, the app’s main screen shows your watch’s battery level, connection status, and a menu of options.
If you have a non-Samsung phone, you may also need to install the Gear S Plugin from the Play Store, which enables the connection. Some features, like Samsung Pay or Samsung Health, may require additional setup or may not work fully on non-Samsung devices.
Common Problems and Fixes
Users often encounter a few recurring issues with Gear Manager:
- Pairing fails – Make sure Bluetooth is on, the watch is charged, and no other device is connected to it. Reset the watch’s Bluetooth by toggling it off and on. If that fails, restart both devices.
- App keeps crashing – Clear the app’s cache and data in your phone’s settings (Settings > Apps > Gear Manager > Storage > Clear Cache). If that doesn’t work, uninstall and reinstall the app.
- Notifications not appearing – In Gear Manager, go to Notifications and ensure the desired apps are toggled on. Also check that your phone’s notification access is granted to Gear Manager (Settings > Apps > Special Access > Notification Access).
- Watch not found – Ensure the watch is in pairing mode (on the watch, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth > Pair new device). If the watch was previously paired, unpair it from the phone’s Bluetooth settings first.
- Software update stuck – Ensure the watch has at least 50% battery and a stable Wi-Fi connection. Restart both devices and try again.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, a factory reset of the watch (Settings > General > Reset) often clears persistent glitches, but it will erase all data on the watch.
Gear Manager vs. Galaxy Wearable App
The main difference is compatibility. Gear Manager works with:
- Gear S2 and S3
- Gear Sport
- Gear Fit2 and Fit2 Pro
- Gear S (original) and Gear S2 classic
The Galaxy Wearable app is the successor and supports:
- Galaxy Watch (2018 and later)
- Galaxy Watch Active and Active2
- Galaxy Watch3, Watch4, Watch5, and newer
- Gear S3 and Gear Sport (via the Galaxy Wearable app after a firmware update)
If you have a Gear S3 or Gear Sport, you can actually use either app, but Samsung recommends the Galaxy Wearable app for those models because it receives more updates. For Gear S2 and Gear Fit2, Gear Manager is the only option. The Galaxy Wearable app also includes a Find My Watch feature and better integration with Samsung Health, but the core functions are the same.
Is Gear Manager Still Supported?
Samsung has not officially discontinued Gear Manager, but it is no longer actively developed. The app still works on current Android versions, but you may encounter occasional bugs or missing features on newer phones. The Galaxy Wearable app is the future, and Samsung has been migrating older devices to it. If you own a Gear S3 or Gear Sport, you can switch to the Galaxy Wearable app by downloading it and following the on-screen migration prompts. For older devices like the Gear S2 or Gear Fit2, you’re stuck with Gear Manager, but it should continue to function for the foreseeable future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Gear Manager on an iPhone?
No. Gear Manager is only available for Android. If you have an iPhone, you can use the Samsung Gear app (for Gear S2 and later) or the Galaxy Watch app (for Galaxy Watch models). However, functionality is limited compared to Android – you can’t install watch faces or apps, and notifications are limited to calls, messages, and a few other apps.
Why can’t I find Gear Manager on the Play Store?
Gear Manager is still listed on the Google Play Store, but if your device is incompatible (e.g., Android 11 or later), it may be hidden. You can sideload the APK from a trusted source, but be cautious. Alternatively, check the Samsung Galaxy Store app, which may offer a compatible version.
Does Gear Manager work with the Galaxy Watch 4?
No. The Galaxy Watch 4 runs on Wear OS (with Samsung’s One UI Watch skin) and requires the Galaxy Wearable app. Gear Manager is not compatible with Wear OS devices.
How do I back up my watch data before resetting?
Open Gear Manager, go to Settings > Accounts and backup, and sign in to your Samsung account. The watch will back up your watch faces, settings, and some app data to Samsung Cloud. After a reset, you can restore from the same menu.
Why is my watch not receiving calls?
Ensure that call forwarding is enabled in Gear Manager (Settings > Call forwarding). Also check that your phone’s Bluetooth is connected and that the watch is not in
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