How to Set Up Your Samsung Gear 3 Smartwatch

The Samsung Gear 3 smartwatch connects with Android-based phones

Samsung 

by Jerri Ledford
Jerri L. Ledford has been writing about technology since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others.
Updated March 17, 2019

Your new Samsung Gear 3 smartwatch is the perfect companion to your Samsung smartphone. It extends the capabilities of your phone, and it’s a nice wardrobe accessory. In this article, we’ll help you get started with your new Gear S3 so you’re using it like a pro in no time.

Before you begin setting up your Samsung Gear 3, be sure to place it on the charging stand and allow it charge fully.

How to Set Up Your Samsung Gear 3 to Work With Your Smartphone

Connect your Samsung Gear 3 to your smartphone

Jerri Ledford 

You can connect your Samsung Gear 3 to any Android-based smartphone. Here's how:

  1. Before you begin setting up your Gear 3, you’ll need to download and activate the Gear 3 app. If you’re using a Samsung Phone, you can download the Gear app from your Galaxy Apps. For non-Samsung Android devices, go to the Google Play Store to download Samsung Gear.
  2. Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds to turn the Gear on. The first time you power on your Gear 3, you’re prompted to connect it to your smartphone.
  3. On your smartphone, select Apps > Samsung Gear. If you’re prompted to update Samsung Gear, do that before you connect to your smartwatch. If there is no prompt, tap Start the Journey.​​​
  4. On the Pick Your Gear screen, select your device. If the device isn’t listed, tap Mine’s not here. Then choose your device from the list that appears.
  5. Your smartphone will try to connect to your device. When the Bluetooth pairing request window is displayed on your Gear and your smartphone, take the check mark on the Gear and OK on the smartphone to continue.
  6. Agree to the Terms of Service, displayed on your smartphone, and click Next.
  7. On your smartphone, you’ll be prompted to set up your notifications and the apps you want to use on the smartwatch. When you’ve made your selections tap Next to complete the setup and move to set up on your Gear 3.
  8. On your Gear 3, you’ll be prompted to walk through a tutorial that shows you the basic controls of the device. Once you’ve completed the tutorial, your setup is finished.

Using Your Gear 3 With Your Smartphone

Using Your Gear 3 as a Phone

  1. For incoming calls, touch the green phone icon and swipe to the right to answer. Or touch the red phone icon and swipe to the left to decline the call. You can also decline the call and send preset text messages by swiping up from the bottom of the face and choosing the appropriate response. These messages can be customized in the Samsung Gear App.
  2. To dial an outgoing call, either choose the name of the person you want to dial from your contacts, which should sync automatically with the contacts on your smartphone or tap the dial pad from within the phone app and enter the number manually.

Connect Your Gear 3 to a Bluetooth Headset

  1. From the Apps screen, tap Settings.
  2. Tap Connections.
  3. Tap the Bluetooth radio button to turn on.
  4. Rotate the bezel to and tap BT headset.
  5. When you see the name of the Bluetooth headset scroll across the screen, tap it to pair it to the watch.

If you don't see your headset, tap Scan and then tap the name of the headset when you see it scroll across the screen.

Customizing Your Samsung Gear 3 Smartwatch

Customize your Gear 3 smartwatch to match your tastes

 Jerri Ledford

Once your device is all set up, you can customize it to work exactly the way that makes sense to you.

To change your watch face settings:

  1. Press the Home key on the side of the device, your apps wheel should pen.
  2. Scroll through the apps wheel using the bezel of your phone or your finger until you find the Settings icon (looks like a gear). Tap the Settings icon.
  3. Select Style.
  4. Tap Watch faces.
  5. Scroll through the available faces to find one you like. When you find it, tap the face and it is activated.
  6. If there isn’t a face that’s appealing, you can install others by tapping the + Add Template button at the end of the list of available faces. This takes you to a list of additional faces you can install.

You can also add faces to your Samsung Gear 3 through the Gear App on your smartphone. Just open the app and tap View More Watch Faces under the Suggested Watch Faces section. You’ll be taken to a face gallery that includes both paid and free watch face options.

Add or remove apps from your Gear 3:

  1. Press the Home key on the side of your device. Your apps wheel should open.
  2. Scroll through the apps wheel using the bezel of your phone or your finger. When you find an app you want to remove, press and hold the app for a second until a small minus sign appears on the icon. Tap the minus sign to remove the app.
  3. To add apps, scroll through the app wheel until you find a + (plus) icon. Tap the + icon. Scroll through the available apps to find the one you want to install.
  4. Tap the app and it is installed on your phone.

You can add additional apps to your phone using the smartphone app. Open the Gear app and scroll to Suggested Apps. Then tap View More Apps. You’ll be taken to the app gallery where you can download both free and paid apps.