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Galaxy Watch 8 Operating System and Apps Guide

The Galaxy Watch 8 runs Wear OS 6 with Samsung's One UI 8 Watch interface. It was the first smartwatch to launch with this platform, bringing enhanced AI features, improved battery optimization, and full Google services integration.


Wear OS 6 Features

The latest Wear OS version delivers several major improvements.

  • Google Gemini AI: Natural language assistant replaces Google Assistant with smarter, more conversational interactions.

  • Material 3 Design: Modern visual design with customizable color theming and improved animations.

  • Enhanced Battery Management: Intelligent background processing extends battery life while maintaining functionality.

  • Full Google Services: Access to Google Play Store, Google Pay, Google Maps, and other Google apps.


Pre-installed Apps

The watch comes with essential apps ready to use out of the box.

  • Samsung Health: Comprehensive health and fitness tracking with workout detection, sleep analysis, and wellness insights.

  • Galaxy Wearable: Companion app connection for watch management, customization, and settings sync.

  • Google Gemini: AI assistant for voice commands, questions, and smart home control.

  • Google Pay: Contactless NFC payments at supported terminals.

  • Google Play Store: Download additional apps directly to the watch.


One UI 8 Watch Interface

Samsung's custom interface layer adds features on top of Wear OS 6.

  • Samsung Health Integration: Deep integration with Samsung's health ecosystem for advanced metrics.

  • Galaxy AI Features: Energy Score, sleep insights, and AI-powered health recommendations.

  • Customization: Samsung-specific watch faces, tiles, and notification management.

  • Samsung Ecosystem: Seamless integration with Galaxy phones, earbuds, and smart home devices.


System Specifications

The hardware supports the software's demands efficiently.

  • Processor: 3nm Exynos W1000 for fast, power-efficient performance
  • RAM: 2GB LPDDR5 for smooth multitasking
  • Storage: 32GB internal (64GB on Classic model)
  • Updates: Expected 3+ years of software support

Reset Options

Several reset methods are available for troubleshooting.

  • Soft Reset: Hold power button 10-15 seconds for force restart without data loss

  • Factory Reset via Settings: Settings General Reset Factory data reset

  • Hard Reset: Power off, then hold power and home buttons until recovery menu appears


See Also: What OS Does Galaxy Watch 8 Run|Galaxy Watch 8 Apps|How to Update Galaxy Watch 8