topic Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app in Mobile Apps & Services

Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

Sym0n — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 11:53:20 GMT

Hi everyone,

I've a Galaxy Watch (42mm, SM-R810) and a Galaxy S9, which I use Textra on for my texts as the default Messages app is a bit rubbish.

If I try to go to Messages on my Watch, I get the message 'Can't retrieve messages. Change your default messaging app to Messages?' and a tick or a cross. Tapping the tick tries to change the default text app on my phone to Messages and shows the messages screen on my Watch, including all of my texts. Whereas tapping the cross takes me straight to the messages screen on my Watch with all of my texts showing, which I can read, reply to, delete etc.

Is anyone else getting this? If it works for everyone, can Samsung update the Watch OS to just let us interact with our messages, without the error message, as it seems to work just fine without having to use Messages on my phone?

Thanks

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

Bsniz — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 23:03:10 GMT

I hope this isn't the case. I'm planning to buy a Galaxy Watch Active with my $130 credit from my Galaxy S10+ purchase. I'm using Google Android Messages as the messaging app on my phone because the default Samsung Messages app won't show SMS notifications on my Macbook Pro. But if using Android Messages means I won't get notifications for SMS on my Galaxy Watch Active, then I'll be in a pickle!

https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport/status/1110976336133132288

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

RDavid — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 09:12:12 GMT

The annoying thing is that everything works fine, even if you are not using the Samsung messaging app..

You do however get an error message on the watch saying that it can't retrieve the messages with a tick and a cross. However if you click on the cross everything works fine with a third-party messaging app.

It's really annoying that you have to click the cross every time to get to your messages there and I wish Samsung would get rid of this!

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

WakkaOwns — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 18:49:16 GMT

Hey there.

I found a solution. I use Google messages for my texts and was getting the annoying default message app warning.

I tried everything from resetting trying other apps, going through contacts as suggested and nothing worked.

However I installed the watchface "App Launcher GA" and it works now. The shortcut from the watchface itself seems to bypass the ***** warning .

Tell me if it worked for your text app.

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

Hershiibar — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 16:36:44 GMT

Thank you so much for this advice. I did just what you said, turned the watch off, turned it back on....and BOOM...I'm now receiving messages my messages from the TEXTRA app.

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

abeishter — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 01:06:28 GMT

I tried looking on the Watch faces section on my phone and there is no way to search. So I can't search there for the Launcher GA. I also went on the watch itself to the watch faces area to try to find that launcher and there is no search function there and that Launcher GA is definitely not in the first bunch of ones that I am scrolling through. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong spot to find this launcher you are talking about. Additionally, when you search on apps on the watch I do not see that one come up (and there when looking for a new app there IS a search function). Sp please let me kow where this Launcher app GA is and do you have to have it enabled? I am using textra on my Note 10+ and I also don't see anywhere in the textra app on the phone where to enable that it should send messages to the watch. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

WakkaOwns — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 20:17:45 GMT

Hey, you can search for it on the Galaxy wearable app like you search for other watchfaces.

Here's the direct link:

http://apps.samsung.com/gear/appDetail.as?appId=jvLua0eu6I

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

crystalslete — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 15:20:48 GMT

So I downloaded app launcher GA. Now how do I make my text app, which isn't the default one allow me to put it on my watch? Thanks

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

hman1970 — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 17:10:49 GMT

i tried that watch face and it did not work for me.

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

Rmkrishnan — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 20:32:07 GMT

Although I'm not able to initiate new messages on my watch through google messages app, I'm able get notifications, see the messages (including pictures) and reply to the messages from my watch.

If you are not getting notified on the watch, you will need to enable notifications for Google Messages in the Wear app on your phone.

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

Andrew636 — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:03:57 GMT

The AppLauncher is quite handy. This is a great thread, thanks for posting!

I downloaded the AppLauncher for Samsung Watch in the Google Playstore and installed it. I opened the App Launcher and at the top it has "Applications" - choose which apps you want on your phone - I use Google Messages, so I checked that one. Then I had to go back to the phone's settings, open Applications, make sure that I give Google Messages all Permissions. Then I opened Google Messages and tried to set it as Default App for messages - I kept clicking on the button, but it wouldn't do anything. So went back to Settings / Applications, opened Samsung Messages and used the Force Stop function (you can probably do this even before you start the whole process). It gave me a warning (ignored) and went back and opened Google Messages and was then able to set it as my default. Right after I did that, I got a text and it came through immediately on my watch in perfect format, no error messages.

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

Akaijones — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 22:45:56 GMT

Andrew - I tried to do as you said but when I go to App Launcher, there is not a choice for Google Messeges. There are two "Messages" shown but neither have Goolge in front of them. I guess I could try one to see if its Google but one would think that they would be labled Google Messeges Any further thoughts on this? Thanks.

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

Andrew636 — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 15:55:03 GMT

Yeah, it can be a bit confusing. For me, there are two message programs and you can only differentiate them by their logo. Google messages is the darker blue with the triangular call out box at the top left and three white horizontal lines in the blue box, Samsung is the lighter blue with three white dots in the box and the call out at the bottom. Good Luck!

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

BlueFalcon249 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:35:03 GMT

I have the s10plus and also use Google messages. I get notifications and can reply from my galaxy watch. Right now I'm looking how to makenit my default message app on my watch

Re: Galaxy Watch, default messaging app

Akaijones — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 23:38:33 GMT

Andrew, I cliked on both "messanges" shown in App Launcher but don't know how to get them to come up on my watch to see which one is Google Messenges. Any thoughts here? I haven't found much info on how to use App Launcher which I find somewhat amazing. I'm close to returning the watch until I can figure out how to do this.

I just wish Samsung would come forward and tell us that it is impossible or is possible to use Google Messenger on the watch and how to do it. I use it on my computer, my Samsung Pad, and Samsung phone but somehow, I can't use it on my watch. That doesn't make sense. Samsung, just tell us!!!