Galaxy Watch Active 2 not working after swimming.

[FrankieJ13]

Here in 2022 and now have a nonfunctioning Galaxy Watch Active 2 after swimming. I set water lock mode before, but now the watch does not seem to do anything.  I thought the watch active 2 was waterproof.  I have now checked several message boards here and Reddit and see many others with dead watches after swimming. Is this official? The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is not waterproof even after water lock mode is enabled.

[NMKOtt]

My SM R825F Active 2 LTE also suffered a death by just swimming for a few minutes in a pool while at Cancun last week.

I had the wet protection turned on. After the swim in the pool I noticed I wasn't able to take it out of the wet mode. At first I thought it was just a fluke and my fingers were wet, but after a few hours of drying it and me out I noticed that it was stuck and the screen was not responsive and I wasn't able to turn off the watch. 

The screen was starting to have weird effects.

I used a blow dryer to carefully dry it.

After letting it sit overnight the screen completely died and so did the watch . (No longer responsive to the buttons). I kind of assumed or hoped that the battery had been deleted. (To avoid additional corrosion)

I waited till I just got back a few days later. Didn't plug it in.

I fully disassembled the watch and I noticed a couple of small wetness spots in a couple of places. I wasn't able to spot any corrosion though. I drive everything and tried cleaning using electronic cleaning solution.

After reassembly and putting it back onto the charger, it is continuing to refuse to turn on or make any vibrations.

I assume it has fully died. Not sure if it is the screen or the main board. Most likely the main board (since it makes no vibrations) or it could also be the screen.

I managed to pick up another used non LTE unit today which I'm wearing now and will be very careful with it.

It is my favorite watch as I did not like the watch 4 or the watch 5 due to poor battery life.

I'm not sure how a waterproof watch can die while swimming

[Littlexkitten]

Same for me too. Had the lock on (Galaxy active 2) and it ejected water on its own and stayed in a reboot cycle and now won't turn on at all. I rely on it to check my stress and heart rate due to my anxiety. Can anyone help me asap thanks x

[SALDE56]

It has a swimming tracking feature that is supposed to lock the watch when you turn it on before swimming.

The problem is that the function doesn't always work as it is intended to.

[SALDE56]

You are correct. I have had two that the swim feature lasted for 6 or more months, swimming quite often.

I'm going to have to spend more for a smart watch that is higher rated for swimming.

[NMKOtt]

Hi

You are likely misunderstanding the point of the swim lock.

The swim lock locks the screen in order not to get phantom touches while swimming.

It is not meant to be a physical lock to prevent from water seepage . Seem like these watches are not fully sealed. I've had two die on me so far. Now onto my 3rd but avoid getting in the water with it at all cost.

[Csaba B]

I also just got a Galaxy Watch Active 2. Wanted to use it for swimming. It looked good for 10 min and than it died suddenly. Now it is in a reboot cycle. I have seen videos on youtube other people had the same issue. 

I feel it's really irresponsible from Samsung to keep selling the watch as a swim capable device. They should remove this function from their advertisement. This watch is not waterproof at all.

[HeidiClaus]

So disappointing.

I've just been able to start swimming again, and I actually researched it last night before trying it out, checked that my watch was one that was OK for swimming. I set it on swimming exercise, saw the water lock go on, got out of the pool, noticed a blank screen, thought, OK, that must be what happens. I rinsed in fresh water, dried the watch, tried to press buttons to wake up the watch... nothing. Checked my phone app.... not connected.

Went home, praying that it had actually just run out of battery life while I was swimming, tried to charge... nothing.

It's now sitting in a tub of rice, but I'm not hopeful.

It really is so misleading to advertise that the watch can be used for swimming, to have swimming modes and swimming as an exercise - both swimming (pool) and swimming (outdoors), and that be a recipe for killing your watch, forcing you to buy a new one.

Misleading, false advertising and irresponsible.

Everything I have is Samsung, TV, Phone, Watch, I'm so pissed off, I need a new phone right now, maybe it's time to try Apple.

[SALDE56]

Better option is to spend a little more for a true waterproof smart watch that allows you to record swimming as all other exercising activities.

[chiarap_13]

Yesterday I went for a swim with my watch on, I turned on the water resistance mode on. While swimming I noticed the screen went black, the watch went completely dead. It won't charge or do anything at all. I am just shocked because I've had it for 3 years by now and everytime I went swimming, it was just fine.

[Gav101010]

(In 2024 it was a friends watch in perfect condition they just got a new one) I have reached this forum for the same reason I dissided to try and swim with it to track my progress but now my tuch screen keeps clicking its self and the screen is not responding.