Press and hold the power button until the Samsung logo appears
To turn on your Samsung watch, press and hold the power button on the side of the watch for about three to five seconds. The power button is usually located on the right side of the case. You will see the Samsung logo appear on the screen, followed by a startup animation.
The watch will then display the time and connect to your phone if Bluetooth is enabled on both devices. This process takes about 30 seconds from the moment you press the button. If nothing happens after holding the button for ten seconds, the battery may be completely drained and you will need to charge the watch first.
Key Takeaways
- The power button is on the right side of the watch case and must be held for three to five seconds to turn on the device.
- A drained battery will prevent the watch from powering on, so charge it for at least 15 minutes before trying again.
- The watch will attempt to reconnect to your phone automatically once it powers on if both devices have Bluetooth enabled.
- If the watch turns on but the screen is very dim, swipe down from the top to check brightness settings rather than assuming it failed to start.
Charge the watch if the power button does not respond
If you press and hold the power button and nothing happens, the battery is likely empty. Samsung watches ship with some charge but may have drained during storage or shipping. Connect the watch to its charging dock or wireless charger and leave it plugged in for at least 15 minutes before trying to power it on again.
Most Samsung watches use a magnetic charging dock that snaps onto the back of the watch. The charging indicator light will turn on when the watch is properly seated on the charger. Once you see the light, wait at least 15 to 20 minutes before attempting to turn on the watch again.
Check the screen brightness if the watch powers on but appears dark
Sometimes the watch turns on but the screen looks completely black or very dim. This does not mean the watch failed to start. Swipe down from the top of the screen with one finger to open the quick settings menu. Look for a brightness icon and drag the slider to the right to increase brightness.
If you cannot see the screen well enough to swipe, try pressing the power button once to wake the screen, then swipe down. The watch may have been set to a very low brightness level or may have activated an always-on display mode that shows minimal information. Increasing brightness should reveal the full watch face and interface.
Restart the watch if it turns on but freezes or does not respond
If the watch powers on but the screen freezes or does not respond to taps and swipes, perform a restart. Press and hold the power button for about ten seconds until you see a power menu appear on the screen. Tap "Restart" or "Power off" depending on what options appear, then wait for the watch to shut down completely.
Once the screen goes black, wait five seconds and then press and hold the power button again to turn the watch back on. This clears temporary software issues that can cause the watch to become unresponsive. A restart usually takes about one minute from start to finish.
Pair the watch with your phone after turning it on
When you turn on a Samsung watch for the first time, it will prompt you to pair it with your phone. Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone and follow the on-screen instructions. The watch and phone will exchange information over Bluetooth, which usually takes two to three minutes.
If the watch does not automatically prompt you to pair, open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone and tap "Start setup" or "Add device." Select your watch model from the list and follow the pairing steps. Once paired, the watch will receive notifications, messages, and calls from your phone, and you can install apps directly to the watch from the phone app.
Reset the watch to factory settings if it will not turn on after charging
If the watch still will not turn on after charging for 30 minutes, try a factory reset. Press and hold both the power button and the back button (usually on the left side) for about ten seconds. The watch will vibrate and display a reset menu. Select "Yes" or "Confirm" to erase all data and restore the watch to its original state.
A factory reset will remove all apps, settings, and personal data from the watch. After the reset completes, the watch will restart and you can set it up again from the beginning. This step should only be done if the watch truly will not power on through normal means, because it erases everything on the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a Samsung watch to turn on?
From the moment you press the power button, the watch takes about 30 seconds to fully boot up and display the home screen. The Samsung logo will appear first, followed by a loading animation. If it takes longer than one minute, the device may be frozen and you should try restarting it.
What should I do if the watch vibrates but the screen stays black?
The watch is likely on but the screen brightness is set to zero or the display is in a low-power mode. Swipe down from the top of the screen to access brightness settings and increase the slider. If you still cannot see anything, try pressing the power button once to wake the screen, then swipe down again.
Can I turn on the watch without the charging dock?
Yes, the power button works whether the watch is on the charger or off it. However, if the battery is completely drained, you must charge the watch first before it will respond to the power button. Once it has at least 5 to 10 percent charge, the power button will work.
Why does my watch turn on but then turn off when ready?
The battery may be too low to keep the watch running. Put it on the charger for at least 30 minutes and try again. If it continues to shut off after charging, the battery may be failing and the watch may need service or replacement.