How do I set up a smartwatch?

To use your smartwatch, first connect your watch to your phone with the Wear OS app.

Important: The steps below are for Wear OS and may vary based on your manufacturer, device, and software version.

Before you start

• Charge your watch and phone.
• On your phone, turn on Bluetooth.
• Make sure your watch and phone are compatible.

Get the Wear OS app

You can find the Wear OS app in the Google Play Store.

Set up your watch for the first time

Set up a smartwatch with an Android phone

1. Turn on your watch.
2. On your phone, open Wear OS .
3. Tap Set it up.
4. On your watch, to choose a language and accept the terms of service, follow the on-screen instructions.
5. On your phone, follow the on-screen instructions until you find the name of your watch.
6. Tap the name of your watch.
   • If it's not there, try these steps.
7. You'll find a code on your phone and watch.
   • If the codes are the same: On your phone, tap Pair. This can take a few minutes.
   • If the codes are different: Restart your watch and try again. If the codes still don't match, try these troubleshooting steps.
8. To finish, follow the on-screen instructions.

Tip: When your device and watch successfully connect, you'll find "Connected" in the Wear OS app. When they're not, on your watch's screen, you'll find Disconnected .

If you've set up your watch before

Get more help

If you have trouble when you set up your watch, try these troubleshooting steps.

This guide covers the initial smartwatch setup process including how to customize your watch face and essential apps you should download. Instructions apply broadly to Apple Watches, Wear (formerly Android Wear), and all other smartwatch platforms.

Alissa Holland/Moment Mobile/Getty

How to Set Up a Smartwatch

Follow these steps to set up your smartwatch:

1. Connect the device to its included charger so that you start with a full battery.

2. Download the appropriate app to connect your smartwatch with your phone. For example, on Android watches, download the Wear app from the Google Play Store.

   The Apple Watch app is already installed on iPhones running iOS 8.2 or later.

3. Connect the smartwatch to your phone via Bluetooth. Enable Bluetooth on your phone, and you should see your smartwatch pop up as an available device. Select it to connect.

Customizing a Smartwatch

You can download a new watch face to add some more personality to your device. Watch faces are available from your watch's mobile app, but you can also get them from third-party apps like Facer. You can find a variety of faces, from analog designs to faces that display the current weather in addition to the time. Most smartwatch manufacturers also sell multiple straps, so if you get bored of the default option, you can buy a band that's steel, leather, or a different color.

Enable notifications on your watch to get messages and other incoming updates from your phone.

Must-Have Smartwatch Apps

Apart from text notifications and Google Now updates (for Wear users), apps dominate your smartwatch experience. You’ll find that many of your favorite apps are already compatible with smartwatches. For instance, Instagram works on the Apple Watch, while IFTTT and iHeartRadio are compatible with Wear. Google Play has a dedicated Wear section, and the App Store has an Apple Watch category. Pebble users can find compatible apps via the Pebble app on their phone.

If you need a few ideas to start you off, consider downloading a fitness app to track your workouts, a weather app, and a note-taking app like Evernote. Once you have some good apps, you can specify which notifications you want to receive on your smartwatch.