I spent several DAYS getting this watch to work properly (and by properly, I mean rooted and with a new mod).
You DO NOT need an approved phone for this to work! This will allow your watch to work with virtually any phone.
All you need is a Windows PC (with Odin and the Samsung ADB drivers, although these may not be necessary...), your watch, the charging cradle, USB cord and Wondershare (although there are alternatives to this...).
Because I am a new user and can't submit links, this next part is going to SUCK for you:
Here are things to download:
There are several pitfalls that are introduced because of how OLD most of the information on here is.
First, when you turn on your watch, you may be wondering, how can I get into USB Debugging mode?
If you are stuck on a screen that is looking for a phone to connect to the device (and this may happen more than once during this process), then you need to know this VERY SIMPLE TRICK:
Press your finger over the area where the bottom of the screen is. An orange and black box should appear with some numbers/letters in it. Do this repeatedly. A LOT. Keep pressing it. Sometimes swipe up a little or down a little, it doesn't matter, just keep rubbing it like it was your lover. Before long (sometimes it takes a couple of minutes, seriously, do not give up), the phone will go to semi-normal operation.
This will allow you to go into the settings and hammer near the version area several times (unlocking developer mode), which on the previous screen will allow you to select for USB debugging.
I'm not sure why this trick is not explained very well elsewhere on these forums. Really, if you want pretty much zero functionality from the watch, you can stop here.
You may not have the "stock ROM" loaded on this watch. Fortunately, these are still easy to find. You want the BTU version if you are in the United States.
This step is important, because even if you do not NEED to do this, knowing how to do this may help you recover from a "soft brick", and get back on track.
This should get you the stock firmware rom loaded.
Here are some problems you may encounter during this phase:
When you connect the watch to the cradle, sometimes it shuts off or does something unintended. Make sure the cradle and usb are connected to the PC *before* trying to add the watch, rather than trying to plug the USB into the cradle once the watch is attached.
Odin may not "see" the watch as a device, or the installation process may not complete as desired.
MAKE SURE that Kies, Wondershare, ADB and all that other stuff is NOT RUNNING. By not running, I mean ctrl+alt+del and go to task manager in Windows and kill ALL instances of them, especially Wondershare. Do this before you think you got a bad image or something. This particular step gave me a headache for a while.
The watch should be booted with the regular firmware now. You may need to do that pressing trick on the main screen again to get it to do much else.
For installing the custom recovery ROM (this is NOT the custom ROM, but is needed and recommended to install null on your watch), you follow almost the same exact procedure as before.
EXCEPT,
1.) UNCLICK in the options for Odin "Auto Reboot"
2.) When you get to the part where you add the V700XXUAMK7 image file, instead, when you click "AP", add the Null TWRP file you downloaded previously.
After a successful install ,the watch will still be on the "downloading" screen. It is safe to restart it now, however, and you can hold the power button down and then press it a few times during the "Rebooting" phase to change to recovery mode.
If you did this right, after a brief Samsung Logo, you will see the Null TWRP screen which has several nice options on there for you.
Now, what you should do, since you know that it worked, is you need to ROOT THE DEVICE.
Don't worry about no Impactor stuff or any of that crap. If you're like me, it will not work. Don't worry about ADB or any of that either.
Use your free trial of Wondershare (or your alternative method), and add the SuperSU ZIP file to the ROOT DIRECTORY of your SD card. With Wondershare, you do this by opening Wondershare, and then connecting the device via USB. Remember what I say, put USB to PC, then to cradle, then add the watch.
Why come your Wondershare no see the watch? Make sure you did the trick on the home screen (pressing the stupid box a thousand times) to get into the Settings and enable Developer mode (keep clicking the version) and USB Debugging.
DO NOT BOOT THE WATCH INTO DOWNLOAD MODE! What are you doing?! Just open the watch up and run it regular so you can see the time, make sure USB Debugging mode is turned on, and Wondershare should see the watch. Still having problems? Try for install those drivers I linked at the top for Samsung devices. You may not need to do this.
You are STILL having problems?! Make sure no other process similar is running. No Odin. No ADB. No Kies. No Impactor. Nadda! Ctrl+alt+del and get rid of all those type processes. Then try it again.
Now, to finish the root.
Once the file is transfer over, disconnect the watch again, and reboot into recovery mode.
Go to install and select that SuperSU zip file, it will install right from the zip.
As an extra added measure, go down into the advanced options of TWRP, the recovery mode, and press on the "fix permissions". I don't know, maybe this does not help, but it does not hurt it either.
Restart the watch regular, run the SuperSU program from the "apps" section, and everything should look fine, and your watch is now rooted.
Power back down and go into recover mode again.
NOW, important! Go to TWRP again and go to BACKUP. Create a backup.
This backup is useful from this point so you can recover a fully working stock version that is rooted, because the next step may cause you a lot of frustration.
DO NOT GO TO SOURCEFORGE!!! F0mey has a page on there for the NULL ROM, and it is not even for the same device! It has version all the way to 27. It doesn't matter if you download the oldest version on there is almost 1GB and it is NOT THE CORRECT THING FOR THIS WATCH.
Do not waste your time! I kept flashing all kinds of bogus stuff on my watch trying to get it to work. Some other guy has a Galactus Mod. Don't bother! It will not work!
If you're sitting there trying to install some bogus ROM, and getting stuck in reboot mode and everything, just use that recovery you made and then come back to this thread when you have some sense in your head.
Go back to the top and get the REAL Null Rom 23. This is a mirror somebody found hosted by Kent. it is only about 300MB, not no 900MB file like the stuff on F0mey Sourceforge page.
How to install it?
Well, the same way you moved that SuperSU file over to the SD card with Wondershare, what you can do, is move the null rom over to the SD card using Wondershare. Just move the ZIP, same way as with the SuperSU. Do not open it! Once it is on the watch, this is the easy part, go into the recovery mode again, go to install, and install it.
You'll know it is correct because on the very first screen, it will say the device it is made for before it installs. The other roms say i398 or something, which is NOT THIS WATCH.
It will have all kinds of options you can tap on with your grubby finger. The recommended settings are fine, you may want to tick some of the Google stuff, like the Play Store.
Anyhow, now the whole thing will take a few minutes to install/flash onto your device.
When it starts to boot up, what is this?! It gets stuck in a loop! Galaxy logo, over and over!
No!!! After so much work! This can't be happening!!
Don't worry, this sound stupid, but just connect the watch to the cradle with the USB connected to the PC. Don't do anything else. For some reason, now it will work and boot fine and you'll be able to unplug it later and do what you like with it.
You will have to do the trick of rubbing the main screen again, with the orange and black box. Sorry, it takes forever, I know. Don't give up. Once you are done, you can connect it with your phone or whatever device.
Make sure to turn on Bluetooth on your phone, and you should be able to see the device (if not play with the bluetooth settings on the watch). Pair the devices, which requires tapping something on both screens.
Most likely, your phone also has an option under "hotspots and tethering" to allow bluetooth sharing of the internet with the watch. Once you enable that, go to the watch, and go to the bluetooth settings where the phone is connected to it, there is options in there for internet sharing with the device over bluetooth (just enable it, it is an on/off toggle).
What did I forget? This is only version 0.01 of this tutorial for you. If you need some more advices, you can write me. I may not check often, but that is life. You can find my email probably from my profile, also.
You DO NOT need an approved phone for this to work! This will allow your watch to work with virtually any phone.
All you need is a Windows PC (with Odin and the Samsung ADB drivers, although these may not be necessary...), your watch, the charging cradle, USB cord and Wondershare (although there are alternatives to this...).
Because I am a new user and can't submit links, this next part is going to SUCK for you:
Here are things to download:
- Samsung ADB Drivers - Google!
- The Latest Version of Odin - Google!
- Wondershare MobileGo for Andoid - Google it!
- V700XXUAMK7 Firmware (Build Date: 13.11.2013 -> Region: BTU (United Kingdom) PDA: V700XXUAMK7 Changelist: 2124806 Android: 4.2.2 ) - Easy to Google
- Null TWRP (You can find on this forum)
- SuperSU ZIP FILE (Do not open) - (Google for "SuperSU Flashable Zip" )
- THE REAL NULL ROM 23!!!! Working as of 1/10/2017 - THANKS TO dbest1010
There are several pitfalls that are introduced because of how OLD most of the information on here is.
First, when you turn on your watch, you may be wondering, how can I get into USB Debugging mode?
If you are stuck on a screen that is looking for a phone to connect to the device (and this may happen more than once during this process), then you need to know this VERY SIMPLE TRICK:
Press your finger over the area where the bottom of the screen is. An orange and black box should appear with some numbers/letters in it. Do this repeatedly. A LOT. Keep pressing it. Sometimes swipe up a little or down a little, it doesn't matter, just keep rubbing it like it was your lover. Before long (sometimes it takes a couple of minutes, seriously, do not give up), the phone will go to semi-normal operation.
This will allow you to go into the settings and hammer near the version area several times (unlocking developer mode), which on the previous screen will allow you to select for USB debugging.
I'm not sure why this trick is not explained very well elsewhere on these forums. Really, if you want pretty much zero functionality from the watch, you can stop here.
You may not have the "stock ROM" loaded on this watch. Fortunately, these are still easy to find. You want the BTU version if you are in the United States.
This step is important, because even if you do not NEED to do this, knowing how to do this may help you recover from a "soft brick", and get back on track.
- Put the watch into Download Mode.
- To do this, hold the power button until the "Rebooting" menu appears.
- Now, press the power button several times (4 or more)
- A new menu appears, use the power button to move down to "Download"
- Hold power button for 3 seconds, then release it
- Download mode will appear
- Connect the USB to your PC, then the cradle, then add the watch to the cradle
- Open Odin
- Leave everything as normal, and click on "AP"
- Select the V700XXUAMK7 file/image
- Run the process
This should get you the stock firmware rom loaded.
Here are some problems you may encounter during this phase:
When you connect the watch to the cradle, sometimes it shuts off or does something unintended. Make sure the cradle and usb are connected to the PC *before* trying to add the watch, rather than trying to plug the USB into the cradle once the watch is attached.
Odin may not "see" the watch as a device, or the installation process may not complete as desired.
MAKE SURE that Kies, Wondershare, ADB and all that other stuff is NOT RUNNING. By not running, I mean ctrl+alt+del and go to task manager in Windows and kill ALL instances of them, especially Wondershare. Do this before you think you got a bad image or something. This particular step gave me a headache for a while.
The watch should be booted with the regular firmware now. You may need to do that pressing trick on the main screen again to get it to do much else.
For installing the custom recovery ROM (this is NOT the custom ROM, but is needed and recommended to install null on your watch), you follow almost the same exact procedure as before.
EXCEPT,
1.) UNCLICK in the options for Odin "Auto Reboot"
2.) When you get to the part where you add the V700XXUAMK7 image file, instead, when you click "AP", add the Null TWRP file you downloaded previously.
After a successful install ,the watch will still be on the "downloading" screen. It is safe to restart it now, however, and you can hold the power button down and then press it a few times during the "Rebooting" phase to change to recovery mode.
If you did this right, after a brief Samsung Logo, you will see the Null TWRP screen which has several nice options on there for you.
Now, what you should do, since you know that it worked, is you need to ROOT THE DEVICE.
Don't worry about no Impactor stuff or any of that crap. If you're like me, it will not work. Don't worry about ADB or any of that either.
Use your free trial of Wondershare (or your alternative method), and add the SuperSU ZIP file to the ROOT DIRECTORY of your SD card. With Wondershare, you do this by opening Wondershare, and then connecting the device via USB. Remember what I say, put USB to PC, then to cradle, then add the watch.
Why come your Wondershare no see the watch? Make sure you did the trick on the home screen (pressing the stupid box a thousand times) to get into the Settings and enable Developer mode (keep clicking the version) and USB Debugging.
DO NOT BOOT THE WATCH INTO DOWNLOAD MODE! What are you doing?! Just open the watch up and run it regular so you can see the time, make sure USB Debugging mode is turned on, and Wondershare should see the watch. Still having problems? Try for install those drivers I linked at the top for Samsung devices. You may not need to do this.
You are STILL having problems?! Make sure no other process similar is running. No Odin. No ADB. No Kies. No Impactor. Nadda! Ctrl+alt+del and get rid of all those type processes. Then try it again.
Now, to finish the root.
Once the file is transfer over, disconnect the watch again, and reboot into recovery mode.
Go to install and select that SuperSU zip file, it will install right from the zip.
As an extra added measure, go down into the advanced options of TWRP, the recovery mode, and press on the "fix permissions". I don't know, maybe this does not help, but it does not hurt it either.
Restart the watch regular, run the SuperSU program from the "apps" section, and everything should look fine, and your watch is now rooted.
Power back down and go into recover mode again.
NOW, important! Go to TWRP again and go to BACKUP. Create a backup.
This backup is useful from this point so you can recover a fully working stock version that is rooted, because the next step may cause you a lot of frustration.
DO NOT GO TO SOURCEFORGE!!! F0mey has a page on there for the NULL ROM, and it is not even for the same device! It has version all the way to 27. It doesn't matter if you download the oldest version on there is almost 1GB and it is NOT THE CORRECT THING FOR THIS WATCH.
Do not waste your time! I kept flashing all kinds of bogus stuff on my watch trying to get it to work. Some other guy has a Galactus Mod. Don't bother! It will not work!
If you're sitting there trying to install some bogus ROM, and getting stuck in reboot mode and everything, just use that recovery you made and then come back to this thread when you have some sense in your head.
Go back to the top and get the REAL Null Rom 23. This is a mirror somebody found hosted by Kent. it is only about 300MB, not no 900MB file like the stuff on F0mey Sourceforge page.
How to install it?
Well, the same way you moved that SuperSU file over to the SD card with Wondershare, what you can do, is move the null rom over to the SD card using Wondershare. Just move the ZIP, same way as with the SuperSU. Do not open it! Once it is on the watch, this is the easy part, go into the recovery mode again, go to install, and install it.
You'll know it is correct because on the very first screen, it will say the device it is made for before it installs. The other roms say i398 or something, which is NOT THIS WATCH.
It will have all kinds of options you can tap on with your grubby finger. The recommended settings are fine, you may want to tick some of the Google stuff, like the Play Store.
Anyhow, now the whole thing will take a few minutes to install/flash onto your device.
When it starts to boot up, what is this?! It gets stuck in a loop! Galaxy logo, over and over!
No!!! After so much work! This can't be happening!!
Don't worry, this sound stupid, but just connect the watch to the cradle with the USB connected to the PC. Don't do anything else. For some reason, now it will work and boot fine and you'll be able to unplug it later and do what you like with it.
You will have to do the trick of rubbing the main screen again, with the orange and black box. Sorry, it takes forever, I know. Don't give up. Once you are done, you can connect it with your phone or whatever device.
Make sure to turn on Bluetooth on your phone, and you should be able to see the device (if not play with the bluetooth settings on the watch). Pair the devices, which requires tapping something on both screens.
Most likely, your phone also has an option under "hotspots and tethering" to allow bluetooth sharing of the internet with the watch. Once you enable that, go to the watch, and go to the bluetooth settings where the phone is connected to it, there is options in there for internet sharing with the device over bluetooth (just enable it, it is an on/off toggle).
What did I forget? This is only version 0.01 of this tutorial for you. If you need some more advices, you can write me. I may not check often, but that is life. You can find my email probably from my profile, also.
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