SIDELOAD LIBRARY
COMPATIBLE WITH WEAR OS 3
TESTED ON GALAXY WATCHES
All Smart Watches Can Probably Benefit From This Guide
Special thanks to everyone who has contributed to testing and providing feedback on various apps and versions. Thanks to you guys, this library remains up to date. I recommend disabling most permissions associated with these apps including notifications to prevent excess battery drain. Please post to this thread or PM me if you find any discrepancies. Enjoy!
COMPATIBLE WITH WEAR OS 3
TESTED ON GALAXY WATCHES
All Smart Watches Can Probably Benefit From This Guide
Special thanks to everyone who has contributed to testing and providing feedback on various apps and versions. Thanks to you guys, this library remains up to date. I recommend disabling most permissions associated with these apps including notifications to prevent excess battery drain. Please post to this thread or PM me if you find any discrepancies. Enjoy!
Official Google Assistant for Wear OS 3 now available!
Google GO v1.7 (ApkMirror): Lightweight Google browser that can perform quick Google searches or display quick search result answers (such as weather or definitions). Tapping a link will launch in default browser app due to watches not having WebView support. Need to lower DPI temporarily after installing to get past initial language selection screen (see below for instructions on how to do this).
Google Chrome for GW4 (XDA)(Google Drive): This version of Chrome is listed in the XDA Google Assistant for GW4 Mega-Thread. It works well Sideloaded but I'm not sure if it's just an older version or also modded to not crash on GW4.
Samsung browser is also a good option for default browser. In case you need it, here it is from ApkMirror: Samsung Internet Browser (Wear OS)
Messenger Lite v25 (ApkMirror): Very convenient app to have if you use Messenger often. This app gives you full Messenger functionality for your wrist. Period. Stick to low versions due to clutter in later versions makes it impossible to tap on chat bar to write a message. If you also use Messenger on phone, to avoid getting notifications from both apps, disable Messenger Lite notifications.
If you have issues getting past 2FA, try to login on watch and then go to your Facebook notifications on phone to approve unrecognized device. Next time you try to log in on watch it should skip the 2FA.
Facebook Messenger (Wear OS) (ApkMirror): Official Wear OS implementation for Messenger. This is not an application that can be launched directly. It functions as a bridge between watch and phone so when you receive a message, pressing the "open app" button on the watch side notification will launch a convenient conversation window designed for round screens to message back and forth. This only works with Messenger installed on phone when it syncs notifications with watch. Does not work with Messenger Lite.
Facebook Lite v39 (ApkMirror): Easy to use Facebook scrolling from your watch screen. Dark mode and quality options available in settings. For better visibility, in the Facebook Lite settings menu, set the font size option to small. This app also includes it's own Messenger interface built into it that can be used for sending and reading messages.
If you have issues getting past 2FA, try to login on watch and then go to your Facebook notifications on phone to approve unrecognized device. Next time you try to log in on watch it should skip the 2FA.
YouTube Go has been discontinued by Google. Applications no longer work.
Google News v5.7 (ApkMirror): This is the best News option available to Smart Watches and It looks good on small round screens. You can set dark mode and data saver by launching settings (upper right corner) and while in the settings menu (not before or you won't be able to access the settings menu), lower the DPI to 200 (see below on how to do this). You'll then be available to see and access all available settings. Reset your DPI when you're done prior to exiting settings menu to avoid UI jank.
Update 12/18/2022 - Due to previous uploaded version now requiring update to use, v5.7 is now the ONLY VERSION left that doesn't crash or force mandatory update to use.
Google Translator (Google Drive): This is the old Translator app that used to come installed on Google Wear OS watches.
Google Phone (Wear OS) (Google Drive)(ApkMirror): Google's own phone app used on other Wear OS watches isn't available to Galaxy Watches on the Play Store due to Samsung wanting us to use Samsung Phone I'd imagine. However, the app can be sideloaded and works perfectly. If you use Google Phone app on your phone then I suggest sideloading the app on your watch as well and setting it as your default phone app.
Due to the Pixel Watch version of Google Phone lacking functionality on Galaxy Watches, I linked the older Google Phone app. Does all the same things with a different UI. If you're interested in the Pixel Watch version of Google Phone, you can find it in the link below.
PIXEL WATCH VERSION - Phone By Google (Wear OS) (Buggy on Galaxy Watches)
Google Home v2.7.21.2 (ApkMirror): After extensive testing with various versions of the APK, I can confirm v2.7 is the best version currently for Galaxy Watches.
Official Google Home app now available on Wear OS Play Store as a pre-install.
UPDATE 12/11/2022: Currently, still only a preview version is out which doesn't include much functionality other than launching directly to phone. Not ready to write the workaround off yet.
Google Files (ApkMirror): Excellent file manager for your watch that includes an app manager, automatic junk removal, and cache cleaning. You will have to lower your DPI to dismiss the initial dialog upon installing the app.
Google Calendar (ApkMirror): There are plenty of calendar apps available for Wear OS that include syncing with Google Calendar. However, if you want the real deal, it does work on Galaxy Watches with any of the recent versions. It crashes a few times when you first launch it, but then it seems to work fine once it's cached making it not the most stable option. However, all features are functional and it doesn't look too bad either. Dark mode available in settings manually.
Wear Mail (Watch) (Phone): Standalone or companion email client designed for Wear OS that's available on the mobile Play Store but not Wear OS Play Store. Excellent functionality and UI that is pretty much the only email client for Wear OS that supports direct Gmail account linking and access. It does all basic email functions including composing, reading, archiving, deleting, syncing, and sending of emails in standalone or companion mode directly from watch. Must upgrade to premium version for full functionality. Reported that application doesn't work at all in free mode anymore. If you upgrade to premium and find it doesn't work, you can request an instant refund through the pay.google website.
2/20/2023: Confirmed application still functions normally despite last update in 2021.
Other Semi-Functional Wear Apps
Google Cloud Access Disabled
Wear Messages
Wear Photos
Wear Videos
Wear Calendar
Wear Documents
Here's a link I found on XDA of a Spotify version modded and adapted specifically for Wear OS. Have not tried: Click Here
GW4 Remap (Github): Button remapping for Galaxy Watches using Logcat. It can Remap both hardware keys to launch any application you want. There's a short delay between pressing and launching however. See link below for guide on using this. Despite the name, it does work on Galaxy Watch 5. Older version will launch over Samsung Pay instead of using logcat for button press which is instant but requires Samsung Pay remain installed and enabled. For watches without Samsung Pay pre-installed, see below for alternative option.
INSTALL GUIDE
Source: XDA / Github
SPayToGPay (XDA / Github): If you live in a region that doesn't have Samsung Pay, use this version to launch Google Pay using hardware key long press.
Discord v89.11 (ApkMirror): Not the best UI for round screens due to Discord's side swiping layout. However, works pretty good and just requires a little patience.NOTE: If you run into captcha or other login issues, check out the workaround HERE. To summarize, while your watch and phone are connected, log into Discord on the web to trigger captcha using phone. After verifying with phone, you should be able to log into Discord on watch without triggering a captcha verification.
Instagram Lite v200+ (ApkMirror): Old versions crash. It doesn't look the greatest but it's fully functional. The problem is that the bottom status bar covers 20-25% of the display with blank white space for some absurd reason. Unless you use Instagram often there's no reason to bother with this.
Any Custom Font Guide: We can use zFont 3 to install custom fonts. The Samsung Cloud procedure isn't required since there are no font restrictions on watch. Here's the steps to set a custom font on your watch:
- Download and install zFont 3 on phone HERE.
- Import your font file into zFont using their custom font wizard. Google Fonts is a giant open source option for custom fonts that can be downloaded in TTF or OTF format. Google Sans is not available in Google Fonts but a simple Google Search will locate it easily. I recommend Product Sans as an alternative.
- You'll need to install SamsungSans from Galaxy store. Most steps in application can be ignored since watches don't have the font restrictions that phones do and therefore don't require Samsung Cloud workaround. Start at the step that has you uninstall SamsungSans followed by installing CustomFontName(zFont 3).apk, STOP THERE. You're done with zFont.
- Once you have the custom font installed on phone, use a third party application or ADB command (GUIDE) to extract the .apk file to device storage. Once extracted, sideload it directly to your watch through any method you prefer. GeminiMan (see below) can extract the APK and sideload directly to watch and is the best method.
- Once sideloaded, from your watch go to Settings > Display > Font > CustomFontName. Done.
Google Sans Regular - DOWNLOAD
Google Sans Bold - DOWNLOAD
Product Sans Black - DOWNLOAD
The Google Sans fonts are under the name CircleRounded so you can only have bold or regular installed at 1 time. Product Sans is under the name SamsungSans.
Side Loading Applications
Below are a few applications designed specifically to streamline the ADB process for Wear OS so that even beginner's or non-tech savvy people can make use of sideloading applications, uninstalling bloatware, and sending commands to watch
• GeminiMan Wear OS Manager (Play Store): This is an extremely useful app by @Dante63. It's essentially an app that simplifies any ADB related function for your smart watch. It allows you to sideload or debloat apps by selecting from the list of installed apps or apk's directly. Also includes an interface for sending custom commands to watch with an option to save commands for quick access. I was able to debloat and sideload everything I wanted on a freshly installed Galaxy Watch 5 within 10 minutes thanks to this app. PM @Dante63 directly with questions, feedback, or suggestions. You can accomplish any ADB related operation to Wear OS using this app. It smartly includes a reinstall option if you debloat something you shouldn't have.
• Wear Installer 2 (Play Store): This is the easiest app available for sideloading apps to Wear OS. It dumbs it down to the point where you never have to enter a command since it doesn't have a manual command input. Also includes ability to modify the screen density so that you can get past the initial setup in some sideloaded apps. In my experience, this is the best and most stable app available when it comes to just sideloading.
• Bugjaeger (Play Store): This app is an all inclusive ADB app designed for Android devices. This is my go-to option for ADB operations on my phone. However, it can pair to Galaxy Watch 5 using the Wireless Debugging option with a six digit pairing code and port number. This application isn't easy to use like the first two options but includes more advanced operations. Free and premium version available in Play Store.
ADB COMMANDSChange DPI
wm density xxxDisplay Current DPI
wm densityReset DPI
wm density resetInstall App
-e install <filename.apk>Uninstall App
pm uninstall -k --user 0 <package_name>Reinstall Debloated System Apps
pm install-existing <package_name>Customize Font Size
settings put system font_scale x.xxAPK Version Selection
The best place to download various unmodified versions of any application is ApkMirror. Some APK versions have multiple variants available. Only architecture (Arch) "armeabi-v7a" is compatible with Galaxy Watches. If it's listed as "Universal" then the manifest includes support for all architectures but uses up more storage to compensate. The more modern "armabi-v8a" is not compatible with Galaxy Watches and will crash if you try to launch it. Older versions typically look and run better on smart watches due to less cluttering and memory usage. With smart watches, less is more.
Last updated on 2/29/2023
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