Samsung’s latest firmware update for the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, which introduced One UI 8 Watch (based on Wear OS 6) to the devices, has run into some serious trouble.
Shortly after the Korean giant rolled out the update (in early to mid-December), users began experiencing issues, including unusually fast battery drain and malfunctioning sensors.
A promising update that went sideways
Multiple user reports (via 9To5Google) indicate that heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and step counting are not working correctly or have stopped working altogether after installing the latest update.
Battery life, which is already a sensitive topic for older smartwatches, also took a significant hit, wherein the smartwatch failed to last an entire day after installing the update. As complaints about the firmware piled up, Samsung appears to have quietly paused the rollout.
The Galaxy Watch 4 is one of the most important devices in the company’s wearable lineup. It was the first smartwatch to fully embrace Wear OS, offering long-term software support as a key selling point. A buggy update, especially one that hinders the day-to-day functionalities, undermines the promise.
Furthermore, a halted update also signals that the issues weren’t isolated edge cases. If you own a Galaxy Watch 4 or the Watch 4 Classic, the issue directly affects your usage experience. A smartwatch that can’t track your heart rate or dies halfway through the day could quickly turn into an expensive and not-so-useful wrist accessory.
If you haven’t already installed the update, I’d suggest waiting a while, as this is one of the rare cases where hitting “install” could actually lead to trouble.
If you’ve already updated to the latest version, there are a couple of workarounds, such as clearing the cache, rebooting the smartwatch, or resetting the device to factory settings. Still, they won’t solve the issue entirely.
Samsung is expected to release a follow-up firmware update to address the issues, though there’s no official timeline yet.