Issue
When you try to connect your Samsung Gear Fit 2 sports band to a smartphone that has less than 1.5GB of RAM for the first time, you are in for a nasty surprise; although you can find and install Galaxy Wearable application from Google Play store onto your device, it will be unable to successfully connect your smartphone and the Gear Fit 2.
If you try to connect your Gear Fit 2 to your device manually, that is directly from phone’s bluetooth settings, the phone is able to find Gear Fit 2 and even initiates the pairing process together with the “Confirm passkey xxxxxx to pair with Gear Fit 2.” message. After you confirm the bluetooth pairing request, a “setting up…” text is displayed on your Gear Fit 2 watch but the process doesn’t succeed. The connecting process between the smartphone and Gear Fit 2 needs to be performed from within the Galaxy Wearable app in order to be successfully completed.
The reason why Galaxy Wearable app is unable to find and pair the Gear Fit 2 with devices that have less than 1.5GB of RAM is the Galaxy Wearable app itself; the developers at Samsung enforced a minimum RAM requirement check into the app. When Galaxy Wearable app is run on the devices that have less than 1.5GB of RAM, it is only able to find and pair with Samsung accessories such as Gear Triathlon S/M, Gear IconX R/L and Gear Circle but not the Gear Fit 2.
Why did developers at Samsung impose such a limit is beyond my knowledge, since I am able to successfully connect and use Gear Fit 2 with Sony Xperia T3 smartphone (Android 4.4.4, 1GB RAM) by utilising a modified Galaxy Wearable app (I have removed the minimum RAM requirement check from the app). I have contacted Samsung on this matter, but up until this moment, I am still waiting for a more technical response, in comparison to the generic one I received, that can be seen below:
“…In order to proper functionality the Gear Fit 2 with all the purpose it was manufactured for, there are some set of requirement standards set for any phone/ Gear watch. For efficient performance the phone needs particular requirements…”
I suspect the reason for their decision is they have encountered some performance issues on some of less capable smartphones during the testing phase and decided to drop support for the mentioned devices altogether to prevent potential complaints from customers.
Solution
I was able to disable the minimum RAM requirement check from the Galaxy Wearable app and thus make it work on whole range of Android smartphones that have less than 1.5GB of RAM. This was accomplished by decompiling the Galaxy Wearable apk, modifying the rules.xml file (adding hostMinMemory=”0″ syntax), recompiling and re-signing it.
Beside the Galaxy Wearable app, Gear Fit 2 also requires two additional apps to be installed on the smartphone in order to connect and function as intended; Samsung Accessory Service and Gear Fit 2 plugin. These apps also had to be re-signed, since they wouldn’t install successfully if downloaded directly from Google Play Store, when there is a re-signed Galaxy Wearable app installed on the system.
I would like to point out that the integrity of the Galaxy Wearable app wasn’t compromised in any way since I didn’t do any other changes, beside disabling the minimum RAM requirement check before it initiates the pairing process.
Modified app works the same as the one downloaded from the Google Play store.
Compatible devices
The modified Galaxy Wearable app should work on a whole range of Android smartphones (Android 4.4 Kitkat, 5.x Lollipop, 6.x Marshmallow, 7.x Nougat). Please note that synchronization with Samsung Health / S-Health app will not work with modified Galaxy Wearable app (click here for more information). For Samsung phones ROOT is required.
Below is the list of devices that are known to be working with the modified Galaxy Wearable app and Samsung Gear Fit 2 sports band:
- Acer Liquid Z520 (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- Acer Liquid Z410 (Android 4.4.4, 1GB RAM)
- Archos 50 Platinum 4G (Android 6.0, 1GB RAM)
- ASUS ZenPad P008 TABLET (Android 6.0, 2GB RAM)
- AT&T ZTE Maven 3 (Android 7.1, 1GB RAM)
- BQ Aquaris A4.5 (Android 6.0, 1GB RAM)
- CAT B15Q (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- CAT S30 (Android 5.1, 1GB RAM)
- Crosscall TREKKER X2 (Android 4.4, 1GB RAM)
- Goclever Quantum II 500N (Android 6.0, 1GB RAM)
- HTC Desire 601 (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- HTC Desire 626g (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- HTC One Mini 2 (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- Huawei Ascend G620s (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- Huawei y635 (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- Lenovo A6000 (Android 4.4.4, 1GB RAM)
- LG K4 2017 (Android 6.0.1, 1GB RAM)
- LG Spirit (Android 5.0.1, 1GB RAM)
- LG Leon H340n (Android 6.0, 1GB RAM)
- LG G3 S / LG G3 Beat (Android 5.0.2, 1GB RAM)
- LG Tribute 5 (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- LG V20 (Android 7.0, 4GB RAM)
- LG Volt LS740 (Android 4.4.2, 1GB RAM)
- Motorola Moto E XT1021 (Android 5.1, 1GB RAM)
- Motorola Moto E3 (Android 6.0, 1GB RAM)
- Motorola Moto G XT1032 (Android 5.1, 1GB RAM)
- Motorola Moto G 1st Generation (Android 5.1, 1GB RAM)
- Motorola Moto G2 XT1068 (Android 4.4.4/6.0, 1GB RAM)
- Motorola Moto G3 (Android 6.0, 1GB RAM)
- Samsung Galaxy Core Prime SM-G360F (Android 5.0.2, 1GB RAM) *needs root
- Samsung Grand Prime SM-G530FZ (Android 5.0.2, 1GB RAM) *needs root
- Samsung Grand Prime SM-G531H (Android 5.1, 1GB RAM) *needs root
- Sony Xperia C3 D2533 (Android 5.0.2, 1GB RAM)
- Sony Xperia T3 (Stock Android 4.4.4, 1GB RAM)
- Vodafone Smart prime 6 (Android 5.0.2, 1GB RAM)
- Wiko Rainbow Jam (Android 5.1, 1GB RAM)
- ZTE maven Z812 (Android 5.1, 1GB RAM)
*The list will expand as more compatible devices are reported by users.
*Synchronization with Samsung Health / S-Health app doesn’t work
Workout and lifestyle data from the Gear Fit 2 doesn’t show in Samsung Health app on the smartphone. Reason for this is that Samsung Health app checks signature of Gear Fit Plugin and refuses to sync or exchange data with it, because it wasn’t signed by Samsung. On non-rooted phones only workaround is to use other exercise tracking apps such as Endomondo, MapMyRun or Under Armour Record for Gear Fit 2. Mentioned apps are currently only able to transfer limited exercise data from Gear Fit 2 to Samsung Health app, such as workout start/stop time, distance, sport type and calories.
On rooted phones there is a possibility to install an un-modified Galaxy Wearable, Gear Fit Plugin, Samsung Accessory Service and Samsung Health from Play Store (Or Galaxy apps store on Samsung phones), starting the Galaxy Wearable app, rebooting the phone and then going to \data\data\com.samsung.android.app.watchmanager\files\ directory with File manager that has root access (in ES File Explorer go to Settings, Tools and turn on “Root Explorer”) and manually editing (adding hostMinMemory=”0″ syntax) rules.xml file (Open it with Es Notes Editor). By using original apps signed by Samsung, sync with Samsung Health works as intended. Do not forget to turn off Auto update for Galaxy Wearable app afterwards, otherwise it will overwrite rules.xml file with an original version on every app update.
Connecting to Samsung Gear Fit 2
Please follow the steps below carefully and in the exact order to successfully connect the Gear Fit 2 to your smartphone. Do not attempt to skip any step.
1. Remove existing Samsung apps
If you have installed Galaxy Wearable app from Google Play Store you will need to remove it in order to install modified Galaxy Wearable app. Go to Settings -> Application Manager / Apps -> All and search for Galaxy Wearable, Gear Fit Plugin and Samsung Accessory Service. If any of the mentioned apps is found, it needs to be removed / uninstalled. Restart your smartphone after the uninstall.
2. Unpair Gear Fit 2
Go to Settings -> Bluetooth and look under the Paired Devices. If Gear Fit 2 is listed under the Paired Devices, you will need to un-pair it.
3. Allow installation of apps from unknown sources
Go to Settings -> Security and make sure that there is a check-mark next to “Unknown sources”. This will allow installation of modified Galaxy Wearable app.
4. Download the modified Galaxy Wearable app
Click on the link below to download the modified Galaxy Wearable app, re-signed Gear Fit Plugin and re-signed Samsung Accessory Service. All three apps are packed in a compressed .zip package. Download the .zip file to your computer, unzip or extract it and then transfer apps (.apk files) to your smartphone. In case you don’t have access to a computer, you can download .zip file directly from the browser on your smartphone and then use File manager to extract apps.
- Galaxy Wearable+Fit2 Plugin+Accessory Service .zip file (Updated: 9 Dec 2019 | Downloaded 2189 times)
*File is hosted on Dropbox. If link doesnt’t work, please contact me at info@getgui.com
*These apps will only work with Samsung Gear Fit2 and Gear Fit2 Pro. If you require apps for Samsung Gear S2 / S3 / Sport click here.
5. Install apps to your smartphone
Use a File manager app to browse for the transferred apps (if you downloaded .zip file directly from smartphone, it should reside in the “Download” folder in internal memory or SD card). Tap on each of the three apps to install it. Accept all required permissions during installation.
6. Preparing Samsung Gear Fit 2 for connection
Restart your smartphone and make sure Bluetooth is turned on before attempting the connection. Make sure your Gear Fit 2 is turned on and in “discovery mode”, the text “Install Galaxy Wearable on your phone.” should be displayed, as seen on the picture below. If something else is displayed on screen of your Gear Fit 2, you will need to reset it, by pressing “Home button”, tapping on the “Settings” icon -> Gear info -> Reset Gear. Or in case when Gear Fit 2 was connected to another smartphone, by pressing “Home button”, tapping on the “Settings” icon -> Connect to new phone.
7. Connecting Samsung Gear Fit 2 using modified Galaxy Wearable app
Open the installed Galaxy Wearable app, tap on the “Connect to Gear” button and wait a bit for the phone to find the Gear Fit 2. If it doesn’t find it the first time, repeat the step. After the Gear Fit 2 is found, tap on the “Gear Fit 2” text, wait for the Bluetooth pairing request and confirm the pair. Also make sure that you allow or confirm any further permission requests. If all went well, your Gear Fit 2 should now be successfully connected to your smartphone.
8. Provide feedback to help the community
If you would like to help other fellow Gear Fit 2 owners who are unable to connect it to their smartphone, please provide some feedback (model of your smartphone, version of Android, possible issues) in the comments below or via email to info@getgui.com. If the modified Galaxy Wearable app works on your smartphone, it will be added to the list of compatible devices, otherwise we will try to find a solution together.
If you have found this blog post useful and would like to buy me a cup of coffee, please click here :)
Thank you soooo much. GREAT JOB DUDE.
You are welcome Nik.
Could you please write the model of your smartphone and the version of Android you are running, so I can add it to the list of confirmed devices.
Thanks for taking the time to develop this wonderful apk. However, it doesn’t work for me and I would appreciate it if you could help me. It gets stuck on the connecting to Gear menu and a message saying the Gear Fit Plugin has stopped pops up repeatedly. I’m using an Alcatel Ideal if that helps. Thanks for the help!
Hi Jeff,
did you remove original apks from Samsung before installing modified apks from this blog?
What is the firmware version on your Gear Fit2 watch? To check it, go to Settings->Gear Info->About device->Software version
Thank you so much !!!
Works perfectly on an ACER liquid Z520.
Android 4.4.2.
Good job !
Patrice thank you for your feedback, I will add your device to the list.
Huawei y635
Thank you for the feedback, your smartphone was added to the list.
Hello Simon,
Thank you for this solution, I use an LG Leon H340n (1GB RAM) with Android 6.0, and it’s working ALMOST perfectly. (I guess it has to do with the Android version that it’s only a half-solution for me.)
The Gear app works properly, I can install watch faces and apps, notifications are displayed on the watch, the connection is stable, but sadly I cannot sync my watch with Samsung Health. It says “Syncing with Gear Fit2…” than after a couple of seconds “Syncing. This may take some time. Please wait…” than syncing stops and absolutely nothing gets transfered between the watch and the S Health app. Do you have any advice on what I could do to make it work other than downgrading to Android 5.0? (I already deleted all data for S Health, and set it up anew, also reset the watch a second time, but nothing has changed.)
Hi. I have the same problem.
Me and zsocipuszmak are actively working on a solution to this issue. When the mentioned issue is resolved, I will add instructions to this post, please check back regularly.
UPDATE 16.06.2017:
On non-rooted phones there is no possibility to sync Gear Fit2 with Samsung Health using modified apps, since the Samsung Health checks signature of Gear Fit Plugin and refuses to exchange data with it, because it wasn’t signed by Samsung.
Hi, is there an alternative to S Health that will actually work?
Hello Ozzy,
currently there is no alternative app that would replace S Health.
Only way to make the Gear Fit2 sync to S Health is to use original versions of apps from Play Store and manually modify rules.xml file on your phone, but the phone needs to be rooted in order to do this.
For syncing exercise data directly to Strava you could use a app/watchface called Sporty Watch available on Galaxy Apps for 3 USD. http://www.qooapps.com/sporty-watch.html
For syncing exercise data directly to Endomondo you could use the Endomondo app for Gear Fit2.
Really, Thank You So Much. I was unable to use my gear fit 2 until now. You saved my phone and my smart band.
I want to add a little trick. At least in Xperia C3, You can connect both bluetooth headphone and gear fit 2 at the same time. First, connect gear fit 2 to the phone. Second, connect bluetooth headphone to the phone. Now you can listen to music and control it directly from the smart band.
You are welcome and thank you for the tip.
Wow – great help! Really appreciate your work! Works now on my WIKO JAINBOW JAM Android5.1
You are welcome, thank you for the feedback.
Trying to get Gear to work for the Gear S3 on an LG L41C (1 G RAM). o far no luck, any thoughts?
Molly I have sent you an email with the link to the modified apps, they should work with Gear S3
Thank you so much! Unfortunately, I still can’t get it to work. 🙁 The S3 plugin and accessory service will install, but the Gear watch manager will not. I can install the modified Gear v 2.2 you have linked on the blog, and tried it in conjunction with the modified S3 plugin and accessory service you sent, but it cannot find the watch. I have noticed that despite several attempts at all possible installation configurations, google play has never detected the modified apps.
Molly you are right, I have tested the modified Gear v2.2 in Android emulator and it also failed to install. I have now sent you the link to new files.
Google Play doesn’t detect the modified apps because they were re-signed by me. It would only detect if it were original packages signed by Samsung.
The newly signed version works perfectly! I can’t thank you enough-you are awesome! 🙂
You are welcome:)
It works well with Goclever Quantum II 500N
Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you so much for your effort in sharing this for anyone to use.
It works great on the LG G3 S (or G3 Beat in other countries).
It seems this step in your instructions is now not needed (well not on my phone anyway) …. “After the installation, go to Play Store -> My apps & games -> INSTALLED, tap on each of the three installed apps, tap on the three dots”
You are welcome, thank you for your feedback.
Worked like a charm for my Moto G 3 (8GB). Thank you SO much. I was about to return my gear fit 2 until I found this.
You are welcome, thank you for your feedback.
Worked great on HTC Desire 626g, but a now the the smarphone says “gear fir plugin stopped” when I try to open the Gear App. Do you have any idea why it doesn´t work anymore? I already installed it new. Maybe an update for the gear is the problem?
Hello Jessica,
can you tell me more about the issue, did Gear Fit Plugin started crashing after updating Gear Fit2 to the latest version?
Can you report the version of the firmware on your Gear Fit2 – Go to Settings -> Gear Info -> About device -> Software Version.
Best Regards,
Simon
Thank you for your fast answer. Yes the Plugin startes chrashing after updating the gear. Bevor the update the app worked good. I´ve tried to reinstall all apps and reset the gear. Gear and Smartphone are connected but no Messages arrive the gear.
The Version of the Firmware is : R5AJ5017Q5V.
Thank you for your confirmation, it seems the Gear Fit Plugin was updated in the meantime and the old version doesn’t work with the new firmware (as you suggested), I will post updated version of the modified apps in around 3 – 4 hours.
Jessica that is the Serial number, I need one number above it (Software version) 🙂
Thank You! That sounds great 🙂
Oh I´m sorry 😀 I hope this is the right number: R360XXU1DQE6
Yes that is the right number, thank you:)
You can download the updated apps from the link below. Please uninstall old versions before installing and do a reset on the Gear Fit2.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7rieocf3jgfybyr/Samsung-Gear-Fit2-GetGui-release30Jun2017.zip?dl=0
Let me know if the issue is resolved, so I can offer these on the blog.
Thank You very much!! It works very well!
Glad to hear it. Thank you for your feedback, you have helped many by reporting this issue.
Catphone B15Q Android 4.4.2. works! Thanks alot! But have the same issue with Samsung Health. Is there any other way to get the activities files? So I can upload them on Strava?
Cheers
Marcel, thank you for your feedback.
If your phone is rooted, you can install original Samsung Gear from Play Store and then manually modify rules.xml file (instructions are in the blog post), original app syncs with Samsung Health without issue.
If your phone is not rooted and you would like to sync your activities with Strava, the only workaround is to use Endomondo for Gear Fit2 (or similar fitness tracker app). After the workout is finished, it is automatically uploaded to Endomondo server. You can then use https://tapiriik.com/ or similar service, to sync workout from Endomondo to Strava. Free version of https://tapiriik.com/ only supports manual sync, paid version (5 USD) syncs automatically.
EDIT:
There is another option to sync directly to Strava – the app for Gear Fit2 is called Sporty Watch, it is available in Galaxy Apps store for 3 USD – https://www.qooapps.com/sporty-watch.html The app is still in development, but it has great potential – it even allows you to use an external Heart Rate Monitor chest strap with your Gear Fit2.
Thanks Simon! Appears to work fine with my LG Volt, Android 4.4.2, 1 GB RAM. Pairing was a little finicky but finally succeeded. I’ve noticed that none of the 3 apps have appeared in the Play Store under my installed apps. Hopefully that means that they will not try to auto update – guess I’ll find out. Again, it is nice to have tunes and weather as well as text notifications. Again – thanks.
Hello Andy,
thank you for your feedback.
By my experience, pairing process can occasionally be a bit fussy even when using original apps from Play Store and a Samsung phone that meets the minimum requirements, so the issue is with the Samsung Gear app itself.
If the apps are not visible in the Play Store, they shouldn’t auto update. But if you update the firmware on your watch, you will also need to install the latest version of the apps from this blog.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,Thank you,
It worked perfect on a Vodafone Smart Prime 6.
Just one remark.
The smartphone was not showing any ICON of any previous Samsung apps installed in the apps menu but the apps were still installed.
I had to go to Settings / Apps and download them from the list.
You are welcome.
I will add your phone to the list, thank you for your feedback.
Hi,
first thank you very much that you provide this special version!
i am having a Cubot X12 with 1 GB RAM. After installing your version, it find my Gear Fit 1 and asks if it should pair it. I accepted, then it shows shortly this this screen with the watch and the phone, but only for 2 seconds, the watch now shows that it sets up the watch (don’t know the exact english verting as my watch is in german language). The phone goes then to a screen where it show my gear fit 2 as paired, and searches for more. After some minutes it ends that no further device has been found. The watch stays on this installating screen for multiple minutes and then asks that it would take extremly long and if it should try it again, but without an effect.
I followed all your steps exactly as described.
I am having the software version R360XXU1DQE6 on the watch and on the phone your latest version.
Would be very great if you could help me!
Thank you very much
Kind Regards,
Tobi
Hi,
did you try resetting the Gear Fit2?
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00050035/
Hi Simon,
works perfect on a LG SPIRIT (1 GB RAM), android 5.0.1.
S Health do not sync, exactly as you explained above…